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Yuji Kuroda, Kumiko Craftsman, Prepares to Take on the Next Generation

As the number of traditional Japanese houses continues to decline, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for our fixture craftsmen to demonstrate their skills. We came up with the idea of collaborating with young designers to develop fittings that would fit in with modern lifestyles. This collaboration led to the creation of a new technique called “Kakumaru-gumiko” (rounded corners), along with innovative products such as design sundries that overturn the traditional concept of Kumiko. Starting with this, we would like to create modern-design home fittings that combine the functionality and cosmetic qualities of the original kumiko and make use of natural materials appropriate to the Japanese climate. This is to keep the traditional craft alive in the modern age and in the future. I believe that this is the mission of our generation, the craftsmen who will live in the coming age. Tradition can only be achieved through repeated innovation. As craftsmen, we are determined to fulfill this destiny with our own hands.

組子に動きを加え、斬新な什器を開発した職人黒田氏。 すでにミラノ万博が開催された時に発表された。三代目黒田氏は、新たな挑戦を続ける。

Craftsman Kuroda added movement to the kumiko and developed an innovative fixture. As already announced at Expo Milano, the new Mr. Kuroda will continue to take on new challenges.

指勘建具工芸の得意分野は組子の建具です。伝統的な意匠だけでなく、独自のデザインを取り入れたデザイン建具が高い評価を得ています。指勘建具は、住宅、寺院、神社、料亭などで使用され、和の情緒とモダンが融合した空間を演出しています。

Our specialty is Kumiko fittings. Our design fittings, which are not only of traditional design, but also our own original design, have been highly evaluated. Sashikan fittings are used in homes, temples, shrines, and restaurants to create atmospheres where Japanese sentiment and modernity merge.

組子とは、小さな木片を組み合わせて繊細で多彩なデザインを生み出す技法である。組み合わされたデザインは万華鏡のように華やかで多面的な広がりを見せる。障子や欄間に施された組子は、外から差し込む光によって幻想的な陰影を生み、まったく違った雰囲気を醸し出す。

Kumiko is a technique of combining small pieces of wood to create delicate and varied designs. The combined designs are like a kaleidoscope, displaying a gorgeous and multifaceted expanse. Kumiko applied to shoji screens and transoms cast fantastic shadows depending on the light shining in from outside, creating a completely different atmosphere.

Traditional Japanese minting, or Kumiko, are crafted by joining pieces of wood together without the use of nails. It is one of Japan’s traditional crafting techniques, developed alongside Shoin-zukuri, a traditional Japanese architectural style, in the Muromachi era (1336-1557) the technique was used in making the wooden fittings of the windows, Shoji (paper sliding doors) ranma (transom), and so on. Cutting up a draft into 1.5mm wooden pieces, cuts and tenons are added to create wooden joint designs. Muntin created by the above method is what we call Kumiko. For some designs, over 100,000 pieces of wood can be used, ever single of them are over 100 design patterns, and beautiful and original Muntin are made by combining these patterns.

日本の伝統工芸である組子（くみこ）は、釘を使わずに木と木を接合して作られる。 日本の伝統工芸のひとつで、室町時代（1336～1557年）には書院造りとともに発達し、窓や障子、欄間などの木製建具に用いられた。 下絵を1.5mmの木片に切り分け、切り込みとほぞを入れ、木製の継ぎ手模様を作る。 このような方法で作られた文様が組子である。 デザインによっては10万個以上の木材を使用し、そのひとつひとつに100以上のデザインパターンがあり、それらを組み合わせることで美しいオリジナルの組子が出来上がる。

何回かご紹介させていただいている日本の伝統工芸は、三重県の菰野町にある指勘建具工芸。これかからはじめる本格的なライフワークとしてスタートしたいのは、まだまだ日本にある多くの素晴らしい伝統工芸を世界に発信し、各職人さんの知名度を高めると同時に本業のご商売になるように手助けしたいと考えています。下記画像は、指勘建具工芸様の代表的な作品、”文箱”です。釘一つも違わず、わずか3ミリの木片を組み合わせて作られています。気が遠くなりそうな作業ですが、これが日本が誇る技術である組子という手法です。

I have introduced several times the traditional Japanese craft of SashikanTategu Kougei in Komono Town, Mie Prefecture. What I would like to start as a full-fledged life’s work is to introduce to the world the many wonderful traditional crafts still to be found in Japan, to raise the profile of each craftsman, and at the same time, to help them to make a profit in their main business. The image below shows a typical “Funaki” (letter box) made by Sashikan Kengu Kogei. It is made by combining pieces of wood measuring only 3 mm in diameter, without using a single nail. It is a daunting task, but this is the technique of Kumiko, a technique that Japan is proud of.