Although an integral part of its more than 1200 year history, Kyoto’s traditional crafts are in danger of becoming extinct. Products no longer meet the needs of modern day living. Their market has shrunk 80%. Craft persons are getting older with no successors in line. In five years, half of them will go out of business.

The main mission that was delivered by the client to our team was to stop the extinction of Kyoto’s traditional crafts in both the business wise and the cultural wise.

Traditional product limits its target to Japanese fan and its usage for Japanese lifestyle like kimono or tea ceremony which is declining even in Japan.

New products change the KYOTO craft context to more relent to global luxury market beyond Japanese lifestyle and get strong attraction from top celebrities all over the world and as a result it revitalize the industry itself in Kyoto.

Conduct the intensive workshop with 6 craftsmen to identify the strength of Kyoto craft technique and material. And then we studied the market potential in the global context for each technique ( ex people pay more budget for interior items than kitchen tools ) Based on the strategy craftsmen co create the products with designer.