Takeshi

The area around Kyoto’s Mibu temple was once populated with traditional dyers, who operated the many small dyeing factories that dotted this area. Nishimura Yuzen-Chokoku was established here in 1938 as a Kyo-Yuzen engraving specialist for these custom-made, Yuzen-dyed fabrics. Takeshi grew up watching his father Tomokichi work, and in 1967 he began a formal apprenticeship in order to master all the techniques of Yuzen stencil engraving, eventually forming his own workshop.

At the age of 60, Takeshi was considering closing the family business due to a decrease in demand for Yuzan-dyed fabrics. Luckily he was offered the chance to participate in Kyoto Contemporary, a Kyoto City project with the goal of developing more sales channels overseas. This allowed Takeshi to start making products using his own techniques.

While he pursues forms that make the most of traditional techniques, Takeshi frees himself from the binds of stereotypes. With his stencil designs he creates Japanese traditional patterns, landscapes patterns, or imagistic portrayals which inspire a feeling of warmth, peace, and the Japanese spirit. His love of hiking gives rise to new forms inspired by nature. He is currently working on a new style of production to bring his works into our everyday lives, and wishes to create special paper patterns which somehow touch our hearts.