Bringing Color to Life − Kyoto Arts and Crafts

Kyoto attracts tourists from all over the world, especially in fall, with its historic shrines and temples. Tourists have also begun noticing its arts and crafts stores, many centuries old but now adapting their traditional techniques to modern times. We see a maker of “wagasa“, Japanese style umbrellas crafted from “washi“ paper, create lampshades that utilize the uniquely gentle colors produced by light shining through paper. A centuries-old store making pigments for “Nihonga“ watercolorists diversified into nail varnishes, and is using “gofun“, the chalky white powder made from crushed scallop shells, that’s the base of “Nihonga“ paints, to transform the world of manicure. #Japanese_traditional_arts_and_crafts #wagasa #nihonga #nail_varnish #gofun