Scroll Restoration Request from Switzerland: A Traditional Kakejiku Mounting Shop’s International Challenge

Our company often receives inquiries about restoring scrolls from overseas, and we are always honored to be trusted with such precious tasks.

It has been about ten years since we began working with international clients. Initially, we were unsure about how to proceed, but now we are fortunate to receive requests from all over the world regarding scrolls.

In this article, we share one such story—a request from a customer in Switzerland to restore a scroll.

We have had the pleasure of working with many customers from Switzerland in the past, and reflecting on these various memories fills us with great joy.


Dragon Kakejiku Scroll Remounting Project from a Client in Switzerland – ART NOMURA
We would like to share an episode in which we received a repeat order for the repair of a hanging scroll from a customer in Switzerland.
 

Make It Shine: Shin Mounting Style Maximized the Appeal of a Calligraphic Work from Switzerland.
Shin style mounting is the format used for paintings and calligraphic works related to Buddhist worship such as Buddhist paintings, portraits of Zen masters, Buddhist invocations and calligraphic writings.
 

Mounting Request for Shikoku Pilgrimage Kakejiku Scroll – ART NOMURA
We received a request for Shikoku 88 pilgrimage kakejiku Japanese hanging scroll from a Swiss client, who brought in and requested us.
 

Order of Producing Kakejiku Hanging Scroll from a Customer in Switzerland Who Plays Aikidō | Rinpoe-mikiri Mounting Style.
Order of Producing Kakejiku Hanging Scroll from a Customer in Switzerland Who Plays Aikidō | Rinpoe-mikiri Mounting Style.
 

 

The scroll in question was a depiction of Mount Fuji, showing significant signs of aging.

 

It was difficult to assess the severity of these harsh creases from the photographs, so we provided a rough estimate for the restoration costs.

 

We conveyed that a more detailed estimate would require inspecting the piece in person, and the customer agreed. As the estimated cost was within his budget, he promptly sent the scroll to us.

Here is the hanging scroll that arrived. Upon close examination in person, we realized that the damage was more significant than anticipated.

 

The folding, especially in the Mt. Fuji section, was deeply and severely creased.

 

The severity of the creasing can be seen even more clearly in photos taken from an angle.

 

Upon examining the scroll, we realized that the deepest crease was worse than anticipated based on the customer’s photos. We informed the customer that while remounting could help mitigate the damage, there was a risk it would not become perfectly flat.

The customer expressed understanding of the limits of the restoration and asked us to proceed as best we could.

Next, we proceeded with discussions on the specifications and fabric choices for the scroll. We presented several fabric options, and the customer selected one that suited their taste.

 

Completion of the Restoration

The restoration and remounting of the hanging scroll were successfully completed. Here is the completed scroll.

 

The severe crease, particularly on the Mt. Fuji section, has become much less noticeable, and the piece has been restored to a state where they no longer interfere with its appreciation.

 

We promptly informed the customer of the completion of the restoration and sent the scroll.

 

Customer’s Gratitude and Future Visit

After receiving the restored scroll, the customer sent us the following heartwarming message:

Dear Sir,

I have just received the remounted scroll in Geneva and I would like to thank You very much for this wonderful work. The scroll is now in a very nice state of conservation. I would like to notify my visit in Your shop the ● of ● ▲ at around 11 am. I will bring You about 6 old scrolls to be remounted. Would You please inform me if this date is appropriate?
I am very glad to meet You soon in Kobe, best regards

 

The customer not only expressed his gratitude for the restoration but also planned a visit from faraway Switzerland to entrust us with new restoration projects.

We feel that this is the highest form of praise for our work. All of our staff are genuinely delighted.

We will continue to preserve traditional Japanese techniques while contributing to the protection of precious artworks for customers worldwide.

We will report further on the visit of this Swiss customer soon.

If you have any concerns regarding hanging scrolls, please feel free to consult with us.

 

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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)