Preserving Heritage, Embracing Innovation: Nice to MEET you! Tsuyoshi Kato
Tsuyoshi Kato is the founder of kiten.kyoto and the third-generation leader of Katouken Flag Store (加藤健旗店), a Kyoto-based workshop with a history spanning over 70 years. Known for producing traditional flags, noren (暖簾), and happi coats (法被) for festivals, shrines, and public institutions, the studio stands as a quiet yet resilient guardian of Japan’s visual heritage.
In recent years, Kato-san has turned his attention toward revitalizing this legacy for the future. He has firsthand experience with the challenges facing traditional crafts, including a shrinking domestic market and a decline in generational succession.
He sees international collaboration as essential for survival:
“I’ve seen too many traditional businesses close their doors. To ensure our skills and stories live on, we must create work that resonates beyond Japan—designs people around the world genuinely want to live with.”
In 2023, Kato-san launched kiten.kyoto, a lifestyle brand that reinterprets traditional dyeing and sewing techniques through a modern lens.
Tradition Meets Contemporary Design: The MONO Makers Program
Kato-san’s participation in the 2024 MONO Makers Program marked a pivotal step in this vision. Designed to foster cross-cultural collaboration between Japanese makers and Dutch designers, the program provided a platform to explore what Japanese heritage can mean in an international context.
Teaming up with Laura Luchtman, the pair created a capsule collection that merged Japanese hand-dyeing craftsmanship with European design. The project introduced Kato-san to new design methods and markets, including the challenge of producing wearable prototypes from scratch.
“It was my first time translating a designer’s sketch into a fully realized gown. That process required a shift—not just technically, but in mindset. It pushed me beyond my comfort zone.”
Despite the challenges, Kato-san emphasizes the ease of communication and shared respect between him and Laura. Their mutual dedication to craft and cultural storytelling made for a productive and meaningful partnership.
A Vision Beyond Borders
What stood out most in the collaboration, Kato-san reflects, was the difference in design thinking. While his work often emphasizes lineage, subtlety, and tradition, Laura’s approach introduced a focus on story, landscape, and emotional resonance. This inspired him to rethink how narratives can shape not just a product, but an entire brand.
Looking ahead, Kato-san aims to evolve the collection into a sustainable brand offering tailored to international audiences. Plans include expanding fabric and dyeing variations, and continuing to share traditional Japanese culture through wearable, livable design.
“This isn’t just about one product or one collaboration. It’s about building something enduring—anchored in tradition, but looking outward.”
Kato-san believes the MONO Makers Program has the potential to spark long-term change for artisans in Japan.
Advice for Future Participants
For artisans considering the program, Kato-san offers this advice:
“Approach the collaboration with a clear vision and target. Don’t treat it as a one-off project, but as the starting point of something bigger.”
The MMP, he emphasizes, is more than a design opportunity—it’s a lifeline for those committed to ensuring their heritage lives on in a changing world.
Ready to Join the Dialogue?
The MONO Makers Program 2025 Open Call is now live!
Noted that applications must be submitted jointly by pair, one based in the Netherlands and
another based in Japan.
Application Period: 7 April – 23 May 2025
Selected Pair Announced: 5 June 2025
For full details, visit our profile or contact: info@monojapan.nl
