名古屋帯
袋帯
紬・綿・自然布
小紋・江戸小紋
訪問着・付下げ・色無地ほか
浴衣・半巾帯
羽織・コート
肌着
小物
履物
書籍
長襦袢
小物
帯
お召
小紋・江戸小紋
紬・綿・自然布
袴
長襦袢
浴衣
羽織・コート
額裏
肌着
履物
紋付
書籍
I find the beauty of nature spreading before me.
It is a world filled with harmony, change, and rhythm.
Discovering the principles and laws of nature can be challenging, and that is precisely why its ever-changing nature holds endless possibilities. The moonlight, colorful clouds, the azure sky, sparkling stars, and the silver peaks are all painted with a beauty that begins with the color white.
Ken Yotsui
We are pleased to announce the first yuzen-dyed artwork utilizing Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL)'s new technology. We invite you to take a look and revel in the possibilities of technology and textiles.
Gallery Talk
January 20th 2024
10-11 am
Location：Ginza Motoji Waori Wasen
Limited Spaces, Reservation Required
Sony CSL Talk
Friday 19th 11：30【Available】 / 14：00【Full】 / 17：00【Available】
Saturday 20th 14：00 【Full】/ 17：00【Available】
Sunday 21st 11：30 【Available】/ 14：00【Available】 / 17：00【Available】
Location：Ginza Motoji Waori Wasen
Limited Spaces, Reservation Required
Artist Instore
January 19/20/21 2024
11：00 - 19：00
An Introduction to Ken Yotsui
Yotsui is believes that kimono is a form of fashion, and this influences the way he designs and creates.
Born in Kanazawa City in 1962, Ken Yotsui has based his workshop in his hometown, where he single handedly undertakes all process from start to finish in crearing his unique Yuzen kimono.
Yotsui originally aspired to become a graphic designer, attending drawing classes, where he met a Yuzen artist who later became his mentor for over a decade. His mentor, a former makeup artist with a deep appreciation for fashion and instilled in him the idea that "kimono is a form of fashion." This phrase continues to serve as the foundation for his design philosophy. He always keeps in mind that he must be sensitive to the trends of the times and create kimono that resonate with the current atmosphere.
A true lover of nature, Yotsui spends much of his time mountain climbing, inpsiring his work greatly. Clouds, mountain landscapes, and delicate mountain wildflowers, He sensitivly abstracts these elements from his sketches, transforming them into geometric scapes of color and movement. Though elegant and urban, Yotsuis work also carries a deep appriciate for the nature which inspired it.
Personal History
1962 Born in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
1981 Employed at a Yuzen workshop in Kanazawa City.
1991 First selection in the 32nd Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
1994 Received the Encouragement Award in the 35th Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition (and three more times thereafter).
2002 Received the Japan Craft Association Award in the 43rd Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
2006 Certified as a regular member of the Japan Craft Association.
2007 Received the Hokkoku Shimbun Award for a Yuzen visiting kimono titled "Akebono" in the 41st Japan Traditional Craft Dyeing and Weaving Exhibition. 2009 Received the Nikkei Award for a Yuzen visiting kimono titled "Genryu" in the 43rd Japan Traditional Craft Dyeing and Weaving Exhibition.
2014 Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Education Committee Award for a Yuzen kimono titled "Ryusui" in the 48th Japan Traditional Craft Dyeing and Weaving Exhibition.
2015: Received the NHK Kanazawa Broadcasting Station Director's Award for a Yuzen kimono titled "Souryu" in the 56th Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Exhibition.
Introduction of Selected Works
Yuzen Kyusun Nagoya Obi「Cherry Blossom」
Cherry Blossom Obi paired with a Yuki Tsumugi kimono. Perfect for a lunch outing in early spring.
A color scheme of grey and pink. The gentle pastel colored Yuki Tsumugi kimono is the perfect backdrop for this obi, which takes center stage. The obi-age pulls the pink and the grey from the obi, and the obi-jime stands out in with contrasting colors, pulling the look together.
Yuzen Kyusun Nagoya Obi「Snowy Valley」
Snowy Valley Obi paired with a Shiro-Oshima Kimono, wear it out to an exhbition or art museum.
The sharp, modern, geometric lines of the obi pair beautifully with the soft floral motif of the Shiro-Oshima. A finely balanced look of cool colors. A pop of color can be brought in through the obi-jime or obi-age, like with the oraneg here.
Yuzen Houmongi「Wind in the Pines」
A modern and extremely stylish Houmongi,「Wind in the Pines」is perfect for dressy evening events.
Sprigs of pine are expressed almost like pinwheels, and colored with a subdued palette of greys and blues. An obi of geometric design fits perfectly with this contemporary kimono. If you find yourself at an event where your the only one wearing kimono, you wont feel like you stand out too much either, as this looks beauty is found in its refinement. This look is perfect for dressing up for a special dinner, party, or going to a concert.
Yuzen Kyusun Nagoya Obi「Ice and Snow」
On my travels through Hokkaido, I visited the Soya Region. I took a ferry from Wakkanai to Rishiri Island and Rebun Island, where I walked along the beaches and meadows. It was in September, and we were fortunate to have good weather. The view of the Sea of Okhotsk from Cape Soya on Rebun Island, the northernmost point of the island, was incredibly beautiful. However, during the winter, it transforms into an unimaginably severe world of ice and snow. South Sakhalin, across this sea, is the birthplace of my great-grandfather.
Yuzen Kaku-Obi「Rain Shower」
This is a work that utilizes new technology from Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL) to consider the design of angular stripes that make up moving colored surfaces. The geometric patterns of angular stripes can be adjusted with subtle variations using this technology, speeding up the creative proccess. By creating patterns that are not identical but have a sense of identity through continuous and slight changes, there are no two identical pieces.