KEI（Kyosashimono New Tradition Project）

KEI is a trademark of modern Kyo-sashimono. Kyo-sashimono means traditional and industrial arts and crafts at Kyoto in Japan.

"KEI" shows such traditional technique.

Japan had a custom: that people planted paulownia trees when they had daughters

in order to arrange about chests and dressers for future brides. They rarely have such a custom now.

UMENODESIGN started the project of making modern bride's tools in which new Kyo-sashimono techniques are seen.

Every tools is carefully handcrafted.

Paulownia tree is good at moistureproof,fireproof,air tightness,and is the lightest of all Japanese trees.

KEI will be developing techniques of Kyo-sashimono.

Kyo-Sashimono

Generally, Sashimono means to joint with board to board, board to stick and stick to stick.

And an another opinion, to use the MONOSASHI(which means measure) The origin of Kyo-sashimono comes from China and Korea .

Where the bowl or a statue of Buddha were made with stone or metal . In Japan,

made with wood. The capital moved to Kyoto from Nara in A.D.794. Over 1,200 years since then ,

the culture of industrial arts has been developing.

In Kamakura-Muromachi era, it reached high-grade stage. At the time, Sen-no-rikyu who established

Sa-dou(one of Japanese tea culture) was fond of a technique of plain wood manufacturing. Kyoto has been the center of industrial

arts and has contributed to develop it to all Japan. Now,

Kyo-sashimono has the pride of high technique and technology.