Visiting Kaitakudo Art Vol.2 - The workshop space

This blog is the second part of the Miyabi team's visit to Kaitakudo Art.

Kaitakudo Art is a company that handles everything from the mounting, painting, to the sale of hanging scrolls.

In the first blog, we introduced Step 1 "Color Matching," Step 2 "First Backing (honshi "main work" Backing)," and Step 3 "Temporary Pasting."

In this blog, we will continue from where we left off and introduce the process until the finishing of the hanging scroll.

Step 4 Folding over the edge (Mi-miori)

The inside of the work is lined with fabric, and several types of fabric are layered from the inside to the outside to form the shape of the hanging scroll. The honshi is removed from the temporary pasting and cut into an exact rectangle.

At this table, two women were working, skillfully using rulers and scissors to precisely cut the fabric.

Perhaps because Gifu Prefecture was once a town known for apparel, there was a naturally high proportion of women working there. These women paid meticulous attention to detail, worked diligently, and possessed skilled craftsmanship.

Witnessing their work firsthand, I could understand Lin's stories.The fabric was laid out on the table, and the work flowed smoothly.

Step 5 Naka-urauchi, Sou-urauchi “subsidiary backing of the main work and mounting fabric”

To integrate the work with the added fabric, it is backed again, followed by another temporary pasting and drying. Further shaping and reinforcement are done before proceeding to the third backing.

A total of three backings are performed, and RIN mentions that this urauchi process is the most challenging. RIN, who experienced all the processes during his training period, mentioned that it takes time to acquire the skills.

Step 6 Finishing Process

The finishing process takes place on the first floor.

Finishing process involves attaching a crescent-shaped rod to the top of the hanging scroll, a round rod and jikusaki, the cylindrical parts at both ends of the scroll, to the bottom. Subsequently, the upper band called fuutai “wind band”of the hanging scroll, the string for hanging the scroll, and the string for rolling it up are attached along with the fittings.

RIN showed us a shelf full of jikusaki. There, one could see a variety of materials, including gold, ivory, ebony, crystal, and lacquer. The charm lies in the fact that the scroll ends vary depending on the type of hanging scroll.

Step 7 Inspection and Hanging Check

After all the processes are completed, the craftsman carefully checks the finish and how the hanging scroll hangs to ensure it is finished. Then, it is packed in a paulownia box and delivered to the customer.

The mounting and repairing of hanging scrolls are carried out in this manner, all by hand.

Next, we were guided through the first floor of the workshop.

The work on the first floor is almost the same as on the second, but there are more machines on the first floor, with some tasks being automated. When there is a large order of hanging scrolls, they use state-of-the-art printers to print directly onto the silk canvas on the first floor. They also use specialized software to finely adjust colors to achieve a hand-painted feel.

For example, hanging scrolls of famous Anime are made on the first floor.

At the back of the first floor, there was a shelf filled with various fabrics that caught my eye. The fabrics were divided into shelves for frequently used ones and those for custom orders. RIN and the factory manager showed us each fabric, spreading them out and explaining in detail.

"There are basically two types of fabric: those with gold leaf and those without. The gold brocade fabrics with gold leaf are not made with 24-karat gold but are mixed to make it 22-karat. This is because the fabric would tear during weaving if not mixed."

The types of fabric vary with the amount of gold mixed, divided into standard gold, medium gold, and pure gold. Fabrics with pure gold stand out with a different shine, dazzling with their presence.

Among the many fabrics, there was one that was slightly thicker than the others. When I asked if this was also used for mounting, I was told that it is used for making kimonos for Hina dolls and May dolls.

The main supplier of the fabrics is Nishijin in Kyoto. However, the factory manager mentioned that a current concern is the inconsistent delivery of the fabrics and hanging scroll parts as expected. It is troubling when specific fabrics are not delivered for the repair of hanging scrolls.

Therefore, it brings joy when customers place an order for scrolls with the request, "I'll leave the mounting to you." Because the craftsmen can use their favorite fabrics.

Among the many fabrics shown, there were cute ones scattered with hearts and cool ones with a flash-like shine. Such fabrics are used for hanging scrolls of anime, manga, and abstract designs. It's fascinating that there is a wide variety of fabrics available, from traditional to contemporary.

Although I usually live a life unrelated to hanging scrolls, visiting the workshop made hanging scrolls feel closer to me. The craftsmen at each station were working with serious yet lively expressions.

Hanging scrolls not only contain the thoughts of the artist but also the passion and stories of the craftsmen in every detail, such as the fabric.

In the next blog, RIN from the sales department of Kaitakudo Art will share the appeal of working in the hanging scroll industry.