Check out these articles
-
Video article 2:45
The Gorgeous Carp Streamers of Kazo Saitama; One of the Few Carp Streamer Towns in Japan. The History of These Handmade Crafts and How They're Made!
Traditional CraftsTraditional CultureJapanese Celebrities- 363 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 9:42
True Craftsmanship! You Won't Be Able To Take Your Eyes off These Edo Brooms for Even a Second! How a Masterpiece of Tokyo That'll Last You 10 Years, Came To Be!
Traditional CraftsJapanese Celebrities- 356 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:35
Aizu Paper Mache Akabeko - With Its Impressive Bright Red Coloring, This 400-Year-Old Folk Art of Aizu, Fukushima Is a Craft That Clearly Shows the Craftsman's Attention To Detail
Traditional CraftsJapanese Celebrities- 400 plays
- Vimeo
-
Video article 3:45
The Splendid Craftsmanship of Yamanaka Lacquerware, a Traditional Craft of Ishikawa Prefecture. Enjoy the Precious Production Process, Which Is All Done by Hand!
Traditional Crafts- 161 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 7:58
Edo-Kiriko – Works of Art That Shine Like Jewels. A Closer Look at the Charm of This Traditional Craft of Tokyo, Which Can Cost Millions of Yen or More, and How It's Made!
Traditional CraftsAction & Adventure- 382 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 5:28
Kijoka Bashofu - Cloth Made From the Japanese Banana Plant. Learn About the Fascinating Traditional Okinawan Craft With Hundreds of Years of History
Traditional Crafts- 113 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 5:06
Enjoy a Moment of Healing With the Fantastic Lights of Gifu Paper Lanterns from Gifu Prefecture! The Soft Glow of These Lanterns, Handcrafted by Skilled Artisans, Is Popular All Over the World!
Traditional Crafts- 207 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:24
Kyo Sashimono - A Traditional Craft in Kyoto That Has Been Passed Down Since the Heian Period. A Rare Glimpse Into the Making of a Craft That Makes for a Great Souvenir!
Traditional Crafts- 86 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:19
Tsubame-Tsuiki Copperware - A Traditional Craft From Niigata Prefecture That's Been Passed Down for More Than 200 Years! Watch as a Plain Iron Plate Becomes a Beautiful Teapot Through Masterful Craftsmanship!
Traditional Crafts- 68 plays
- YouTube
Kumamoto Prefecture's Traditional Craft "Higo Zogan" Is a Work of Art! To Think That Iron Can Be Shaped to Be This Beautiful! Check Out the Renowned Craftsmanship of Japan!
"Higo Zogan" - A Traditional Craft of Kumamoto Prefecture
For those seeking the beauty of Japan's traditional crafts, or wondering what types of traditional handmade goods Japanese artisans make, this is the video for you!
This video, "手技TEWAZA「肥後象がん」Higo Zougan Inlay," was created by "Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square" (伝統工芸 青山スクエア).
This video introduces higo zogan craftsman Inada Kentaro. In the video, he is seen using the traditional methods of higo zogan to create a chopstick rest. This is a wonderful video to get a sense of the beauty of Japanese products.
An Introduction to the Traditional Japanese Craft, Higo Zogan
Higo zogan is Kumamoto Prefecture’s traditional craft. It is a form of metalworking where gold and silver leaf are inlaid onto iron in order to create designs.
Higo zogan has a long history, and was first used in sword mounts and fixtures, gun barrels, obi fasteners, and hairpins. Now, it is used to create accessories such as tie pins, necklaces, hair pins, cufflinks, loop ties, and earrings, as well as stationery such as ballpoint pens, fountain pens, paperweights, and paper-knives. Many types of products are created using higo zogan.
With higo zogan’s birthplace being Kumamoto Prefecture, in recent years, higo zogan pendants featuring Kumamoto’s mascot Kumamon have also been created. The adorable designs make these pendants perfect as gifts.
The beauty of Japan’s traditional craft is perfectly paired with modern designs, leading to the creation of attractive products.
The Crafting Process of Higo Zogan
This is an introduction of higo zogan’s crafting process according to the video. The object made this time is a chopstick rest.
・Base-making (生地作り, kiji-dukuri) (0:21)
The raw material, iron, is cut and then polished to smooth its corners.
・Inlay preparation (布目切り, nunome-kiri) (0:41)
Using a tool called the “tagame,” grooves are carved vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.
・Inlaying and hammering (打ち込み、叩き締め, uchikomi, tatakishime) (1:10)
Using a specially sized deer antler, gold or silver is inlaid onto the iron base.
・Smoothing the surface (布目消し, nunome-keshi) (1:55)
Using a tool called a “kisaki,” areas with grooves are smoothed and polished.
・Rusting (錆び出し, sabidashi) (2:11)
Using iron rust coloring, the surface of the product is blackened.
・Rust-proofing (錆止め, sabidome) (2:30)
The product is inserted into boiling tea for rust-proofing.
・Heating (焼き付け, yakiduke) (3:02)
Heating prevents the appearance of rust after aging.
・Completion
The completed chopstick rest is shown from 3:17 in the video.
This is all introduced in detail in the video, so definitely check it out.
Purchasing Higo Zogan Products
Now, we'll introduce a place to purchase higo zogan products.
We recommended "Higo Zogan Mitsusuke" (肥後象嵌 光助) in Kumamoto.
At this store, you can even try your hand at making accessories.
From accessories such as pendants, brooches, earrings, and gold leaf paintings, to pieces of artwork - There are a multitude of items available, so definitely check them out.
In addition, Higo Zogan products are also available through the Internet, so definitely try that out too!
As for how to care for the products after purchase, use a dry, soft cloth or a piece of tissue to wipe the product in order to maintain its shine.
Summary of Higo Zogan, the Culmination of Craftsmen's Skills
In the video, the process of Higo Zogan as well as the necessary materials are explained in more detail than in this article, providing an interesting introduction to Higo Zogan.
There are also many products perfect as souvenirs introduced in the video.
For those who have had their interest piqued by Kumamoto’s Higo Zogan, definitely check out the video!
【Official Website】Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square
https://kougeihin.jp/
-
Video article 2:27
How the World's Thinnest Paper, "Tengu Joshi," Is Made. The Traditional Japanese Craft Used in the National Library and Other Libraries, Is a Work of Art Made by Many Artisans
Traditional Crafts- 146 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 13:11
Sword Polishing Is a Highly Difficult Type of Craftsmanship for Maintaining Japanese Swords. A Look at the Uncompromising Techniques That Go Into Restoring Japan's Historical Swords
Traditional Crafts- 474 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 9:47
Wadaiko: The Traditional Japanese Drum Used at Festivals. Meet the Craftsman Protecting Traditional Techniques That Require Several Years to Be Completed
Traditional Crafts- 92 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 4:55
Traditional Japanese Crafts: Akita Woodworking. The History and Culture of Japanese Craftsmen Culminate to Create Beautiful Works of Art in Akita Prefecture
Traditional Crafts- 311 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 1:47
Meet the Craftsman That Has Been Crafting Intricate Bunraku Puppet Heads for 40 Years! This Interview With an Awa Deko Ningyo Puppet Maker Will Make You Fall in Love With Ningyo Joruri!
Traditional Crafts- 201 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:26
Obori Soma Ware Is a Work of Art Dating Back 300 Years. Despite the Damage Caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, This Traditional Craft Has Been Passed on From One Generation to the Next, Keeping the Flames of the Kiln Lit in Iwaki, Fukushima!
Traditional Crafts- 65 plays
- Vimeo
-
Video article 2:35
Aizu Paper Mache Akabeko - With Its Impressive Bright Red Coloring, This 400-Year-Old Folk Art of Aizu, Fukushima Is a Craft That Clearly Shows the Craftsman's Attention To Detail
Traditional Crafts Japanese Celebrities- 400 plays
- Vimeo
-
Video article 21:10
What Makes Amezaiku One of Japan's Most Prized Traditional Crafts? If You Look at the Craftsmanship of Japan, the Country of Manufacturing, You'll Understand Why...
Traditional Crafts- 317 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:29
Suruga Bamboo Ware: A Traditional Japanese Craft With Breathtaking Detail in Shizuoka Prefecture. You Won't Be Able To Take Your Eyes off These Amazing Works of Art!
Traditional Crafts History Life & Business- 331 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 2:08
Kirikane: A Japanese Technique That Uses Gold Leaf to Draw Patterns on Buddhist Decorations. Check Out the Beautiful Craftsmanship in These Works of Art Created by Highly Skilled Artisans!
Traditional Crafts- 259 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 3:41
Dojigiri - The Famous Japanese Sword Recreated With the Combined Technology of Modern Sword Masters! A Project to Recreate the Legendary Sword in Okayama, Japan!
Traditional Crafts- 189 plays
- YouTube
-
Video article 5:06
Enjoy a Moment of Healing With the Fantastic Lights of Gifu Paper Lanterns from Gifu Prefecture! The Soft Glow of These Lanterns, Handcrafted by Skilled Artisans, Is Popular All Over the World!
Traditional Crafts- 208 plays
- YouTube
Comment