Kyoto –

A regional trading house in the ancient city of Kyoto has been working to preserve local traditional crafts, including Raku ware and Nishijin-ori fabric, by incorporating them into building materials and home decor.

Kyoto Amplitude, under the wing of local credit union Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank, offers both financial and nonfinancial support to create new demand for such crafts, aiming to boost the region's economy and ensure that the craftsmanship is passed on to the next generation.

Although Kyoto's traditional crafts are popular among visitors to Japan, overall demand for such items for daily use is on the decline due to changes in lifestyles. Many craftspeople are also struggling to find successors.

"This project is our attempt to incorporate the traditional crafts industry into modern-day business operations through ways not conceivable before," said Makoto Shirahase, head of Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank.

Kyoto Amplitude was established in July 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the financial institution.

The company offers the Wazai brand, a collection of luxury items merging traditional crafts and modern designs. Mineaki Saito, who was an executive at France's Hermes International between 2008 and 2015, serves as Kyoto Amplitude's brand adviser.

Around 500 types of products, including chairs featuring the Nishijin-ori textile and ceramic tiles incorporating the world of Raku ware, are showcased at the company's headquarters-cum-showroom in Kyoto.

In addition to supporting sales operations targeting Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank's clients, Kyoto Amplitude facilitates business talks between those within the traditional crafts world and major companies with which they previously had little connection.

The company had aided in delivering such crafts to design companies, home builders, hotels, restaurants and others in 224 cases as of the end of March this year.

Kyoto Amplitude also makes loan and asset management proposals. The entire Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank group is involved in supporting businesses.

Itoko, a Kyoto-based maker of white kimono fabric, offers "silk glass," or silk fabric sandwiched between glass that can be used for building materials and interior decorating.

As kimono demand is unlikely to surge anytime soon, Itoko President Sachi Kitagawa voiced hopes of working together with Kyoto Amplitude.

"As (Kyoto Amplitude) can propose package solutions that also include other building materials, it's easier to gain clients' approval," Kitagawa said.