Kyoto Craftsmanship Succession Program

Reflecting on the Completion of the Four-Part Kyoto Craftsmanship Succession Program

Over the course of this program, we had the opportunity to work with university students to explore the question of how we can communicate the beauty of traditional Japanese umbrellas, or wagasa, and share them with future generations.

Rather than simply learning about the history and craftsmanship of wagasa, the students considered, from their own perspectives, how these traditional umbrellas could be introduced to younger generations and what kinds of approaches might spark their interest.

Hearing their fresh ideas and perspectives gave us an opportunity to think anew—not only about how to preserve tradition, but also about how we can carry it forward and connect it to the future.