2023.12.20
The Yaesu, Nihonbashi, and Kyobashi area is a hidden gem known only to those in the know, offering contemporary art, crafts, and antiques. What type of art are you planning to check out today with Mademoiselle Yulia, who is also deeply knowledgeable about the arts?
In the first installment of this series, we visited Kobijutsu Asahi, a shop located in a corner of a building on Kotto-dori in Kyobashi. The display window features stunning maki-e lacquerware and cloisonné, the store's signature pieces, while the modern interior is filled with crafts from the Edo to Meiji periods. We spoke with the store owner, Shotaro Fujishiro, about the history of Japanese crafts and how to appreciate maki-e lacquerware and cloisonné enamelware.
Yulia: Hello. Thank you very much for your time today.
Fujishiro: My pleasure. Please feel free to take a look around the store first. We primarily handle maki-e lacquerware and cloisonné enamelware from the Edo and Meiji periods (1603–1912), along with Satsuma ware*.
Yulia: They are so beautiful and captivating.
Fujishiro: My grandfather established this store, and it has been passed down through generations. I heard that during the Showa era, the Beatles visited and spent a lot of money here. Maki-e lacquerware has been popular among Europeans for a long time.
Yulia: European watches and clocks are also highly regarded as works of art with their artistic and precise techniques. Perhaps they share a similar appreciation for value that can be found in traditional Japanese crafts.
Fujishiro: Crafts cannot be created just anywhere; they can only be made in regions with a long history of civilization. Crafts continue to thrive in regions with a longstanding civilization and stable, peaceful lifestyles.
Japan has experienced its share of wars, yet traditional craft techniques have been handed down through the generations. That is why many international travelers visiting Japan seek out and purchase kitchen knives and similar items since the country is known for its traditional blacksmithing techniques.
Yulia: Who are the typical buyers of maki-e lacquerware and cloisonné? Are they collectors?
Fujishiro: While some people purchase these pieces as an investment, many are collectors. I speak with them to help them understand the true value of this craft while encouraging them to pass it on to the next generation with care instead of simply viewing it as a monetary asset. In the first place, there are no craftsmen today with the exceptional skills needed to create maki-e and cloisonné of this quality. I must say it is impossible to create these pieces with the same quality at the prices that we offer here.
Yulia: Which generations of customers visit your store?
Fujishiro: I don’t believe you can assess the true value of a craft just by looking at it. I think you have to buy it yourself. That said, these crafts are beyond the financial reach of younger people, to be honest.
Yulia: Also, I believe that understanding the motifs in maki-e and other forms of lacquerware requires a certain level of education to truly appreciate them. I believe you can truly understand the value only after gaining a certain level of education.
Fujishiro: That is true. For example, the motif of Mount Horai is often depicted, but it can be difficult for beginners to quickly recognize it as a symbol of longevity from ancient times. Even when we purchase pieces, we sometimes do not immediately understand what they depict. We need to gain experience by researching literature and examining various crafts. It can be quite enjoyable to decipher the patterns and designs in that way.
Yulia: Is there a particular piece in the store today that you really like, Fujishiro-san?
Fujishiro: I like this Satsuma ware tea bowl. I don’t think this can be replicated today. Look inside the teacup. I wonder how craftsmen in the past managed to create such intricate patterns.
Yulia: This is wonderful. Many beautiful pieces like this were crafted during the Meiji period. They created many of these beautiful crafts for international markets.
Fujishiro: During the Meiji period, craftsmen produced gorgeous and exquisite crafts as if they were in competition with one another. Over time, the patterns became increasingly intricate and artistic.
Yulia: Are you saying that there are no craftsmen today with this level of skill?
Fujishiro: Back then, it was common for people to enter the workshop around the age of 12. After completing an apprenticeship, they became full-fledged craftsmen by the age of 17 or 18 and often retired around the age of 30.
Yulia: At such a young age!
Fujishiro: In those days, without electricity or glasses, people often experienced presbyopia around the age of 30. In that regard, craftsmen capable of this kind of work were highly valued even back then. Anyway, I believe it is no longer possible to replicate the crafts from the Meiji period.
Cloisonné is made by first outlining the design with thin metal lines, then filling in the outline with glaze and baking it. However, I am curious about how they achieved such intricate details as seen here.
Yulia: I suppose it is quite different from painting.
Fujishiro: Are there any pieces that catch your interest, Yulia?
Yulia: What is that box for over there?
Fujishiro: This is an inro chest, which is used to store inro, a type of pillbox. Customers sometimes request an inro chest like this to store inros they have collected.
Yulia: I can relate to that feeling very well! I collect obi-dome (ornaments worn over an obi), and I always want a nice box to store them in. I would be very happy to collect them in such a beautiful chest.
Yulia: Inro also come in a variety of different shapes and designs. I like this pattern.
Fujishiro: The Edo period was characterized by frugality and thrift, so while many inros may seem simple and plain, they often feature unique motifs or are made with lavish craftsmanship.
Yulia: I really like the salmon and hagoita motifs (hagoita are wooden paddles used to hit shuttlecocks). They are quite unique. I want to wear it with my kimono.
Fujishiro: All the motifs shown are related to New Year’s. This is a luxurious piece that can only be used during New Year’s. Among the current collection of inro, this one is my favorite as well. It has a quiet and tasteful appearance.
Yulia: I also tend to prefer slightly unique and interesting motifs when selecting obi ornaments, kimonos, or obi. I am particularly drawn to motifs that can only be worn during a specific season, as well as animal motifs. The combination of salmon and hagoita on this subtle background is intriguing. We often choose festive, gold, and glittering items for New Year’s, but I think it’s cool to go for something more subtle and understated.
Fujishiro: I’m glad you stopped by today and liked the inro. The inro is the item that best highlights the craftsmanship and beauty of maki-e techniques.
Kobijutsu Asahi specializes in valuable crafts. I really enjoyed my conversation with the owner, Fujishiro-san, and I had a great time. As Fujishiro-san said, having a little background knowledge of crafts makes it more enjoyable than appreciating them without any knowledge at all.
Common motifs are used in traditional Japanese arts and crafts. So, whether you explore Japanese paintings, vessels, maki-e, or kimonos, diving into any one of them will allow you to appreciate them all!
*Maki-e: A lacquer craft technique in which a picture or pattern is applied to the surface of a vessel using lacquer, followed by sprinkling maki-e powder (metal powder such as gold or silver) on top before the lacquer hardens, allowing the powder to adhere.
*Cloisonné: A technique for creating decorations on metal by applying a glossy glaze to its surface and baking it.
*Satsuma-ware: Ceramic ware that has been produced in Kagoshima for about 400 years. There are two types of Satsuma ware: white Satsuma and black Satsuma. White Satsuma is known for its vibrant, colorful paintings.
Costume cooperation: DESTREE
Tops JPY 85,800
Pants JPY 72,600
(Inquiries: IZA 0120-135-015)
Photographer: Tatsuya Yamanaka
Writer: YUCO
Kobijutsu Asahi
Address: 1F AS Building, 2-9-9 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81 (0)3-6228-7474
Regular holidays: Sundays and public holidays
Business hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Yulia started her career as a DJ and singer in her teenage years. In addition to her work as a DJ, she is involved in a variety of activities, including kimono styling, teaching kimono classes, and writing columns, all while being based in Tokyo and traveling the world. She updates her YouTube channel, Yulia’s Room, every week.
「Yulia’s Room」:@melleyulia
Instagram:@mademoiselle_yulia