(This is the first time we've formally greeted each other) Nice to meet you! I'm Shigematsu from the FASHION HEADLINE editorial team.

This time, our new project "ENcounter" began with an interview on Hachijojima to visit the Yamashita couple, masters of "Kihachijo." The word "encounter" means an unexpected encounter with someone.

For our interview on Hachijojima, we were accompanied by the staff of Hosoo, a long-established Nishijin weaver in Kyoto founded in 1688. The idea for this project originally came from a conversation with Masataka Hosoo of Hosoo, asking, "What would happen if we combined analog virtuosity with high technology?"

From here on, we'll be having a double talk between Hosoo (hereafter referred to as H) and Shigematsu (hereafter referred to as S).

S:The world of high technology seems to be getting more and more interesting. The project that Hosoo presented this spring with Sputniko! and Gucci, using biotechnology to create luminous silk, was a fantastic approach that felt like it flew straight into the future!

H:I felt the same way about that project, but by fusing technology with the analog, transcendent techniques of traditional craftsmanship, there's a sense of transcending time and space in an instant.

S:Indeed, that work was surprising, as if the past, present, and future seemed to intersect!

H:In addition to Nishijin weaving, Hosoo also operates as a wholesaler for dyeing and weaving artists from all over the country, so I would like to create more opportunities to experience the techniques that have been passed down in various regions.

S:I've always wanted to learn more about Japanese dyeing and weaving, as well as other fine products. The digital world is fun, but the analog world is also full of charm.

H:So, at "ENcounter," let's go and encounter both traditional techniques and future technology.

S:Oh, I'm looking forward to it! We had a wonderful time at the "Kihachijo Meyu Kobo" we visited this time. "Kihachijo" also uses mordant dyeing, which creates a chemical reaction by combining natural materials, and I was amazed at how people in the past discovered this.

H:That's true. I recently went to Amami Oshima to see mud dyeing, and I was impressed by the mud dyeing techniques used in "Kihachijo." I felt that there was a connection not only between the techniques but also between the philosophies of the creators.

S:On both Hachijojima and Amami Oshima, I sense the wisdom of the people who live while embracing the natural resources the islands offer. It's a feeling that tends to be forgotten when living in the city.

H:There are many amazing techniques that have been passed down through the generations in Japan and around the world, and I feel that if we properly communicate their value, we are living in a world where they can be properly appreciated. In fact, we have recently seen an increase in overseas customers who carefully research the Japan Kogei Council's member catalog before coming to Japan.

S:I see! What kind of things are overseas customers interested in?

H:They are also interested in techniques like plant dyeing, and they seem to be drawn to the designs of each artist.

S:Yamashita-san also told us about the time he rode the subway in France wearing a Kihachijo kimono. Perhaps there are no boundaries when it comes to beauty, after all.

So, in FASHION HEADLINE's new project, "ENcounter," we travel all over Japan in search of wonderful encounters, and we would like to share the stories we encounter there.

Next time, we will head to Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture to meet Chiba Matsue, the only person in Japan who has inherited Japan's oldest dyeing and weaving technique, "Shoai Reizome."

See you again!

Shigematsu Yuka