Why We Sell

Of course, as a private company, we need profits, however it is not the only thing that we are looking for. It is the future. The future of Japanese tradition is what we are really seeking.

Many of the Japanese traditional art crafts as industries are in a fatal situation. From constant declining sales for this twenty more years, the industries have shrunk significantly. It is the craftsmen, the core of the industry, that is decreasing and with very few successors. The average age of craftsmen is getting higher and higher every year. Unfortunately, we are almost certain that many traditions of Japan may diminish in the near future.

The fact is, that the impact from the shrinking market first comes from the supplies of materials and special handmade tools that are mandatory for extra fine techniques, which makes Japanese art crafts special. As an example, the finest painting techniques on a lacquerware, maki-e (paintings using urushi lacquer and gold sprinkles) require the finest writing brushes. They are specially made maki-e brushes that are very fine, long, with high elasticity, and have good hold of urushi lacquer. The maki-e brush manufacturing, also a highly skilled craftsmanship work, can stand by itself only when you have hundreds of maki-e craftsmen. Therefore, the highest quality maki-e brush craftsmanship is diminishing in the current market. Only a couple of veteran maki-e brush craftsmen who can make the traditional brush exist in Japan. Also, traditionally, the finest maki-e brush was made from the central back fur of a certain mouse (Rattus rattus) that lived around Biwa-Lake in Shiga Pref. However, the hunter for the mouse furs no longer exists, and sadly, the finest brush is no longer available. Currently, maki-e craftsmen are carefully preserving the finest brushes that they have for the finest artwork.

The Japanese traditional fine art crafts industry requires many many areas and levels of professionals to stand by itself, like the automotive industry these days. The business volume is one of the most important key issues for the industry to stand. Therefore, however very small a step, Kogei Styling is challenging in this situation, with great help from potential Japanese lacquerware fans in the world, to widen the future market of the Japanese traditional art crafts, thereby our tradition can still entertain future generations.