Handrail Woodblock Prints | Gion | Written by Takenaka Kenji | Kyoto Interior Art | Takesasado

A life of "silence and dignity" in Gion, Kyoto

Once you leave the bustling main street, you will find orderly townhouses and cobblestones.

No matter how you walk, the path leading to Tatsumi Bridge, which has a gorgeous atmosphere, gives you a moist atmosphere.

This is a woodblock print depicting the everyday scenery of Kyoto.

"Warm presence" of hand-printed woodblock prints

"Handrail Woodblock Prints" by Takesasado, a long-established Kyoto company. Using traditional woodblock techniques, each piece is carefully printed, allowing you to enjoy a unique texture that is unlike any other.

The size is slightly larger than a postcard. It stands out on tabletops or small spaces, so it looks great anywhere you place it in the living room, entrance, or hallway.

[Recommended for those who:

・For those who love Kyoto and love Japanese culture and modern Japanese

・For those who want to incorporate "the silence and elegance of Gion" into their daily lives

・For those looking for compact and stylish art

Woodblock prints are not just decorating, but also interior decorations that bring peace to your heart and memories of travel.

Before you know it, you'll find deep healing and color to your daily life that will bring you the atmosphere of Kyoto. Please pick it up and feel the rich world.

Also great as a special gift

This work, which is based on the historic cityscape of Kyoto, is perfect as a special gift that will give you a respect for Japanese culture and memories of a high-quality journey.

It is small and light, yet has a modern feel and a traditional aesthetic sense, making it a great piece for housewarming or business opening.

About the materials

The woodblock prints use Echizen washi (hosho paper) made from high-quality kozo made in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture.This is the finest handmade Japanese paper for woodblock print paper.

It is painted using a traditional printing technique called "handrail woodcut," in which patterns carved on wood are colored onto paper in each color.

Woodblock Artist Takenaka Kenji

Takenaka Kenji, creator of Ishibekoji, is the fifth generation of Takenaka Woodblock.. He was taught by the current head of the family Takenaka Kiyohachi from a young age and acquired the techniques of woodblock printing.

It captures the subject with bold compositions and colors, and has a unique worldview with simple and deep expressions.

Exhibitions are held in various locations, mainly in Kyoto, and propose new ways to enjoy woodblock prints, not only creating works but also providing designs using woodblock prints to companies.

Some of his works are held at the Boston Museum of Art and Honolulu Museum of Art, and deepen his interactions through local workshops and woodblock prints, and he is active both in Japan and abroad. 

About the brand "Takesasado"

Founded in 1891 in Kyoto, Takenaka Woodblock has been carrying out a wide range of Kyoto print techniques, from reproductions of Japanese paintings to commercial printing for over 130 years.

The current head of the family, Takenaka Kiyohachi, studied old techniques and taught them to young people, while the fifth generation Takenaka Kenji founded Takesasado to create new jobs, and sold woodblock prints and paper stationery in stores.

The sixth generation Harada Yuko gained popularity for her designs that combine tradition and modernity, and Takesasado has grown.

Currently, he also works on restoring product packaging and old prints that make use of woodblock prints, and is constantly pursuing new possibilities.

【size】

Picture: Height approx. 11cm x Width approx. 15cm
Paper: Height approx. 13.5cm x Width approx. 18.5cm

[Notes]

- No frame is included.

- Edition numbers cannot be specified.

-Due to the amount of light, the color of the product may differ from the image shown and the actual product.