HIYOSHIYA - a fifth generation Kyoto-based manufacturer of the famous Wagasa umbrella since the Edo period.

To non Japanese people, the traditional wagasa umbrella is mostly known because of its depiction in the famous Ukiyoe woodblock prints. In these prints the wagasa serves to describe the unique seasonal scenery but it used to be an indispensable object in the daily life of the Japanese people. Nowadays, it is mainly used in its large format called bangasa for the traditional performing arts, Kabuki or at tea ceremony. As an ornamental object it can also be found in shrines and temples. 





Hiyoshiya, now the only remaining manufacturer of Wagasa in Kyoto, has upkept the making of the traditional umbrella since 160 years due to the efforts and ingenuity of its president Kotaro Nishibori. Growing up in a world far from the traditional crafts, Nishibori studied in Canada and then worked at the Kyoto City ward as interpreter. However, his life took a drastic turn when encountering the beauty of the Kyo-wagasa at « Hiyoshiya », his wife's parental business. Moved by the work behind this beautiful object and fearing that this craftsmanship would disappear, he decided to join and support the long established Hiyoshiya workshop.

Nishibori started to learn the traditional techniques of the wagasa making and became a craftsman himself. Thanks to his strong determination he succeeded in reviving the company’s activity and became its president in 2003.

Innovating  the Wagasa craftsmanship through design collaboration 

The development of the internet and online shopping helped the family business to achieve more visibility but the business prospects did not improve. The westernized lifestyle of Japan is still and mainly responsible for the ongoing decline of wagasa users. Also, due to the elaborate manufacturing process the wagasa literally last a lifetime and does usually not necessitate replacement.

With these worries in mind, Nishibori while drying oiled umbrellas saw the sunlight softly passing through the washi paper. The serene beauty of this filtered light inspired him to convert the Japanese umbrella into a lighting structure. 

During the work on a prototype he quickly realized that he was too involved to create freely and turned to the lighting designer Hiroshi Nagane. The designer made some adjustments and proposed an innovative design for contemporary interiors while respecting Nishibori’s request to keep the wagasa mechanism that allows compact folding.

In 2006, after two years of research, the "KOTORI" lighting structure was introduced in the Japanese market. Since 2008 it has been exhibited at several international trade fairs and enjoys growing popularity in Japan as well as abroad.

Committed to supporting the Japanese crafts through innovation

Thanks to Nishibori’s international experience and imagination, the Kotori lamp is now successfully sold in Japan and in over 15 overseas countries. However, Hiyoshiya is not the only traditional workshop that is threatened by changing lifestyles. The whole Japanese craft industry has severely declined over the last decades due to the Japanese market no longer being sufficient. As a craftsman himself, Nishibori perfectly understood the challenges. In 2012, he established the TCI Craft Lab to support other Japanese traditional craftsmen in product design, market development and their crafts by collaborating with Japanese as well as international designers.

Following the motto « tradition is continuous innovation », the TCI Craft Lab team has so far supported more than 700 workshops in innovating their product design and expanding their business overseas. 

We sincerely hope you will enjoy the fascinating stories of all these craftspeople.