Inside the Atelier; A Ginza Motoji Original Series
A Closer Look at Japan’s Contemporary Textile Artisans and Workshops
Take a look below at our growing archive of field reports, written by expert Ginza Motoji staff and translated in-house. This ongoing series offers a rare, first-hand view into the world of Japanese textile artisanship documented directly from their workshops across the country.
As a kimono retailer committed to connecting artisans with customers, we believe it is our responsibility to visit the studios ourselves, to see with our own eyes, and hear with our own ears. These reports are the result of that approach: careful observations grounded in direct engagement with the tools, techniques, and environments shaping today’s kimono making.
From hand-drawn yuzen dyeing to painstaking hand weaving and stencil-resist techniques, each report offers insight into both the craft, the craftsperson, and the world behind them. Whether sustaining a centuries-old legacy or forging a new path, these artisans carry tradition forward with clarity, precision, and intent.
Kunihiko Moriguchi
Inside the Atelier: Moriguchi Kunihiko
Yuzen dyer and Living National Treasure known for his abstract compositions and use of the makinori resist technique.
Maiko Sawada
Inside the Atelier: Sawada Maiko
Independent katazome artist translating sketches of seasonal plants into layered stencil-dyed designs.
Hiromi Kikuchi
Inside the Atelier: Kikuchi Hiromi
Edo komon artist known for her subtle, multi-toned dye work and refined sensibility. A former apprentice of Masao Aida, she continues the tradition with personal nuance and quiet strength, creating patterns that move the heart through discipline, care, and colour.
Atsushi Ogura
Inside the Atelier: Ogura Atsushi
Fifth-generation Tsujigahana artisan working in Kyoto, known for his deep commitment to hand-tied shibori and stylish kimono.
Kōichi Yamagishi
Meet the Artisan: Koichi Yamagishi
Dyer and weaver based in Yonezawa, raising his own silk worms for silk, and plants such as safflower to dye the hand spun threads, for his highly coveted hand woven tsumugi kimono.
Shokuraku Asano (Asano, Hirotaka & Hiroki)
Inside the Atelier: Shokuraku Asano
Kyoto-based Nishijin-ori Father and son combo weaving contemporary obi that blend historical Japanese visual values with a wide range of influences.
Nobuo Matsubara
Inside the Atelier: Matsubara Nobuo
Living National Treasure and leading figure in Nagaita-Chūgata stencil dyeing, continuing a legacy of Edo-period craftsmanship.