Tokyo, 01.11.2011


visiting the water discharge tunnel at the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Tokyo

Tokyo, 26-10-2011




Visiting a dyeing workshop in Nakaochiai
the silk strokes that are dyed are 36 cm wide and about 13 m long,one kimono can be made from one stroke.

Tokyo, 18-10-2011








visiting a chopstick maker in  Higashimikojima

A house in Sumida

Tokyo, 16-10-2011






visiting a Tabi maker in Honjo

Tokyo, 13-10-2011




visiting brush makers in Motoasakusa


brushes for various purposes are made with different sorts of hair: toothbrushes are made with horse hair, a type with a softer brush is made with hair of the mane whereas a type with a harder brush is made from the hair of a tail of a horse.
Brushes to clean a kimono and other garment surfaces are made out of the hair of a pig.
Brushes to clean textile surfaces are also made from deer hair.
Cosmetic brushes are made from a squirrel`s hair.
paintbrushes are made with a sable's hair.
A brush to put on the first layer of laquer on laquerware
is made with human hair. (view below)

This is a special brush for the first layer of laquer on laquerware. It is made with human hair which was never dyed
or treated in a different way. It is sharpened with a knife
as a pencil when the hair gets blunt, but it can be used for
a human lifetime:

Tokyo, 11-10-2011 


visiting a copperware craftsman in Senzoku

A house in Senzoku

Yokohama, 10-09-2011




at a Karaoke bar in Yokohama...