September 2022

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[Saiori (Reweaving)]

Mr. Yasusuke Maeda of Koyaguchi, Wakayama Prefecture, wanted to somehow reproduce the beautiful textile, and after much trial and error, he devised a machine from scratch to create a unique Japanese reweaving.

From around 1877 to the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989), he exported rewoven tablecloths and curtains overseas, which were very popular. About 30 years later, in 1983, they combined traditional and new techniques to once again develop rewoven fabrics, and over the next several years, they completed the rewoven fabrics we see today.

To weave Saiori, velvety fluffed chenille yarn is used for the weft and cotton yarn is used for the warp. When making this chenille yarn, a weave with a coarser warp density is woven, then the warp is cut lengthwise one by one, and the resulting fluffed yarn is twisted to create a fluffy, caterpillar-like yarn. This process of weaving is called reweaving because the weaving process is done twice. Made of 100% cotton, rewoven scarves are very gentle on the skin and have no backing. Also, the thick fabric keeps the wearer warm in winter without losing body heat, while the cotton makes it easy to wear in spring and fall.

Saiori scarves have a handmade warmth and go well with kimono outfits. In Ginza, you can easily buy antique kimonos at the Ooedo Antique Market or at events held in the Okuno Building. I also enjoy finding beautiful kimonos and using them as haori or resizing and remaking them. Since we are in a country with a kimono culture, I would like to wear a kimono over my regular clothes when I go out and eventually be able to wear a kimono as my regular clothes.

Rewoven scarves can be washed many times in a washing machine and still have the same thick, soft feel. Please feel the warmth and warmth of this precious textile, which can only be produced a few meters a day even in modern times.

Origin's Saiori Scarf
https://www.shokunin.com/en/origin/scarf.html

References
http://www.so-bien.com/kimono/用語/再織.html
http://www.nogami-pile.com/product3.html

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[The Purveyor to Yokohama Chinatown]

Yamada Kogyosho woks are used by about 80% of the restaurants in Yokohama Chinatown. It is not so troublesome once you get used to the process of emptying the wok to burn off the rust-preventing varnish at the beginning of use, periodically oiling it, washing it in hot water with a scrubbing brush or scorpion immediately after use, and drying it over a fire. If you can hang it in a well-ventilated place, there is no need to dry it at the end.

The effective method of seasoning is to cool the whole pan on a cold wet cloth after the oil is heated and starts to smoke. Teflon frying pans are easy and good, but we often meet customers in our showroom who are looking for a frying pan that can be used for a long time.

Yamada Kogyosho is the only manufacturer in Japan that manufactures iron pans in uchidashi-style, a process of forming a single iron sheet by beating it 5,000 times. The hammered process increases the density of the iron material, which improves heat transfer and oil transfer, and fills in minute irregularities, making the surface smooth and non-stick.

It is a versatile pot that can be used for frying, baking, simmering, deep-frying, and everything in between. Iron pans are also a good source of iron. If you are looking for a frying pan, please take a look.

Yamada Kogyosho's Uchidashi Katatenabe
https://www.shokunin.com/en/yamada/
Takada Kozo Shoten's Scrubbing Brush
https://www.shokunin.com/en/kozo/tawashi.html

Reference
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/中華鍋

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[Yamanaka Lacquerware]

Yamanaka lacquerware is the generic name for lacquerware made in the Yamanaka Onsen area of Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Gato Mikio Shoten was founded in 1908 as Gato Mokkojo (Woodworks). Inheriting the philosophy of a woodworker, the company has been manufacturing lacquerware with a focus on the perfection of the wood, the base of the lacquerware.

The foundation of Yamanaka lacquerware is the perfection of the wood. Yamanaka lacquerware's wipe lacquer finish, which is a thin coating of lacquer, is a finishing method that requires a good wood base in order to produce a product.

Such thinly lacquered lacquerware is recognized as inexpensive in the market, but the truth is that only Yamanaka lacquerware can produce this type of lacquerware. In contrast to staid lacquerware with thick layers of lacquer, Yamanaka lacquerware is characterized by a healthy and casual style that makes the most of the materials. This can only be done with the skillful technique of a craftsman.

This characteristic is also reflected in the tea canisters named "Karmi"; Karmi Tea Canisters are named after one of the haikai principles of the Edo period haiku poet Matsuo Basho, "Karumi (lightness)." It expresses the light-heartedness felt in everyday life without elaborating on knowledge or technique, and is connected to the philosophy of beautiful design that seems to exude from the inside.

Lacquerware tends to focus on the luxurious aspects of the exterior, such as maki-e, chinkin, and overglaze coating, but the most important part is the original wooden base. For the time being, Gato Mikio Shoten continues to produce products while maintaining the concept of fully emphasizing Yamanaka's rokuro techniques.

Gato Mikio Shoten’s Karmi Tea Canisters for Tea 100g Soji
https://www.shokunin.com/en/gato/karmi.html[Yamanaka Lacquerware]

Yamanaka lacquerware is the generic name for lacquerware made in the Yamanaka Onsen area of Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Gato Mikio Shoten was founded in 1908 as Gado Mokkojo (Woodworks). Inheriting the philosophy of a woodworker, the company has been manufacturing lacquerware with a focus on the perfection of the wood, the base of the lacquerware.

The foundation of Yamanaka lacquerware is the perfection of the wood. Yamanaka lacquerware's wipe lacquer finish, which is a thin coating of lacquer, is a finishing method that requires a good wood base in order to produce a product.

Such thinly lacquered lacquerware is recognized as inexpensive in the market, but the truth is that only Yamanaka lacquerware can produce this type of lacquerware. In contrast to staid lacquerware with thick layers of lacquer, Yamanaka lacquerware is characterized by a healthy and casual style that makes the most of the materials. This can only be done with the skillful technique of a craftsman.

This characteristic is also reflected in the tea canisters named "Karmi"; Karmi Tea Canisters are named after one of the haikai principles of the Edo period haiku poet Matsuo Basho, "Karumi (lightness)." It expresses the light-heartedness felt in everyday life without elaborating on knowledge or technique, and is connected to the philosophy of beautiful design that seems to exude from the inside.

Lacquerware tends to focus on the luxurious aspects of the exterior, such as maki-e, chinkin, and overglaze coating, but the most important part is the original wooden base. For the time being, Gato Mikio Shoten continues to produce products while maintaining the concept of fully emphasizing Yamanaka's rokuro techniques.

Gato Mikio Shoten’s Karmi Tea Canisters
https://www.shokunin.com/en/gato/karmi.html
Gato Mikio Shoten's Tohka Wine
https://www.shokunin.com/en/gato/tohka.html