"GO ON" is a project that brings together successors of traditional crafts. We asked Nakagawa Woodcraft Hira Studio, Asahiyaki, and Kanaamitsuji about how they are adapting to modern needs and what will remain the same.

Shuji Nakagawa of Nakagawa Woodcraft Hira Studio responded: "For generations, we have been making buckets that require water resistance. We have the technique to use wood fibers to make the water-resistant parts on the inside and the weak parts on the outside. As long as we use the wood in the right places, the shape, details, and location don't matter." In fact, the champagne cooler he created over the course of two years, "konoha," features a modern silhouette with functional beauty. This champagne cooler has been selected as the official cooler for Dom Pérignon. The wooden barrel embodies both utility and beauty. The world has recognized its value.

Yusuke Matsubayashi, 16th generation owner of Asahiyaki, a 400-year-old ware maker in Uji, Kyoto, says, "The one thing that won't change is that we continue to make tea ware. I think it's fine to change anything else." In fact, in collaboration with Thomas Lykke of the Danish design unit OeO, they created teapots and cups with modern silhouettes and colors. They exude the elegance of techniques passed down through generations. Regarding GO ON, Matsubayashi says, "Having serious discussions with members who are passionate about craftsmanship motivates me to move forward."

Toru Tsuji of Kanaami Tsuji says, "What won't change is the philosophy of the dignity of a supporting role." In yudofu, a Kyoto specialty, the wire mesh used to scoop the tofu plays a supporting role, but it's precisely because it's carefully crafted and beautiful that it stands there without detracting from the atmosphere of the setting. That is the aesthetic of a supporting role. A lamp that brings light is the focal point of a room, but this is only possible with the refined silhouette of its wire mesh shade. In the GO ON showroom, lighting fixtures with hand-woven wire mesh lampshades cast gentle shadows on the Japanese-style room.

A common theme in the words of GO ON members is the "philosophy of returning to basics." They seem to be supported by what has been passed down from their predecessors, who seriously considered responding to the voices of the times, faced the changes of the times, and honed their skills through repeated trial and error. What kind of future does GO ON see as it listens to the past and then sets out on a new path?

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