Bamboo
Bamboo has long been used in Kyoto for making utensils for the tea ceremony and ikebana.
Kohchosai Kosuga
“Since our establishment in 1898, “creating bamboo crafts to enrich lives” has been our corporate philosophy. While protecting tradition, our theme is “to combine the classic and the modern” and to propose new styles of bamboo craft.
Working with “bamboo” as a raw material for generations, we have developed a wide variety of original products, from artistic handicrafts to daily items, with a unique sensitivity that derives from our founder, a painter in Edo era. All our products are manufactured at an exclusive studio affiliated with our studio for decades.
Today, we have a line-up of more than 1000 items. Our main business is wholesale, and we have approximately 500 retail partners including famous department stores, interior goods shops, and luxury traditional inns (ryokan) all over Japan. Focusing our efforts on retail in recent years, we opened our first flagship shop in Kyoto in October 2011 in order to bring the beauty of bamboo handicrafts to our customers.”
Shichiken-cho
This store has been in operation since 1862. Basket weavers here use more than 50 varieties of bamboo in intricate designs that can be made to order. There’s a large selection of bamboo items such as beer mugs, toys, coasters, chopsticks and kitchen utensils.
Kyoto Sanjo Takematsu
Traditional life in Kyoto always respects and cherishes the careful works of craftsmanship, which probably arises from the philosophy of tea ceremony and flower arrangement. Kyoto Sanjo Takematsu is full of excellent works by Kyoto’s experienced craftsmen. What they offer, particularly, is beautiful kitchen tools. Trays and strainer with lids are made from a special bamboo weaving technique called Tatami-ami which requires high experience and technique. With their soft feel in your hand and functionality in draining water from food they will make a perfect everyday tool in your kitchen. It fits in the Western style display and usage, too.