The artisans behind mass production - Matsubara Reed Ltd. (JETRO)

Matsubara Reed is a company that makes metal reeds (read the article to find out what a metal reed is)

They didn't let me take photos sadly so no extras this time. I'll get to the articles with pics next week when I return from Nagano cos the internet here is not very good. 

The artisans behind mass production - Matsubara Reed Ltd.

Precision pieces crafted by hand

Unlike the items made with the reeds, the reeds themselves are all crafted by hand. It's a time-consuming and intricate process. Each piece needs to be perfectly finished and accurate to the smallest detail to ensure they meet the specific needs of the companies that rely on them.

Because there's no unified standard, each customer provides the density and measurements they require to Matsubara Reed who then designs each reed-assembled and finished by hand-to those exacting specifications. The jobs done by the craftsmen in the company are not particularly unique, but the intricate nature of the work means it can take up to ten years to truly master the process.

reed(笑) the rest...

Momentum Factory Orii (JETRO)

This article is about a Toyama Based company called Momentum Factory Orii. It's a 3rd generation family business that specialises in the colouring and restoration of bronze sculptures as well as the creation of some very hi end coloured bronze or copper panels using some nifty traditional science.

Momentum Factory Orii - Brass and Copper Coloring and Restoration

The science of art

The company was established in 1950 by Takejiro Orii in Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture. They specialized in the coloring of brass by using chemical reactions to form an oxidized layer that protects the brass from the elements but can also give it a different hue. While the coloring process is based on scientific principles, the means by which these chemical reactions are created are a traditional technique that has been passed down three generations to the current CEO, Koji Orii.

read the rest...

As before, Here are some of the extra shots I took on the day in a decent resolution there are quite e few so be sure to hit the jump and check out the rest on flickr:

YouYouAng Incense (JETRO)

Those of you who watch 7 Days 7 minutes will recall that I was hopping around the country quite regularly for work earlier in the year. What I was doing was writing promotional articles for JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation. The pieces have finally been published. I'm glad to see that the editing on the pieces was minimal. What bothers me is that JETRO didn't publish the names of the writers on these pieces. I realise these were for promotional purposes but I somehow thought we would get recognition for our contribution to helping promote Japanese Businesses to the world. To be fair, I got to travel, and they did pay me. I'll link them all on this site over the next few days and If I took any at the interview, I'll put up some bonus Hi Res pics here and on flickr. First up is a Gunma based incense company

YouYouAng - Incense 

Simple and refined elegance

Kanako Yoshida started her career as a product planner in the jewellery world, looking at what trends and products would do well in the Japanese market. She realised there was also a market overseas for goods from Japan. She wanted to create something that was quintessentially Japanese yet small and simple enough to be used regularly. That goal, paired with her personal affinity for perfumes and aromatherapy, inspired her to create incense.

Read the rest...