At One&Co, 10 award-winning works are on display in collaboration with Omotenashi Selection. These winning entries are chosen by foreigners living in Japan who have been asked to vote for them based on their opinion of what constitutes an excellent traditional Japanese product.
Even with current travel restrictions, you are still able to experience the history, culture, technology, and beauty of Japan while in Singapore simply by coming to One&Co.
In this series, we would like to introduce the function and design of the products, and background of the Japanese traditional artists.
This time, we interviewed Mr. Hisashi Gomei, the fourth-generation owner of Gomei Kinpaku Kogei Craft, who creates “Usubiki Dishes (Thin Wooden Golden Dish)”
— First of all, could you tell us about your business?
After the second-generation artisan of Gomei Gold Leaf Craft mastered the art of gold leaf stamping, we have incorporated his skills to a wider range of projects from stamping of Buddha statues and pedestals, to the processing of Tiffany accessories and Louis Vuitton decorations. As hot-foil stamping artists based in Kyoto, we have gained credibility by continuing to make products with a high level of skill. We have received orders for hot-foil stamping from a range of clients, including Tiffany, Osaka Castle, Kyoto City Hall, Kyoto Okazaki Miyako Messe, and the Gion Festival’s spearhead, as well as in the field of gold leaf eraser powder (gold leaf powder made into high-grade particles in water). In addition, I am currently involved in the production of a piece for Shanghai SHANGXIA, China.
— How did you feel when you received the award?
I am extremely happy that my Thin Wooden Golden Dish brought me the opportunity to introduce the excellence of “fringed gold leaf,” a Japanese handmade gold leaf artwork, to the world.
— What are your thoughts on your products?
We started making this product because we wanted to make the most of the technology of the world’s thinnest and most beautiful fringed gold leaf, which is already widely sold as a craftwork product overseas. It’s not enough to just make the fringed gold leaf look beautiful, but to capture and bring to the fore the beauty of the material.
―What kind of difficulties did you have before commercializing it?
There were some materials that would not work with fringed gold leaf, so we had a hard time finding the right material.
―What are the “issues” and “potentials” beyond this current situation?
We are trying various materials with gold leaf. I think there are still a lot of unanticipated and unimaginable possibilities.
―Please give us your goal for the future.
There are infinite possibilities in framing gold leaf. I will continue to work on it with that belief.
Hisashi Gomyo
Born in Kyoto in 1963.
After receiving a title of Traditional Craftsman of Kyoto Buddhist altar in 2000, he has received various awards.
In 2004, awarded The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Traditional Industry Encouragement Award.
In 2011, recognized Kyoto City as a “Master Craftsman of the Future” for the first term.
In 2015, Received Prince Higashikuni’s Cultural Prize.
In 2018, Received Prince Higashikuni’s Peace Prize.
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