Azuma Fukutaro
As the fifth-generation steward of Azuma, Fukutaro carries a legacy that began in 1891 and continues to evolve. Born into a family of timber merchants in Wakayama, he grew up watching his grandfather and father work with kiri—from raw logs to fine joinery. After studying Kyoto’s traditional crafts under masters of the Tsugimono (joinery) tradition, he returned home to reinvigorate his heritage with renewed vision.
Azuma’s philosophy, under Fukutaro’s leadership, is to bridge the past and future. He believes tradition is not frozen, but alive: that true craft must adapt. To that end, he combines centuries-old hand techniques with contemporary design and digital tools—letting AI rough-shape larger parts, but reserving the final adjustment, finish, and delicate assembly for human hands.
In recent years, Fukutaro has launched the brand SAMA, repositioning the kuri-tansu (kiri chest) as a guardian of modern wardrobes. His concept: these chests should not only store garments, but protect them—imbuing them with timelessness and sustainability.
Selected as a “Takumi” in the LEXUS New Takumi Project 2017, he has exhibited internationally—from Paris to Milan—sharing his vision of kiri as both function and art.
What defines Fukutaro’s work is care: he insists on doing every process in-house—selecting wood, milling, shaping, lacquering, finishing—all under one roof. It’s a rare commitment in an age of outsourcing.
Yet even as he looks to expand globally, his focus remains rooted in place: the climate, texture, and spirit of Wakayama inform every design decision. For him, each Azuma piece is a dialogue—between land, time, and human intention.
The Craftsmen of Ido Tatami
In Shirahama, Wakayama, the artisans of Ido Tatami carry on a legacy both rooted and restless. Under the brand inoca, these craftsmen not only weave tatami, but nurture the living fiber of tradition itself.
Their journey begins in the fields: planting and tending Kishū igusa (Wakayama-grown rush) with painstaking care, season after season. From the stalks to the loom, they oversee every detail—selecting, dyeing, drying, and weaving—ensuring the very soul of the material is honored.
What defines their work is an insistence on precision and humility. Each weave must respond to air and light; each edge must sit flush and silent. The craftsmen train across generations to sense moisture, strength, and texture—making adjustments invisible to the eye.
In recent years, with inoca, they have stretched the identity of tatami beyond rooms—transforming mats into sandals, accessories, and home objects. Their craft now engages new form, new function, while remaining true to the weave.
They face challenges modern and urgent: declining igusa cultivation, aging artisans, and the demand for speed. Yet their belief is clear: to sustain their craft, they must bridge tradition and adaptation. So they host open rice-field festivals, design modular tatami systems, and embrace color in borders and furnishings.
The craftsmen of Ido do not see tatami as a product—they see it as a bridge. Between rural soil and urban home. Between scent and silence. Between the past and the next generation. Their hands, woven into every reed, shape the continuing story of Wakayama’s breath and stillness.
Wakayama, in Japan’s Kansai region, is where spiritual heritage meets breathtaking nature. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes and Mount Koya, a center of Shingon Buddhism, offer a deep sense of history and tranquility.
The prefecture also boasts dramatic coastlines, soothing hot springs like Shirahama, and a rich food culture—from fresh tuna in Katsuura to some of Japan’s sweetest mandarins. Wakayama is a destination that blends tradition, nature, and flavor into an unforgettable experience.
Wakayama is home to many workshops that continue to preserve traditional craftsmanship.
For example, Azuma creates finely crafted furniture using paulownia wood, while Inoca applies the age-old techniques of tatami making to produce sandals made from rush grass.
These artisans not only safeguard and pass down their traditional skills, but also breathe new life into them by creating innovative products for the present day.
MEET THE
CRAFTSPEOPLE
In Wakayama, craftsmanship is more than skill — it’s a quiet conversation between hands, materials, and time.
From the soft weave of igusa rush to the precise joinery of kiri wood, each maker carries forward traditions shaped by the land itself.
Their work is patient, deliberate, and deeply human — born not of haste, but of harmony.
Here, creation is an act of care, and every piece reflects the rhythm of Wakayama’s nature and spirit.
