Repairing a Precious Kakejiku Scroll from America: Reviving Cherished Memories

Kakejiku, or Japanese Hanging scrolls, are artistic works that transcend generations, carrying memories along with them. However, the passage of time inevitably leads to the deterioration of the paper and the fabric. That’s why at ART NOMURA, we are dedicated to preserving our customers’ precious memories by restoring and remounting these beloved scrolls.

In this article, we’d like to share one particularly memorable case of scroll restoration that deeply touched us.

 

 

The Initial Inquiry

We received an inquiry from a female customer living in the United States, asking about restoring a damaged kakejiku. The scroll she wanted to restore had a completely torn upper section, a condition that reflected the passage of time.

 

As we learned more about her situation, we discovered that the scroll had been inherited from her father, who had passed away 20 years ago. The deep emotional attachment she had to this scroll was evident in every word of her message.

 

Planning the Restoration

After the scroll arrived at our workshop, we carefully inspected its condition and began discussing the details of the restoration process with the customer.

 

The current style of the scroll was different from the traditional Japanese mounting style, so we asked the customer whether she preferred to retain the current style or switch to a traditional Japanese one. She opted for the traditional Japanese style. Additionally, she requested a simple and understated remounting, with fabric that closely matched the current look of the scroll, enhancing its subtle elegance.

Taking her preferences into account, we selected the most suitable fabric and finalized the restoration method.

 

The Restoration Process

The overall process for remounting the scroll involved the following steps:

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)

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

 

 

Completion and Customer’s Reaction

Once the restoration was complete, the scroll looked entirely rejuvenated.

 

The refined color of the fabric beautifully complemented the artwork, giving it a dignified appearance.

 

When we promptly sent the restored scroll back to the customer, she was overjoyed and responded with the following message:

I received the scroll this past week. Thank you so much! You did a fantastic job. I will always be happy to refer you to friends who have similar needs.

 

It would be very nice if it would also bring back memories of her father.

A kakejiku is more than just a piece of art—it holds a family’s history and memories. We take great pride in helping our customers pass these invaluable memories on to the next generation.

If you have any questions or inquiries about scroll restoration, please feel free to contact us. We are always here to provide our heartfelt service.

 

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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)