About Integrade Crafts
At INOUE, we combine various traditional arts and crafts to create objects with totally unique origins that have never existed before.
The characteristics of our process are as follows:
Compositional power = Compositional power is the ability to create products (integrated arts) by combining various materials and techniques of both traditional and contemporary sources.
Network of craftsmen = We have established a network of craftsmen capable of responding to a broad range of customer wishes in terms of delivery date, cost, quantity, and so on.
Unique origins = Final products produced using the unique advantages of INOUE described above possess not only ingenious design but also characteristically Japanese origins.
A brief explanation of the traditional arts will necessarily include a description of their diversity in terms of production areas, materials, techniques, and so on. To create a single product that integrates multiple materials and techniques, or that incorporates industrial products, requires a deep understanding of the necessary precision, quality, manufacturing processes, and limits of each component art. A generalist knowledge of the arts is indispensable to conducting such sophisticated process management.
At INOUE, such products, which integrate various materials and techniques that are primarily sourced from the traditional arts, are called “integrated arts.” We are highly experienced in the manufacture of these products. Producing “integrated arts” that have unique origins in the traditional arts involves the development of various products and brands and even sometimes the production of spaces to house or display these products.
- [Compositional power] Traditional arts × traditional arts — From the traditional to the contemporary
- [Network of craftsmen] Partners of a broad variety of occupations
- [Unique origins] Building unique origins through superb design
- [Compositional power] Traditional arts × traditional arts — From the traditional to the contemporary
At INOUE, we have acquired a “compositional power.” This compositional power combines traditional arts skills, which have been cultivated in the production of Buddhist altars, with other traditional arts to produce the form or end product to our customers’ specifications.
In the traditional arts, a friendly rivalry between craftsmen has produced a variety of techniques, and many different materials have been incorporated into these arts to accompany these techniques. Furthermore, today, contemporary techniques and materials that were not used in the traditional arts are also employed.
At INOUE, we see equal value in all of these materials and techniques, from the traditional to the contemporary, and are able to leverage their unique advantages to construct individual products. In addition to a deep understanding of various traditional arts, we have accumulated expertise as generalists in the application of traditional arts that allows use to adeptly manage production while adjusting cost and quality, exerting complete control over the entire creation process. - [Network of craftsmen] Partners of a broad variety of occupations
Craftsmen are experts in a single craft that work at a set price and level of quality. It would be difficult to respond to each customer’s desired delivery date, budget, order quantity, and so on without relying on a wide network of craftsmen. At INOUE, we select the best craftsmen to meet each customer’s needs, including for projects that require a combination of skills.
Materials and Methods - [Unique origins] Building unique origins through superb design
t INOUE, we produce arts with uniquely Japanese origins. These origins show through in all aspects of the product: from the materials and techniques used to make them to the design of their packaging. The idea of a high-quality product made using traditional artistic techniques is itself a type of origin, and we aim to introduce products and brands endowed with origin stories that are truly fascinating. To do so, we rely not only on the narrative of their construction, from where and with what materials they are produced, but also on details such as their finishing touches and the superb design of the products themselves.Japanese culture has both established rules and harmonious mixtures. There are prescribed rules dealing with the representation of the scared and the profane and with good and bad luck. These pertain not only to celebration and mourning rituals, auspicious events, and formal rules about presentation and geometry, but also in the use of materials and patterns. At INOUE, where we have extensive experience dealing with Buddhist altars, we have accumulated a wealth of expertise that allows us to respond delicately to historical or cultural matters, such as the customs of particular regions or belief systems.
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