Kenta Yoshizawa's Red Craft Collection Translates Four Japanese Techniques into Domestic Objects

Kenta Yoshizawa, a designer from Kyoto, has introduced Red Craft (Akai Kogei), a collection that modernizes four traditional Japanese craft methods: bamboo fencing, kumihimo braided cord, washi paper, and urushi lacquer, transforming them into contemporary furniture and lighting pieces. The lineup includes 'n shelf', a bamboo shelf that leans; 'kumino', a stool and side table featuring kumihimo cords; 'stickstick', a lighting fixture crafted from metal rods and washi paper; and 'usahako', a rabbit-shaped container made with washi paper and urushi lacquer. This collection marries traditional materials with modern aesthetics while maintaining the essence of craftsmanship. Collaborators on this project include Nagaoka Meichiku, Shoen Kumihimo, Inshu Washi, and COCOO. Photographs were taken by WACOH and Kenta Yoshizawa, and the work was submitted to designboom, with editing by Christina Vergopoulou.