JSB Visits Fusuma/Shoji Craftsmen

JSB Visits Fusuma/Shoji Craftsmen

Friday, August 2, 2024

2:00 PM EDT

Hosted in person:

About the Event:

*Event is now open to the general public for signups. 

JSB members are invited to a private viewing of fusuma/shoji craftsmen from Japan.

The Boston Children's Museum will have two craftsmen from Seikodo Nakajima Co. in Kyoto to repair the fusuma and shoji screens at their Kyo no Machiya or traditional merchant Kyoto style house. 

During the private viewing, members will be able to observe the craftsmen working, ask questions, and listen to the history of the Machiya house as well. It will be followed by a small related craft workshop. 

Space is limited for this event. If you are not a JSB member, you can sign up here.

If you're interested, please check out this video from NHK Core Kyoto (in English) about hyogu craftsmen. Takumi Nakajima is featured in the segment, and is one of the two craftsmen who will be in Boston.

About: Seikodo Nakajima Co., Ltd

Seikodo Nakajima Co. is currently a third generation Hyogu-shi artisan shop whose main work focuses on the specialized skill of mounting hanging scrolls and fusuma/shoji work for Sukiya style buildings and tea rooms. In 1930, Chikashi Nakajima became an apprentice at Nakagawa Seikodo. In 1961, he changed his shop name to Seikodo Nakajima and since October, 2007, it has been Seikodo Nakajima Co., Ltd. 

The two visiting craftsmen are his grandson, Takumi Nakajima, who has 25 years of experience in the Hyogu-shi artisanship profession and Soichi Maruyama, 23 years of experience. Both these artisans have the National Certificate (government-issued) Level 1-Kyu in the traditional Japanese mastery of paper-related art and architecture. 

Some past projects and clients include: 

Konnichi-an Historic & Cultural Preservation Repair

Kyoto State Guest House 

Huntington Library Tea House (Los Angeles)

Suntory Museum of Art 

Embassy of Japan in India, Tea House

*Please note that online only members can attend the online member only events but not the in person member events.

Please note that we often take photographs at events for our records and sometimes for use in public media such as Facebook and blog posts. Registering for an event generally signifies acknowledgment that your likeness may be used in these ways. If you are not comfortable with this, please let us know and we can accommodate you.