Hakocho
A Paulownia Kimekomi box
“Keep your special fabric forever”
We have unique products.
A Paulownia Kimekomi box becomes a one-of-a-kind item for each customer.
You can even bring a special memorable fabric to make the box. We can use the fabric for your one-of-a-kind special box.
Roots
We will have our 150th anniversary in 2024. We used to only make boxes. Asakusa has always attracted many tourists, so we started making a special box to be bought as a keepsake, reminding customers of their visit to Asakusa. We specialize in handcrafted Kimekomi wooden boxes made of Paulownia (Princess Tree) wood. Kimekomi is a technique of carving classical Edo-period (1603-1868) good omen patterns into wood and inlaying beautiful antique Kimono fabric. We hope our box will keep your Asakusa memories with you for a long time.
Materials - Paulownia wood -
Our boxes are made with Paulownia wood. The reason Paulownia wood is used is because the grain of the wood is beautiful, and it’s light, strong, and suitable for preservation.
In Japan, items to be cherished, especially Kimono, are stored in Paulownia boxes, and the culture of using Paulownia boxes has continued for more than 1,000 years. Paulownia wood is a perfect material for the climate of Japan, with its four distinct seasons, ranging from hot to cold. In the season of high humidity, the properties of Paulownia help it resist damage from humidity.
Paulownia boxes have properties of humidity control*1 and fire resistance*2, and the technique of making Paulownia boxes has long been passed down by craftsmen.
*1 When the humidity in the air is high, a Paulownia box absorbs moisture, and when the humidity is low, it releases moisture, making the interior of the box less susceptible to the effects of humidity.
*2 When the surface of a Paulownia box burns and carbonizes, this carbonized layer acts as a heat insulator, making the inside of the box less likely to burn.
Burned Paulownia Wood
The ”White chest of drawers” (natural wood) changes color after decades of use. We use a special technique called Jidai-Shiage (aged finish) which is a method of burning the surface of the wood to give it that aged look. The color will remain the same for a long time. It has a good color from the beginning, and the grain of the wood comes out beautifully. Nowadays, there are fewer Japanese-style tatami-floor rooms, and by using this special finish, it can look good in both Japanese and Western-style rooms.
* “White chest of drawers”, unpainted Paulownia wood in its original material.
Fabrics
We have collected these kimono fabrics from the time of our predecessors over many years.
Customers choose according to their preference from our wide variety of fabrics – for example, a pink color with one kind of pattern, or a lighter color.
Hakocho creates products from an abundance of Kimono fabrics with a variety of colors and patterns. Our popular items are a combination of Japanese embroidered fabrics and patterns of lucky charms.
Lining
After selecting the fabric, the next step is backing, which is the process of attaching Japanese Washi paper to the back of the fabric. The backing gives strength to the fabric and allows the mold to be punched out and embedded into the box in a shape that matches the pattern to be engraved.
Custom orders
If a customer wants a green fabric with a chrysanthemum pattern and requests a lighter green color, there is a wide variety of fabrics to meet the customerʼs preferences.
Our customers are pleased with our wide variety of choices and how we can meet their requests, such as making a slightly smaller or larger size.
Keep your special fabric forever
We can make original one-of-a-kind pieces.
For example, you can bring a scrap of clothing that your departed mother wore, and we can use the fabric for your custom-order box. You can give a small box with the fabric and pattern to your relatives as a memento. In this way, you can have your precious memories as something to keep close to you.
Our values
MIYATA Kenji
We value meeting our customers’ expectations.
I think the reason we have been around for so long is that we value our customers’ requests, which can apply to any of the processes at our house; making the box from wood, arranging the fabric, the carving technique, and everything else.
After you return home you can show your original box to your friends and tell them about your experience at Hakocho, and if your friends want to visit us, I would be very happy.
