KIRA KARACHO
Karakami workshop KIRA KARACHO
Kira Karacho is Japan’s sole maker of traditional karakami paper, continuing the heritage of Karacho a craft founded in 1624 during the Kan'ei era. Now in its 11th generation, the family business is led by master artisan Akihiko Totoh and the 13th-generation head of the family, Aiko Chida, who are evolving the brand for the next generation.
Karacho’s karakami is carefully handmade, with each sheet printed from around 600 woodblocks, showcasing motifs inspired by flowers, birds, and geometric patterns. Passed down through generations since the Edo period, this technique has been practiced for over 400 years and is highly respected, being used to restore shrines, temples, and cultural heritage sites. Karakami is said to carry the prayers for Japan’s nature and its many gods, with a quiet, calming energy that touches the soul.
In addition to preserving tradition, Kira Karacho is actively creating new products through collaborations with different industries and materials other than paper. Through designs and products that enhance everyday living, they aim to enrich people's lives with the beauty of their patterns and colors.
Kira Karacho blends traditional beauty with contemporary design, garnering attention both in Japan and internationally, while continuing to share Kyoto's rich culture with the world.
Tiles that capture the timeless, vibrant beauty of Japan's elegant colors.
At Karachō, a tradition that dates back to the Edo period, hundreds of wooden printing blocks with various patterns have been passed down through generations. Each pattern carries its own meaning and reflects the values and ideals preserved by the Japanese through the ages.
Karachō tiles reproduce the patterns of 'Karagami,' which have adorned everyday life as fusuma (traditional Japanese sliding door) paper and wallpaper. This is not a mere transfer; the designs are carefully traced from Karagami to create the plates, and using techniques such as silk printing and underglaze decoration, each tile is hand-painted with delicate and beautiful patterns. These unique designs invite you into a one-of-a-kind, modern space.
Encounter with the karakami workshop 'Kira Karacho.'
Toto Akihiko and Aiko Chida, the karakami artisans of 'Kira Karacho,' renowned for their extraordinary handcrafted paper, created by pressing intricate patterns onto each sheet, were deeply inspired by our handcrafting process for decorative tiles, leading to the birth of a unique collaboration between karakami and tiles.
A unique texture that can only be achieved through handcrafting.
It’s not just a simple transfer; the designs are carefully traced from the karagami paper to create printing plates, and then hand-painted one by one using techniques like silkscreen printing and underglaze.
By incorporating mica, a mineral that enhances the unique texture of washi patterns, we bring the distinctive feel of karagami paper to the tiles, capturing its authentic essence.
