Hiyoshiya Wagasa: Traditional Japanese Umbrellas

Today, I visited Hiyoshi Wagasa, a maker of wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrellas). I had a nice chat with the president of the company, Mr. Nishibori Kotaro. Mr. Nishibori is representative of an interesting group of young Japanese people who are trying to find new uses for traditional techniques. His company is now making wonderful lamps with traditional wagasa-making techniques. Mr. Nishibori said, "Tradition is continuing innovation. What we now call `traditional' was once new.'"