Cross the border for a hundred years! Kyoto staff create limited coffee props

"feel with your hands, and your hands will tell you the answer. "── Liu Zongli, a great Japanese industrial designer

Perhaps the term "folk art" has become so popular in recent years that all kinds of design-themed books and magazines admire Japanese handicrafts as fine works in the window, but play down the original intention of using these daily props to serve the crowd. so that the viewer is too scared to use it easily. However, as the Japanese industrial designer Liu Zongli said, handicrafts must be "felt with their hands" in order to understand the texture and mind that the producer wants to convey.

Fortunately, a "Kyoto staff Lawn Party" organized by Mori / CASA broke the myth that "one can see from a distance but not to play with" and once again gave handicrafts daily functions. They found four old brands in Kyoto with a total history of more than 500 years, all of which were famous star workshops in the area: Kaihua Hall, Jinwang Kan, Asahi Shao and Gongchang Zhai Xiaokan. The above shops are also a must-visit spot for expert backpackers to visit Kyoto.

At the invitation of the 10th anniversary of Mori / CASA, the four major brands of Kyoto gathered in Taiwan, from left to right: Kaochang Zaixiao Managing Director Dazhi Kan, Kaihua Hall sixth-generation heir Takayu Yachi, Asahi Burn 16th generation Matsuyama Youdian, and Jinwang "master" (standing). (photo / photo taken by Guo Hengcheng, the following are all the same)

Now, without going abroad, you can personally see the star products of the four old stores and experience the craftsmanship they want to explain behind their backs.

At the invitation of the 10th anniversary of Sen / CASA, the heirs of the younger generation of the four old stores jointly developed a set of "hand-made coffee limited props" based on their own skills, and chose Taiwan as the first stop to publish. It is certain that modern people like to drink coffee and pay attention to exquisite utensils, so they might as well take part in a cross-border performance of a century of craftsmanship, from coffee powder cans and filters to bamboo-woven coasters and coffee cups.

Kaihua Hall: a neat and stylish metal receptacle

Founded in 1875, Kaihua Hall is the oldest old handmade tea tube shop in Japan. Takayu Yagi, the sixth generation heir, is charged with the mission of revitalizing the brand. When he was ready to take over the family business 13 years ago, the operation of the old store in Kyoto was not depressed. Affected by the weak market desire after the collapse of Japan's bubble economy, even his father was pessimistic about the future of handicrafts. But young people brought new ideas and began to repackage Kaihua Hall's leading merchandise: metal receptacles.

▲ Kaihua Hall, founded in 1875, is the oldest hand-made tea tube shop in Japan. All tea tubes are handmade in Kyoto workshops in 130 steps.

Yagi Takagi's first step was to open up retail, so that the main force purchased by customers over the age of 50 began to diversify, slowly attracting customers in their 30s and 40s. As the production of metal receptacles originally contains high-precision processes and has a good texture, Yagi brought them to the Maison & Objet in Paris to increase international exposure. Successfully attracted the attention of celebrities such as Gwyneth Patrol through the Japanese craft image.

For people in Europe and the United States, metal storage cans have unlimited "storage" possibilities. Yagi Takagi has successively developed metal canisters containing coffee beans and even spaghetti, and has even created a document canister with Herm è s designers that can hold design sketches, but nothing attracts more attention than the "Kaikado Caf é" jointly created by Kaihua Hall and Danish design team OeO in 2016. The space in the store uses the "Jingdu Dian" antique garage built in 1927 to transform it. Inside, tea cups and plates are used to bring together well-known brands in Kyoto, which is like a window for Kyoto to show the history of craftsmanship.

▲ Kaihua Hall creates coffee powder cans and strainer containers for coffee props limited group.

Participating in the production of "hand-brewed coffee limited props" this time, we can also catch a glimpse of the exquisite craftsmanship of Kaihua Hall. Small coffee powder cans are designed to hold 50 grams at a time for brewing 2 to 3 times. Undertake the barrel-shaped coffee pot under the coffee filter, the edge is specially polished, even if there is no spout, it can guide the liquid to flow out smoothly, and a leather heat insulation pad is attached for easy access to the cylinder body, and the rose metal texture adds to the texture of the brewing process.

Gold mesh: metal mesh with changeable uses

Since the age of 21, he has been in charge of his father's trainee Golden net skills, and he is at ease when talking to people, and there is no stereotype of unsmiling professionals, but he talks about metal-woven soup ladles, strainer, and other works. But I seriously share my views on the craft: "what I do is not works of art, but handicrafts that help people live more conveniently!" "he opposes that craftsmanship is labeled as' art', which is honestly reflected in the creation of Jinwangjia.

▲ 's cheerful and talkative Jinwang "master" thoroughly cooks hamburgers with his own roasting net to show the practicality of handicrafts.

Metal woven hollow ladles, roasting nets and other food utensils have been indispensable kitchen supplies in Japanese cuisine for more than 80 years. Gold net oysters have various ingenious changes in weaving, such as using brass or stainless steel wire to create octagonal, tortoise shell or petal textures. these lines show different visual beauty through the light, except to meet the practical purpose of the food utensils. It also allows users to enjoy the shadow beauty of different braided lines under the light source.

▲ (left) the metal mesh was originally created to meet the needs of the restaurant, and the light reflected through the net; (right) the toast net and other products have been thoroughly improved, revising for small details such as opening and closing, easy to use or not.

He has his own set of ideas on how to make gold net products into modern homes. He draws inspiration from all aspects of life. For example, "toast net" is a prop suitable for modern catering needs. He constantly improves the details of the finished products, such as the switch of the baking net, the direction of the lid, and the porcelain plate filled with toast crumbs under the baking net, which is improving the use value of kitchen utensils.

The filter made by ▲ limited edition coffee props has been repeatedly tested for several months to achieve the best effect when the water flows through the coffee powder.

This time, the coffee filter developed for the "hand-brewed coffee limited props group" is used to hold filter paper and coffee powder. in order to make the water flow when brewing coffee can soak the powder quickly and thoroughly, the coffee filter has worked hard at the net grain and has the effect of guiding the flow of water while beautiful. A steady stream of innovative ideas have also won the favor of international design companies such as Nendo, inviting gold mesh to challenge subversive works such as lampshades, Hi-Fi horn racks and even design chairs. For him, wire mesh weaving has no fixed appearance and is more like an imaginative platform.

Asahi Shao: a comfortable and light modern cup group

Listening in on the 16th generation of Asahi Shao, Songlin Youdian explained his own tea bowl works, which made the aesthetics of pottery, which was originally thought to be esoteric and difficult to understand, more approachable: "take a closer look at whether the tea bowl has a rough texture on one side and smooth and meticulous on the other." This is due to the difference in distance from the fire, the texture of the finished product is delicate when it is closer to the fire source, and if the temperature is lower, it will feel rugged. Experienced workers can grasp the proportion of clay shrinkage after the finished product is released. Create an ice crack effect through the surface glaze formula. In short, the tea bowl has a lot of details to ponder. "

▲ Asahi Shao 16th generation Matsumoto Youdian is preparing matcha lattes for customers. Through popular drinks as a medium, people can get to know tea bowls without distance.

The Asahi roasting ceramic art, which has been founded for more than 400 years, is interpreted in the hands of Pinewood Youdian in a way that is close to modern people. in order to attend Mori / CASA's lawn party, he developed a matcha latte drink in Japan, which was specially prepared for door-to-door customers at the scene. Looking at the 16th generation of Asahi Shao who hand-made drinks, he said shyly that tea is just a medium, focusing on letting people experience the beauty of Asahi tea-making equipment and understand the practical value of the cup by using it.

▲ (left) Matcha should be well mixed with tea pods to show the cultural origins of Asahi roasting and tea ceremony. Before the brewing is finished and given to the guest, the tea bowl should be turned and presented again. In addition to showing respect, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the pattern decoration.

▲ Asahi-fired porcelain is characterized by translucent glaze, which has become a feature of this series.

A careful look at the white glazed cup group developed by Asahi Shao in the "hand coffee limited props group" can be said to jump away from the heaviness of traditional pottery products. The lightweight cup body is no different from the European and American high-grade porcelain products. The light glaze color adds a warm and cordial color to the surface. The cup mouth is oval rather than round, and the mouth is more attentive to the lips without pucking up. A little detail accumulates into the intangible value of considerate users. It is the professional spirit that Japanese craft is proud of.

Gong Chang Zhai Xiaokan: the possibility of Bamboo products Crossing

Bamboo craftsmanship has given people a strong "sense of folklore" in Taiwan for a long time. How to activate the craft through diversity?. Minister Zhai Xiaokan is a model worthy of reference. Japanese traditional tea ceremony, flower ceremony in bamboo products occupy a place, Gongchang Zaixiao Kan's managing director of small Suga revealed that most of the customers who buy bamboo utensils in Japan are over 50 years old, in order to break through the age limit, they actively cooperate with the design community to develop bamboo tableware, close to the young guest level, and display exposure in high-end hotels such as Royal Garden Hotel (Royal Park Hotel), selection shops and other places to expand and potential customer source contact opportunities.

Bamboo containers are often used in ▲ Japanese Flower path. Gongchang Zhai Xiaokan's flower utensils are long-selling items. Plain and elegant black and primary colors act as supporting roles that have unique personality but do not rob the play, and flowers complement each other.

Little Suga Dazhi himself loves fashion and fashion. He also set up a high-end production line in addition to daily practical bamboo objects, and went to Florence to look for leather merchants to cooperate in bamboo wallets with high-grade leather materials. "Europeans do not think that 'bamboo' is an old-fashioned material, on the contrary, we are eager to try this kind of natural elements. we jointly develop high-quality goods such as wallets and tote bags. Let people feel the texture connotation of natural materials. "Today, with the rise of consumer awareness of environmental protection, bamboo has attracted more and more attention from the industry and design circles. on the one hand, it grows rapidly and the process does not require drug care, and the growth period is shorter than that of wood. Boutique marketing techniques coupled with getting rid of old-fashioned woven goods make Gongchang Zhai Xiaokan more unique in the industry of technology.