Notice of renewal of the official website of “Edo Mounting
I am also (currently) the director (in charge of public relations) of ”Tokyo hyogu kyozi naiso bunka kyokai,” an organization of more than 140 mounting stores in the Kanto area centered on Tokyo.
As part of this public relations project, I have been working on the renewal (addition of content) of the official Edo Mounting website.
Apart from the association’s official website, the association launched in March 2025 a website dedicated to communicating the appeal of Edo mounting.
This time, we have added contents and renovated the site to further enhance its content.
■ Why renewed (Issue)
This site was established to promote the value of Edo Mounting to the general public as well as to those in the same industry.
In reality, however, it is true that many of the contents are specialized and somewhat hard for the general public to understand.
In addition, in recent years, Japanese-style rooms have been decreasing due to changes in housing styles, and there are fewer opportunities for people to come into contact with mounting such as hanging scrolls ・byobu ・fusuma sliding doors.
On the other hand, interest in Japanese culture and traditional crafts is growing both in Japan and abroad.
In light of this situation, we have renewed ・ to add new content with the aim of communicating the value of Edo mounting in a way those is easier to understand and more widely understood.
■ What we did in this renewal
・ Video of the production process of sliding doors
A newly produced ・ video showing the actual production of fusuma sliding doors by Edo mounting traditional craftsmen is now available.
The video introduces the process of making fusuma, a traditional Japanese sliding door, through the actual work, which is finished through traditional processes such as multiple underlining.
The exhibition digests the process of finishing with high precision using tools such as brushes and knives, and the time-consuming and labor-intensive process of giving shape to the finished product, providing a visual representation of the appeal of traditional fusuma.
※ video is also available on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQapG51WHzM
・ materials ・ tools
Various materials that support mounting are introduced, such as Sakiguchi, Japanese paper, glue, and brushes.
It also explains the specialized tools used in each process, showing that the work of mounting is made up of many materials and techniques.
Despite its specialized content, the book is designed to be understandable to the general public by providing explanations that are as easy to understand as possible through the use of photographs.
・Introduction of Traditional Artisans
We newly added a page introducing “traditional craftsmen,” who are certified through a rigorous screening process.
It visualizes the existence of craftsmen who support Edo Mounting’s technology and quality, and conveys the fact that we have a system in place to provide professional skills for consultations on production and restoration.
・ English translation of the entire site
The entire site was translated into English to convey the appeal of Edo Mounting to overseas users.
As interest in Japanese culture grows, we aim to communicate the techniques and aesthetics of mounting internationally.
■ As the main person in charge of public relations and as a mounting artist
I was deeply involved in this renewal from the planning stage as the main person in charge.
- Examining the content structure
- Writing the text ・ Adjustment
- Direction of photos to be posted on the site
- Direction of the video production of the sliding doors (coordination of performers ・Preparation ・Witnessing filming, etc.)
- Creation and distribution of press releases
Especially for the video, it was necessary to determine “what should be shown” and “what should be cut” from the viewpoint of the field, which required a craftsman’s perspective rather than mere PR.
To be honest, there were some parts that I felt were too much for my inexperienced hands, but thanks to the great cooperation of the PR team, I feel that the content was completed to a very high degree of perfection.
■ What I actually felt
What I strongly felt through this effort was,
I felt strongly through this project that “mounting” is changing from a job of “waiting for requests” to a job of “communicating”.
these is what I strongly felt through this project.
In the past, work was completed only after receiving a request from the owner of a hanging scroll or folding screen.
But from now on,
- How to incorporate them into modern living spaces
- How do we attract newcomers to our work?
and how to attract newcomers to the market will become more important.
■ Finally
This renewal is not a goal, but a start.
We will continue to enhance the content and strengthen the communication in the future in order to convey the appeal of Edo mounting to more people and lead to actual requests and new applications.
We hope that the work of mounting will be seen not as something special, but as an option those is close at hand.
In the future, we will further expand the possibilities of Edo mounting by proposing mounting solutions that fit modern living spaces and developing new products.
We will not only preserve the tradition, but also pass on its value to the next generation as a technology that can be used in modern life.