小松九谷と井波彫刻で魅せる
日本の新たな伝統工芸

A New Vision for Japanese Handicrafts: Komatsu Kutani Ware Meets Inami Woodcarving

Kutaniyaki Ware: An Ever-Evolving Harmony Between People and Nature.

Tracing its origins to roughly 360 years ago, Kutaniyaki is a traditional form of Japaneseporcelain which is principally curated from the Hanasaka pottery stone that is mined in Ishikawa Prefecture’s Komatsu.
Komatsu is a place where all the techniques related to Kutaniyaki porcelain can be found, from clay preparation to molding, base production, and overglaze painting.
The art style is defined by its bold patterns which are embellished by its use of five staple colors: blue, yellow, green, purple and red. However, in recent times, through various techniques, contemporary styles have emerged.
Each process involves unique skills and techniques specific to each craftsman and artist, giving way for a wide variety of individual expression in Kutaniyaki works of art.
Kutaniyaki has always been and will always be a traditional craft that fosters novelty and Expressionism.

Inami Woodcaving: the Most Sophisticated Woodcarvings in Japan

Woodcarving has flourished in the Inami region of Nanto, Toyama, for generations.
Inami woodcarving, widely acknowledged to be the most sophisticated in Japan, involves the use of over 200 chisels and is characterized by a unique technique called sukashi-bori, in which artisans carve from both sides of pieces of wood to create dynamic, three-dimensional works of art.
Inami woodcarving began over 250 years ago after Inami Betsuin Zuisenji, the temple at the center of Inami, was destroyed in a fire. To help with the reconstruction effort, the town welcomed Maekawa Sanshiro, a distinguished carver from Kyoto. Maekawa taught carving to the local carpenters, and the tradition of Inami woodcarving was born. Although Inami’s woodcarvers got their start working on temples and shrines, their works have expanded as times have changed. Products of Inami woodcarving now include everything from transom carvings to chandeliers and even decorations for musical instruments, all created using the same advanced techniques passed down over generations.

Natadera Temple: A Sacred Site Representing Japan's Unique Worship of Nature.

Natadera Temple celebrated its 1300th year anniversary in 2017. The temple is revered as a place of worship for Mt Hakusan, where the teachings of “innate wisdom” that pay respect to nature have been handed down to the present day. The grounds of the temple were originally opened by a monk Taicho in the year 717. However, they were destroyed during the Ikko-shu Uprising at the end of the middle ages where militant followers of Buddhism of the Ikkō sect rebelled against samurai rule. The temple was then restored in the Edo Period by Toshitsune Maeda, the third head of the ruling Maeda family of the Kaga Domain. Within the grounds of the temple, there are numerous buildings that carry deep cultural significance such as the main hall (Hondō), a three storied pagoda (Sanju-no-tō), the Goma hall (Gomadō, where a Buddhist ritual called “Goma” is performed), the bell tower (Shōrō), drawing room and kitchen but most notably: Kigan Yūsenkyō, a national landmark of vast, unusual rock formations and foliage that display seasonal beauty throughout the year. The altar in the main hall, as well as the details of the building, including the transoms, are adorned with exquisite carvings of flowers, trees, and birds, featuring a dignified design that captivates visitors.

Zuisenji Temple: A Palace of Woodcarvings

Zuisenji Temple is the birthplace of Inami woodcarving and a spiritual center for the Otani branch of Shin Buddhism.
The sect’s founder, Rennyo, began a tradition of “tariki” that continues to influence the spiritual climate of Nanto to this day. The tariki philosophy eschews personal gain, individualism, and egotistic stubbornness in favor of gratitude, holding that everything, even life itself, is due to the constant support of those around us, and that we have a duty to recognize that debt. The magnificent temple stands as a product of this belief.
Along with a massive main hall, which is the fourth-largest wooden building in Japan, the temple boasts an abundance of bold and intricate woodcarvings adorning all of its structures, including the Main Gate, Main Hall, and Taishido Hall.
The Taishido in particular contains a wealth of woodcarving masterpieces, born of competition between the artisans who took part in its construction. The size and sophistication of the Taishido’s collection has even earned the hall another name: “the Palace of Inami Woodcarvings.”