ABOUT
- About KANAYA
- About Takaoka copperware
- designer
- Project members
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About KANAYA
Brand concept
Takaoka Copperware began in 1611 (Keicho 16) when the lord of the Kaga domain, Toshinaga Maeda, called seven founders to Kanayamachi, Takaoka City in order to promote the prosperity of the town. KANAYA was born in 2011, 400 years after its birth.
Based on the concept of "a brand that exists with people's rich time," we propose products that match modern lifestyles by adding designs and functions to metal castings that are carefully crafted by craftsmen.
KANAYA products are not finished when they are purchased, but by interacting with people every day, a unique smooth feel is created over time, and the true beauty overflows. In other words, it is a product that lives with people.
To that end, we strive to create products that are truly attractive to people.

Bring out the charm of traditional techniques
Metal casting technology whose beauty matures over time.
Coloring and painting technology that creates a unique texture.
While reaffirming the appeal of Takaoka copperware, products that have realized a new design with traditional technology will make you feel that you want to spend a long time together.
The "rust color" applied to many new products is one of Takaoka Copperware's unique painting techniques, and is also a color that symbolizes K ANAYA products.
Although it has a gentle texture that makes you feel like you have been using it for a long time, it is also used for exteriors, so it is not only beautiful in color but also durable.

Fusion with different materials
At KANAYA, we are actively working on cooperation between production areas with companies that handle different materials.
This is because we are working on manufacturing with a wide viewing angle because we want to deliver really good things to people.
Leather, glass, wood. Please enjoy the strangeness of casting and different materials.

For those who seek their own personality
We propose products for people who seek freedom and new values beyond function and design.
We are developing products that allow you to select functions and color variations according to your lifestyle.
In other words, KANAYA wants to be a brand that meets people and spends a lot of time together.

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About Takaoka copperware
History of Takaoka copperware
Takaoka Copperware begins in 1611 (Keicho 16th year) when the Kaga feudal lord, Toshinaga Maeda, called seven founders to Kanayamachi, Takaoka City to promote the prosperity of the town, and this year marks the 400th anniversary. Initially started as an arts and crafts to be presented to the daimyo. After that, it became widespread in Japan and overseas as Buddhist utensils, pot kettles, vases, tea utensils, and decorative metal fittings. Overseas, it was introduced through the 1862 London World Exposition and the 1867 Paris World Exposition, and art copperware has established a solid position as an export product.
Initially, iron was the main material, but from the middle of the Edo period, we expanded to alloys such as copper, tin, bronze, and brass, and aluminum, and the manufacturing technology was further improved. Along with this, processing technologies such as polishing, engraving, and coloring have also developed, and various expression methods have been established. And we have continued to develop both manufacturing method and processing technology, and we have reached the present.
In 1975 (Showa 50), it was first designated as a "nationally designated traditional craft", and in 1979 (Showa 54), it was designated as a production area for a specific industry. Year) It was registered as a "Regional Collective Trademark" by the Japan Patent Office on January 11.
Features
Takaoka copperware is characterized by its supple, moist and beautiful cast surface with free and delicate modeling. With the passage of time, the expression and feel become deeper, and the true beauty hidden in the depths appears. It is a craft that matures with people.
In manufacturing, we follow the process of prototype making → casting → finishing → coloring, and in every process, the essence of the skill of skilled craftsmen is demonstrated, and by linking them, one modeling beauty is born. Takaoka is Japan's only production center for bronze ware, and manufactures tea ware, vases, incense burners, Buddhist ware, Bonsho, and large outdoor bronze statues (bronze statues).
1. 1. Casting technology
Casting is a metal processing method in which alloys such as iron, copper, tin, bronze, and brass, and molten metals such as aluminum are poured into a prototype to create the desired shape. The basic casting technology that was born thousands of years ago has not changed, but Takaoka Copperware mainly uses four techniques: green casting, twin casting, wax casting, and baking casting. I am.

Among them, the green casting method puts the prototype in a wooden or metal upper and lower frame, puts sand in it, and compacts it. Remove the upper and lower frames and take out the prototype to make a sand mold. The molten metal is poured into this and cast.
It is the main technique that has developed Takaoka copperware because it has the advantages of being able to produce several or more products from one prototype and being able to use casting sand repeatedly (reuse).

2. 2. Finishing technology
Surface processing technologies include sandlasting, chemical polishing, and buffing, which can bring out the various expressions of metal such as smooth surfaces, dull surfaces, and mirror surfaces. There are also inlays (elephant cancer) that scrape the surface of metal and embed other metals, and corrosion (etching) that creates patterns by corroding with acid.
The engraving technology uses a large number of chisel properly to create a graceful pattern. One of the factors that made Takaoka copperware famous is the technique of engraving, and its excellent technique was highly evaluated in the world, such as winning numerous crowns at the World's Fair in the Meiji era.

3. 3. Coloring technology
Skilled craftsmen make full use of various techniques to corrode metal and bring out vivid "color". Coloring aims to improve storage stability and beautification, and uses various materials and chemicals that have been handed down from ancient times to corrode the surface of metal and bring out the original color of metal.

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designer
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Project members
producer
Toshiki Kiriyama (TRUNK)
designer
Hiromichi Konno
SOMA DESIGN
Mikiya Kobayashi
SHIMOO DESIGN
Hikaru Mori
Hironao Tsuboi
Hisawa Shimizu
Logo design
Ai Kimura
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So far
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Access: 3 minutes walk from Kaetsuno Bus "Kanayamachi", 8 minutes by car from Takaoka IC on Noetsu Expressway (parking lot available)