Dragon Kakejiku Scroll Remounting Project from a Client in Switzerland

In the Japanese zodiac (Jūni-shi), there are 12 animals known as “zodiac signs” that symbolize each year in a 12-year cycle.

The animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar, each governing the characteristics of their respective year.

The year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.

Our company has received many inquiries and assignments related to dragons.

In this article, we would like to share a story about a dragon scroll restoration request we received from a customer living in Switzerland.

 

A Swiss Customer Requested the Restoration of a Dragon Kakejiku Scroll.

Although the concept of the zodiac does not exist in Switzerland, this customer, who has previously requested scroll restorations from our company several times, is knowledgeable about Japanese culture and may have made the request with that understanding.

For articles on the customer’s past projects, please refer to here.


Order For Remounting A Hanging Scroll From Europe
We would like to share one of our works regarding international orders. We received an inquiry from a customer in Europe about remounting his kakejiku.
 

Remounting Samurai Musha Warrior Kakejiku Hanging Scroll
We receive an order of remounting / repairing a samurai musha warrior kakejiku hanging scroll from Europe. This is our first international repeat order.
 

Omote-uchi : Special Method During Restoration of Damaged Hanging Scroll
We are an expert in restoring Kakejiku Japanese hanging scrolls. Today, we will show you a special method we use during restoration: omote-uchi
 

 

This is the scroll discussed in the consultation. It had become dirty overall, and it was time for a remounting.

 

During our detailed discussions with the customer, he requested not the current maru mounting style but the uniquely Japanese gyō mounting style for the remount.

The customer’s knowledge and particularity about scrolls and mounting styles were impressive.

However, changing to a gyō mounting style would significantly increase the total length to about 2 meters, which could touch the floor when displayed in a Japanese tokonoma alcove.

We confirmed with him if this length was acceptable, considering their location in Switzerland might differ from Japan. The customer assured us it was not a problem.

 

Dragon Scroll Repair Process

Even scrolls like this can be transformed into beautiful pieces by the skilled hands of our artisans.

The general flow of the re-mounting operation is as follows:

Color Fixing (Settling the paint by applying chemical agent)

↓

Dismantling of Kakejiku (Removing old fabrics, roller rod, etc.)

↓

Removal of Old Backing Paper (Peeling off the old backing paper from the back of the main work)

↓

Cleaning (Cleaning the main work as best as possible by using chemical agent)

↓

Remounting (Remounting in kakejiku with the fabric which the customer has chosen)

 

Restoration and Remounting Are Complete

The restoration and remounting are complete, and the dragon scroll, now free of dirt and mounted on a dignified and profound fabric, allows the dragon’s majesty to be felt. The change in the work’s image due to the mounting fabric is also an enjoyable aspect of mounting.

 

We immediately sent the finished scroll to the customer, who provided the following feedback:

The dragon kakejiku has arrived my home, and it looks so wonderful.
Thanks again for your great work of art and I look forward to make business with you again.

 

We are extremely pleased to have satisfied the customer with our work. At their request, the customer kindly provided us with a photo of the scroll displayed in their home.

Our customer was kind enough to provide us with a photo of the hanging scroll displayed in his home.

 

He chose a sunny day to take a good photo, and we were touched by his thoughtful consideration.

Seeing the scroll beautifully displayed in Switzerland makes us proud.

 

Our company accepts scroll restoration requests not only from Japan but from all over the world.

If you have any concerns about scrolls, please do not hesitate to consult us.

We look forward to your inquiries.

 

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CEO Message

Our Feelings For Kakejiku

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

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Company Profile
syaoku.jpg(120220 byte)

Name Art Nomura

President Tatsuji Nomura

Founded1973

Established1992

Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
Hyougo Prefecture, 655-0021, Japan


Capital10 million yen

URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com

Our Business

 Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.


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Access Map

Access Map

 The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
understandably is a “kakejiku.”
 The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
 The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
love kakejiku someday.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)