DWK2022 Special Pre-event – Live Factory Visits in Kyoto with English Translation / FEB 7-8

Discover Kyoto’s Hidden Manufacturing Sites and Meet and Talk with Craftspeople and Manufactures!!
― Live Factory Visits Presented by DESIGN WEEK KYOTO

DESIGN WEEK KYOTO invites you to our “Live Factory Visits in Kyoto.” Join us and discover Kyoto’s hidden manufacturing secrets and meet & talk with craftspeople directly!!

DAY 1: February 7th (Mon)

1) “Gishi Prosthetics Meets Design: From Compensating to Enchanting – producing the prosthetics with Ai-zome Japanese indigo tie-dye textile”
by Kusuoka Gishi Prosthetics & Orthotics

From 8 am (JST)
*3 pm (Feb 6th) PST / 6 pm (Feb 6th) EST / 11 pm (Feb 6th) GMT

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*Free of charge, advance registration is necessary.

What we demand for prosthetics, which support human body, is to be functional. Kusuoka Gishi is a group of creative and professional craftspeople who produce prosthetics that are not only functional but also something which can uplift users’ heart. In this live factory visit, you will watch and hear what they aim to achieve with the concept of “Gishi (prosthetics) + DESIGN,” through stories and live demonstrations of plastering process. They incorporate a piece of Ai-zome Japanese indigo tie-dye textile into a design of prosthetic socket which achieve such an artistic, only-one prosthetics.

DAY 2: February 8th (Tue)

Contrabass + Urushi lacquer & Raden + Ditachable neck – a creation born from the interaction of three companies from different industries
by Higashi String Instrument Factory + Nao URUSHI KOBO + Nango

From 10:00 am (JST)
*5 pm (Feb 7th) PST / 8 pm (Feb 7th) EST / 1 am (Feb 7th) GMT

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*Free of charge, advance registration is necessary.

A groundbreaking collaboration among three companies from completely different industries that met at DWK! Lacquer craftspeople who make Buddhist utensils applied lacquer coating and mother-of-pearl inlays, a factory that specializes in metal processing developed metal parts that can achieve detachable neck, and the Japan’s only factory that manufactures contrabass combined them together to create a one-of-a-kind contrabass from Kyoto. What is the significance of collaboration between different industries? What are the strengths of each studio and factory? Let’s hear directly from the manufacturers how they made it.

Feel and Learn the Beauty of Japanese Metal Works with the 7th Generation Metalwork Master, Chikueidou

From 11:30 am (JST)
*6:30 pm (Feb 7th) PST / 9:30 pm (Feb 7th) EST / 2:30 am (Feb 7th) GMT

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Free of charge, advance registration is necessary.

Working in the metal craft industry in Kyoto since the late Edo Period, Chikueidou has passed down the tradition over 7 generations. They are dedicated to the hand manufacture of metallic materials such as gold and silver to produce, repair, and restore tea utensils, Buddhist objects, incense tools, and more. Using traditional methods in all processes, the craftsperson takes great care to create a product that is both robust, delicate and elegant. The present head master, Eishin Nakamura, will talk to you from his studio and show splendid metal craft world.

“Empowering Creativity in Kyoto”

Kyoto has cultivated an array of sophisticated cultural traditions in its long history over the past 1200 years. One of them is the craftsmanship which a number of artisans and craftspeople have striven to adapt and improve over many generations. Traditional craftsmanship in Kyoto has evolved into modern crafts and high-tech industries.

Visiting studios and factories is the best way to witness this progression directly, however, such a wish rarely comes true because these places are usually not open to the public.
DESIGN WEEK KYOTO is a special opportunity for people who are interested in craftsmanship, manufacturing industries and also the craftspeople themselves. During the event period, a variety of studios and factories are open to the public as a place people can communicate with each other and as a result, new ideas and collaborations will be born.

This year, 50 manufacturing sites in Kameoka, Kyoto, and Uji will be opened and participants visit the sites and directly experience how an item is created. Each of these sites is called “OPEN HOUSE.”

OPEN HOUSE is a special opportunity for those who are interested in learning more about these talented craftspeople and their manufacturing industries and also opens the door for the craftspeople to talk directly with their customers and visitors. During the event period, a variety of studios and factories are open where people can communicate with each other and where new ideas and collaborations will be born.