Latest news with #Kamakura
Yomiuri Shimbun
05-05-2025
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Samurai Armor Designs Adorn Bags, Accessories; Traditional Techniques Applied to Everyday Items by Tokyo Craftswoman
The Yomiuri Shimbun 'Yoroi-Temoto' bags are designed with traditional patterns and equipped with removable handles. Armor is a symbol of samurai warriors. Originally a practical form of protection, samurai warriors also regarded their armor as a way to show off their presence, and decorated it strikingly. Today, armor designs are incorporated into bags and accessories, bringing out the wearer's individuality. In the Heian period (794 to late 12th century) and Kamakura period (late 12th century to 1333), high-ranking warriors such as 'sodaisho' (commander-in-chief) used a type of armor called 'o-yoroi' (great armor), which features large sleeves. Since their armor symbolized their authority, it was extravagantly decorated and built using the most sophisticated metalworking, woodworking and dyeing techniques of the time. One of the techniques is 'odoshi,' a decorative technique in which strips of boards used for the torso and sleeves are tied together using leather or braided cords. The knots vary depending on the armor and the cords come in various colors, such as white, red and purple. The technique increases the strength of the armor while adding splendor and originality. 'Not only is samurai armor strong but it is a symbol of timeless beauty,' said Katsuyo Goto, fifth-generation owner of the over 120-year-old samurai armor factory 'Koujin,' in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, and the only female samurai armor artisan in Japan. Born in Sumida Ward, Goto studied under her father for nearly 30 years and became the fifth 'Chikaraishi Koujin,' the name inherited by the representative of her family, in 2018. The Yomiuri Shimbun Katsuyo Goto carefully sews braided cords called 'odoshige' by hand. She began producing bags called 'Yoroi-Temoto' using the odoshi technique, aiming to make the appeal of samurai armor more widely known, including to women. With the odoshi technique, she creates a design on the soft, strong deer leather used in making samurai armor. She uses patterns such as 'murasaki susogo,' in which the colors darken from top to bottom — from white to yellow to purple — and 'omodaka,' a pattern based on the image of wild water grasses growing in ponds and streams. These elegant patterns are the same as those in pieces of samurai armor designated as important cultural properties, according to Goto. With the functions of a daily-use bag in mind, its handle is designed to be removable and interchangeable. Since she makes all the parts by hand, it takes at least three months to complete a bag. Lately, she has begun making business card holders, similar to those used by businessmen, and table clocks for interior decor. 'I enjoy thinking about what items I can apply these armor-making techniques to. I would like to make more people feel closer to the beauty of samurai armors,' Goto said enthusiastically. Yomiuri Shimbun photos Left: Business card holders Right: A clock with a samurai motif Reproducing national treasures The Yomiuri Shimbun A replica of the Shiroito Odoshi Tsumadori Yoroi For generations, her factory has focused on making replicas of pieces of samurai armor that have been preserved as cultural properties. The graceful white samurai armor suit is a replica of the Shiroito Odoshi Tsumadori Yoroi, a national treasure owned by the Kushihiki Hachiman Shrine in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. The suit is 65 centimeters tall. Goto studied the techniques and materials used in the Nambokucho period (1336-1392), when the original suit was built, and copied all its details. Making a suit of samurai armor requires more than 5,000 steps and about six months to complete, according to Goto. 'Suits of samurai armor are masterpieces that contain the traditional beauty of Japan,' she said.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- General
- Hans India
Do You Think Japan Is Obsessed with Swords and Why?
Japan's love affair with swords extends far beyond history books; its deep connection to these blades runs through centuries and continues to have an influence today on Japanese society and culture. From samurai warriors to modern pop culture, swords have always played an influential role. Samurai warriors used them during battle as weapons, while modern popular culture continues this legacy today. Swords hold great reverence within Japanese society for many reasons beyond weaponry: they represent honor, identity, craftsmanship and philosophy - in order to understand why Japan holds so many respects for these blades we must explore their historical, cultural, and philosophical implications. Historical Significance of Japanese Swords The history of Japanese swords can be traced back to the 8th century, during the Heian period, when distinct Japanese blades first started emerging. But it wasn't until Kamakura period (12th-14th century), that we began seeing katana, our modern version of curved, single-edged katanas take form as symbols of power, prestige, and protection for Japanese society as whole. While initially tools of warfare, swords eventually evolved into symbols of power over feudal Japan which became integral parts of society's identity with powerful samurai class holding power over feudal Japan carrying swords not just as weapons but as symbols of their status within society itself - more than an instrument of war it became part of who they were. Bushido, or Japanese martial art, emphasizes loyalty, honor, and discipline for its practitioners. Swords were not just used for warfare in this setting; rather they became symbols of identity for the warriors themselves - representing not just an item but their soul as well. For centuries afterwards, samurais adopted their weapons as their spiritual embodiment; for this reason alone, swords remain so deeply embedded into Japanese culture today. Cultural Significance Swords have long held great cultural and spiritual importance in Japan, particularly Shinto religion which forms a key part of Japanese society. Swords are held in great regard within Shinto practices as sacred objects; many Shinto ceremonies incorporate swords as a sign from divine protection for rituals or ceremonies conducted within Shinto ceremonies. Traditional Japanese swords crafted by famed swordsmiths are treated with extreme care as objects worthy of reverence, signifying their transcendent role beyond mere physical use in society. Cultural significance is demonstrated through how swords are depicted as national symbols. For instance, Japan has long relied upon its national emblem - the katana - as a symbolic representation of their unique cultural identity and intricate craft tradition that goes back centuries. Craftspeople worldwide revere Japan's craftsmanship while its creation requires years of skillful dedication; each blade being considered an original work of art! These attributes contribute to its symbolic importance within Japanese culture. Sword in Modern Japan Although swords have historical roots, they still play an active role in contemporary Japanese society and culture today. Swords remain visible across a variety of media channels such as Japanese movies. Animation, manga and films often depict swords as iconic weapons; many well-known series like Naruto, Rurouni Kenshin and Bleach revolve around sword-wielding protagonists. These depictions have only further cemented the sword's place within Japanese identity and culture - while also leaving an indelible mark in global imagination. Characters wielding swords in these media often symbolize values such as honor, justice and sacrifice - reflecting its historical connection with samurai culture. Swords play an integral part in modern martial arts, such as Kendo, Iaido and Kenjutsu. These practices, which emphasize swordsmanship, continue to be taught and practiced across Japan and around the world by thousands. Kendo - or the "Way of the Sword" - specifically is revered both physically as well as culturally for cultivating character, discipline and respect towards its sword. These arts demonstrate Japan's continued reverence of its past traditions of sword use. Sword Preservation and Museums Preservation efforts go beyond protecting individual blades; they also aim to maintain ancient techniques of sword-making. Crafting a Makoto Swords katana involves an intensive and precise process that takes years of training to master. From selecting steel grade for each step-in manufacturing to polishing and tempering of its final form, every aspect requires expert knowledge passed from generation to generation. Such dedication to craftsmanship reinforces Japan's devotion to swords while guaranteeing future generations continue to cherish these historical pieces. Swords in Popular Culture Within Japan's popular culture, swords have long held an iconic place; not only as symbols of history but also as powerful icons of fantasy and adventure. Swords appear frequently in video games, anime, manga and television series like One Piece, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer to represent ideals such as strength, honor and the triumph of good over evil. Cultural productions like these have contributed greatly towards romanticizing swords while keeping them prominent within modern society. Beyond media, swords are now part of everyday Japanese life in various aspects, from fashion to souvenirs. Sword-themed items such as miniature katana replicas are popular collectibles; high-end fashion frequently includes elements inspired by them into its designs. Thus, the sword has become not only an emblem of tradition but also one of coolness and prestige in today's cultural landscape. Swords and Philosophy Japanese swords hold deep philosophical connotations, particularly in relation to Zen Buddhism. Swordsmanship was seen by samurai warriors as a means to achieve both mental and spiritual clarity through rigorous training; each movement of their sword helped connect them with present moment awareness, with each movement helping connect each individual samurai warrior with Zen's concept of zanshin (awareness). Philosophically speaking, swords do not simply represent weapons - they represent a way of life. Wielding one becomes an act of self-discovery and mastery for both warriors and practitioners of Japanese culture alike. This concept of using the sword as a means toward spiritual enlightenment still resonates today among martial artists and other practitioners worldwide. Commercialization of Swords Although swords retain historical and cultural weight, their significance has also adapted to modern society. Tourists visiting Japan can purchase replicas of famous katana as souvenirs in shops; clothing, accessories, and furniture all draw inspiration from these ancient blades; this demonstrates their ongoing attraction not just as cultural artifacts but as symbols for Japan's traditional values, aesthetic beauty, and mystique. Swords have long held an allure within luxury markets, where authentic handmade katana can fetch high prices. This has created a niche market of collectors seeking out rare or exquisitely crafted swords to be investments or prized possessions; whether as art, symbol or investment; swords continue to captivate people worldwide. Conclusion Japan's passion for swords extends far beyond a simple fascination; rather it embodies an age-old cultural reverence that spans centuries, becoming deeply embedded into its history, spirituality, and artistic traditions. From samurai code of honor to iconic katana's representation of Japanese identity - swords have held an inextricable part of life within Japanese culture for millennia - from their representation in martial arts tournaments and media to being an iconic cultural artifact today.
The Guardian
17-03-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘Like a game of black-belt level Jenga': inside the ancient art of Japanese carpentry
Do you know your ant's head from your shell mouth? Or your cogged lap from your scarfed gooseneck? These are just some of the mind-boggling array of timber jointing techniques on display in a new exhibition spotlighting the meticulous craft of Japanese carpentry. The basement gallery of London's Japan House has been transformed into a woody wonder world of chisels and saws, mortises and tenons, and brackets of infinite intricacy, alongside traditional clay plastering, shoji paper screen making and tatami mat weaving. It is a dazzling display of the phenomenal skills behind centuries of timber architecture and joinery, celebrating elite master carpenters with the spiritual reverence of a high priesthood. 'In Japan we have a deep respect for our forests,' says curator Nishiyama Marcelo, who heads up the team at the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum in Kobe, a temple to the history of Japanese joinery. 'If a carpenter uses a 1,000-year-old tree, they must be prepared to take on more than 1,000 years of responsibility for the building that they create.' It is a momentous duty, and one we should heed. As debates around the embodied carbon of the built environment dominate the construction industry, there could be no more timely exhibition to remind us of the importance of designing with longevity, care and repair in mind. Numerous specialist tools have been shipped over from the Kobe museum, along with a team of master carpenters who have built a remarkable series of structures in the gallery, replicating parts of buildings that have lasted for hundreds of years in the face of wind, rain, snow and earthquakes. Dominating the room is a 1:2 scale reconstruction of a section of the Toindo hall at the temple of Yakushi-ji in Nara, built in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It shows how the roof's deep eaves are supported by delicately curved parallel rafters, along with a coffered ceiling of cleverly intersecting horizontal beams, all held together by invisible joints. Key to supporting the immense weight of the tiled, tiered rooftops are the brackets, or kumimono, each made up of a fiendishly complex cat's cradle of masu (bearing blocks) and hijiki (bracket arms), stacked in four directions. A table nearby shows the more than 50 hand-carved wooden pieces that go into assembling just one of these brackets, along with a 3D animation showing how the bits all fit together. It looks like a game of black-belt-level Jenga. It may seem like a decorative flight of fancy, a bravura exercise in complex carpentry, simply to embellish the corners of the temple, but these brackets serve a crucial seismic purpose too. 'We have a lot of earthquakes in Japan,' says Nishiyama. 'The reason these temples have survived so long is because of these intricate timber joints, which allow the structural members to slide past each other, as well as distributing the load.' When the Great Hanshin earthquake struck Kobe in 1995, with devastating impact on the Kansai region, the Yakushi-ji temple emerged unscathed. Indeed, it had survived many earthquakes since its first construction in the seventh century. Taking a similar approach to the flexible bracket joints, the timber columns of temples and shrines usually sit on raised stone bases. This not only prevents the wood from getting damp and rotting, but allows lateral movement in the event of seismic activity. A nearby display shows how the bottoms of the columns are carefully sculpted to fit into the natural curves of the uneven stone bases, using a contour gauge in a process known as hikari-tsuke. The level of hand-tooled precision looks like a devotional religious act in itself, and there is a spiritual reverence for these natural materials from the start. The woodsmen even seek permission from the mountain spirit deities, or kami, when felling the trees in the forest. The reconstruction and maintenance of these ancient Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples is the exclusive work of domiya daiku, or temple carpenters, who enjoy a rarefied status as keepers of architectural heritage that spans more than a millennium. One of the greatest such 20th-century figures was Nishioka Tsunekazu, nicknamed oni, or the devil, for his exacting approach. His meticulous structural drawings, carved into wooden boards, are shown in the exhibition, combining elevations, cross-sections and 45-degree diagonal views at once. They hang alongside racks of templates used to cut the different components, which dangle from pegs like tailors' manilla pattern cards. Nishioka laid out key principles, advising that wood for temple construction should be taken from a single mountain, and specifying that trees grown on higher slopes should be used for for structural elements such as beams and pillars, while those in the lower valleys are better for finishing materials. Knowing which trees to use for which purposes, says Nishiyama, showing off a display of different kinds of cypress, pine, chestnut, and bamboo logs, is just as important as knowing how to put them together. Alongside the domiya daiku we are introduced to the profane world of the sukiya daiku, or teahouse and residential carpenters, known for their more lightweight, rustic style. While the carpenters of temples and shrines revelled in the structural acrobatics of massive beams and weighty roofs, the traditional teahouse is an essay in delicacy and economy of means. For the exhibition, the team has re-created Sa-an, a famous teahouse built in 1742 at the Zen monastery of Daitoku-ji in Kyoto. But here it has been stripped of its plaster walls to reveal the skeletal structural workings. The aesthetic of sukiya gives the impression of rustic simplicity, often using unprocessed round logs stacked in a childlike diagram of a house. But as the exhibition reveals, the intersection of round logs, using an invisible jointing technique known as neji-gumi, is 'the pinnacle of log craftsmanship'. Once assembled, it is almost impossible to discern how the pieces fit together. A breakdown of the component pieces, along with another animation, reveals how this miraculous carpentry conjuring trick is done. Forget black belt, this is 10th dan, sensei-level stuff. There's plenty more to discover, from the secrets of exquisite kumiko latticework screens to the wonders of sashimono joinery, used to make boxes and furniture, along with a hands-on display upstairs where you can have a go at assembling some of these 3D puzzle-like joints for yourself. But if there's one thing missing, it is any mention of how these techniques could be of broader relevance today. Nishiyama admits that the work on show comes from an exclusive niche, reserved for luxury commissions, with something like the teahouse on display costing 'around 10 times as much to build as a regular house' due to the specialist manual craftsmanship involved. It seems that the contemporary master carpenter's skills are reserved for billionaires' garden follies, or the conservation of priceless heritage. Yet there are crucial lessons that the modern construction industry could learn from. The sophistication of Japan's carpentry culture was born of necessity: the country's lack of iron meant that jointing techniques had to be developed that did not rely on nails. We are moving towards a time when design for disassembly and repair has become ever more desirable, and necessary, than our bulldoze-and-rebuild mindset. Resource scarcity is a very real prospect. These centuries-old techniques, updated with today's technology – with components milled using computer-controlled machinery, not just hand tools – could well hold some answers for a low-carbon, long-life, reconfigurable future. The Craft of Carpentry is at Japan House, London, until 6 July
