Special Experience

Kyoto

Ukiyo-e Motif Kataezome Stencil Dyeing Workshop in a Scenic Kyoto Garden

イメージ拡大マーク

Overview

Located at the foot of Higashiyama in Kyoto, Murin-an is a vibrant garden recognized as a modern Japanese masterpiece and nationally designated a Place of Scenic Beauty. This experience will take place in a Japanese-style room on the second floor of its main building, reserved just for you and your group. While taking in sweeping vistas, immerse yourself in kataezome, a traditional Japanese stencil dyeing technique. Choose your favorite ukiyo-e-themed motif, then apply colors to washi paper using brushes, as acclaimed Japanese-style painter and kataezome artist Masayuki Isa guides you. Savor this experience of learning a traditional Japanese art against the backdrop of a celebrated garden.

Key Features

・Create your own kataezome artwork while enjoying the serene garden from the second floor of Murin-an, a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty
・Receive guidance from Masayuki Isa, a distinguished kataezome artist and Japanese-style painter, honored with multiple awards at Japan's largest art exhibitions
・Choose your favorite subject from the patterns of famous ukiyo-e works

*Visitors may also be interested in these other similar plans:
Ukiyo-e Motif Kataezome Stencil Dyeing Workshop in Tokyo with an Artist

Kyoto

from
¥36,000 /person

Private event

1 - 8 participants

150 min

Available in English

Cancel free up to 31 days before

* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 72,000

Details

A Famous Garden with the Soothing Sound of a Babbling Brook

Murin-an, nestled at the base of Higashiyama in Kyoto, was built between 1894 and 1896 as a villa for the statesman Aritomo Yamagata. It comprises a Japanese garden, the main building, a tea ceremony room, and a Western-style house. The Western-style house is known as the location of the Murin-an Conference in 1903, during which Japan's first Prime Minister, Hirobumi Ito, and Aritomo Yamagata deliberated on diplomatic policy and shaped the nation's future.

Murin-an Garden, a creation of Jihei Ogawa, a trailblazer in modern Japanese garden design ©Ueyakato Landscape Co., LTD.

The garden, created by harnessing water from Lake Biwa, is a masterpiece in the Higashiyama-Nanzenji area. It has received enduring acclaim, being praised as the inspiration for subsequent gardens. As you stroll through the garden, the gentle murmur of flowing water and the rustling of leaves create an atmosphere reminiscent of a tranquil mountain stream. In this experience, the second floor of Murin-an’s main building will be reserved for you to try kataezome, from where you can also enjoy captivating views of the garden.

The second floor of Murin-an's main building overlooks the greenery of the garden ©Ueyakato Landscape Co., LTD.

The Beauty of Japan Depicted by Kataezome Artist Masayuki Isa

Your instructor, Mr. Masayuki Isa, is an accomplished kataezome artist and Japanese-style painter. His father, Kunio, learned from the renowned kataezome artist Toshijiro Inagaki, a Living National Treasure, and established the Isa Monyo Research Institute known for its modern kataezome patterns. Mr. Isa now carries on this tradition, safeguarding kataezome and its diverse patterns for future generations. The Isa Monyo Research Institute houses a vast collection of over 3,000 kakishibu (persimmon tannin) stencils created throughout its history.

Masayuki Isa, a kataezome artist and Japanese-style painter, specializes in kataezome works featuring themes such as the moon and Kyoto shrines

A versatile, award-winning artist, Mr. Isa also teaches Japanese-style painting nationwide, offers kataezome patterns for architectural projects, and designs posters for the Kyoto Autumn Music Festival. Beyond Japan, he shares his expertise through kataezome lectures abroad, actively promoting Japanese culture globally. In this workshop, you will get to learn the techniques of kataezome directly from Mr. Isa and create your own masterpiece.

A Traditional Japanese Technique Evolved into an Art Form

Kataezome, dating back to the Heian period (794-1185), is a traditional Japanese stencil dyeing technique involving using a stencil as a guide to apply resist paste, dyeing the fabric, and washing off the resist paste post-dyeing. Initially used for samurai and feudal lord attire, as well as in Noh plays, from the Muromachi period (1336-1568) through the Edo period (1603-1868), it later became popular among commoners in the mid-Edo period.

This method evolved in step with Japanese culture, becoming a cornerstone of the opulent kimono culture in the 1900s. Today, kataezome extends beyond kimonos, enduring as both an art and an artistic technique.

Mr. Isa's artwork inspired by the Kiyomizu-dera Temple

While kataezome involves several intricate steps, in this experience you will dye washi paper on which resist paste is applied according to your desired pattern.

Choosing From the Ukiyo-e-Themed Motifs

In this workshop, you will try kataezome featuring ukiyo-e-inspired themes. Explore various renowned ukiyo-e motifs like Fine Wind, Clear Morning and The Great Wave off Kanagawa from the iconic Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji series. Feel free to have a discussion with Mr. Isa to choose the motif that inspires your creativity.

1. Fine Wind, Clear Morning

2. The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

The Pleasure of Coloring and Dyeing Japanese Paper

To start, Mr. Isa will give a brief demonstration. While you listen to his explanation, you can observe and contemplate the distinctions between this art form and other painting styles, reflecting on the traditional kataezome kimono creation process.

Demonstration is a unique opportunity to see Mr. Isa's work at close range

Kataezome involves a complex series of steps, including sketching, stencil carving, applying resist paste, and washing off the paste. In this hands-on experience, you will engage in the dyeing stage of the process, using a traditional Japanese brush to dye washi paper. A pattern will be provided, making it accessible even for those not confident in their drawing skills.

Adding color with a brush while using a stencil

Kataezome allows for bold strokes using a wide brush to apply colors. One of the most delightful aspects of kataezome is envisioning the final scene as the stencil is peeled off. You do not have to copy the subject exactly. Feel free to explore your creativity, whether it is tweaking the colors slightly or experimenting with gradation.

A night view of Mt. Fuji reimagined from Fine Wind, Clear Morning. The dramatic shift in impression is fascinating

Experience and Explore Japanese Beauty and Tradition

This experience empowers participants to create their unique interpretation of scenes, by layering colors according to their artistic sensibilities. Isa says, "Kataezome is fascinating because it heightens your awareness of nature. You start contemplating the colors of dawn and the transformations in plant hues." 

Upon completing this workshop, you may discover yourself perceiving everyday landscapes from a slightly altered perspective. Come and experience the charm of kataezome, a tradition steeped in history and foundational to kimono culture. All this unfolds in a Japanese-style room overlooking the exquisite garden of Murin-an.

Finished kataezome artworks. The depth of these pieces truly shines when showcased in a frame



Courtesy of Isa Monyo Research Institute

Since the 1940s, the Isa Monyo Research Institute has been crafting a myriad of patterns and designs, establishing itself as a pattern brand that fuses modern aesthetics with the age-old Japanese art of kataezome dyeing. Their collection boasts over 3,000 kakishibu stencils, and this number continues to expand through their dynamic creative endeavors. Their gallery in Nihonbashi, Tokyo proudly showcases a plethora of works produced by the Isa Monyo Research Institute.
Masayuki Isa, the son of the founder Kunio Isa and a kataezome artist and Japanese-style painter, is dedicated to preserving kataezome techniques and patterns for future generations.

Location

Murin-an
Sakyo Ward, Kyoto

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November 2024

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Experience fee

Minimum fee JPY 36000 × 2 participants

JPY 72,000

*Minimum: 2 participants; JPY 36,000 × 2 will be charged for bookings below the minimum.

Price may change after date is selected.

Additional options fee

Interpretation in English

JPY 0

Other

Service fee (5%)

JPY 3,600

Total Price

JPY 75,600

tax & service fee incl.

Extra charges may apply for the following

  • ・Interpretation / Dependant on experience schedule and language
  • ・Optional add-ons / Souvenirs, delivery, etc.
While your booking is being processed, a temporary authorization hold will be placed on your credit card. Charges occur upon confirmed reservation.

Kyoto

from
¥36,000 /person

Private event

1 - 8 participants

150 min

Available in English

Cancel free up to 31 days before

* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 72,000

Things to know

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We also accept bookings from corporate clients and travel agencies.