New future where tradition meets modern construction

THROUGH various collaborative efforts, traditional Japanese crafts such as washi Japanese paper, textiles and urushi lacquer are being incorporated into modern construction as building or interior materials for houses and commercial facilities.

- THE WASHINGTON POST

As part of these efforts, a new company has been established to develop and sell construction materials made using traditional craft techniques and a consortium of traditional dyeing and weaving companies, as well as local governments have jointly been developing a sales channel.

Nara Prefecture-based Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, which produces and sells traditional crafts and household goods, and Hotta Carpet Co., a wool carpet manufacturer in Osaka Prefecture, established a new company called Tactile Material Co. on March 1.

The new firm is working with seven manufacturers of traditional crafts to produce construction materials using traditional craft techniques. Materials such as wallpaper woven with cotton and other natural thread by Kojima Orimono Co., a textile company in Kyoto Prefecture, and urushi lacquer for painting produced by Shitsurindo in Fukui Prefecture are sold wholesale to housebuilders and construction companies.

The new company sells products that meet the fire safety and other standards under the Building Standards Law and the Fire Service Law, just like ordinary construction materials. The company will also develop new construction materials.