WABISUKE as an "editor of meaning"
WABISUKE as an "editor of meaning"
- Reweaving Kyoto's "invisible resources" into the modern era -
Every day, we live surrounded by visible objects: smartphones, furniture, clothes, tableware. But how often do we pay attention to the meaning and background behind these objects?
WABISUKE is a company that shines a light on these "invisible things."
We are not a company that manufactures things, nor are we an organization that preserves traditions.
We are an entity that edits the vast semantic resources of Kyoto into a form that is usable for modern people.
Kyoto, a mine of meaning
Kyoto has a "meaning" that has accumulated over more than a thousand years.
It is not just tangible culture such as architecture, crafts, tea ceremony and Japanese sweets.
For example, the tranquility of the veranda as the morning light pours in.
The feeling of your heart relaxing when you have a steaming bowl of ramen in front of you.
A delicate sensibility that senses the changing of the seasons through changes in clothing and the patterns on tableware.
This "invisible Kyoto" exists richly, deeply, and quietly, like a vein of minerals lying dormant underground.
However, in modern times, this meaning is often superficially consumed as "ancient things" or "tourist resources."
WABISUKE resists this.
Editing is translation and reconstruction
Editing is not just about rearranging information.
It is the act of transferring meaning from one context to another.
In other words, editing is a kind of "translation" and "reconstruction."
What WABISUKE does is exactly this "translation of meaning."
For example, the philosophy behind a certain craftsman's handiwork can be reinterpreted in words that resonate with modern lifestyles.
Alternatively, the prayers that are embedded in seasonal events can be incorporated into the shape and use of the product.
We unearth the hidden meanings of Kyoto and edit them to appeal to the sensibilities of modern people.
This is not simply an "introduction," but something closer to "reinvention."
Making it into a usable form
What WABISUKE values is "putting meaning into a usable form."
It is not simply a beautiful object, but something that can be picked up in everyday life.
And every time you use it, the stories and emotions contained within it quietly emerge.
For example, the sense of "ma" (space) contained in a certain tea bowl.
It may be an opportunity to stop and take a breath in the midst of your busy daily life.
Alternatively, the aesthetic of the "white space" that resides in the texture of the fabric may bring tranquility to the user's mind.
Meaning can only take root in our lives when it is not merely spoken of, but is in a "tangible" form.
Not inheritance, but co-creation
"Preserving" tradition can sometimes trap its essence.
WABISUKE chooses to "co-create" traditions rather than "preserve" them.
For example, new expressions are born when the sensibilities of the younger generation meet the skills of long-established craftsmen.
Or the intercultural dialogue that emerges when overseas designers come together with Kyoto materials.
We view Kyoto's semantic resources as "fluctuating" rather than "fixed."
That is why, through the act of editing, it is constantly opening up to new forms.
Pride as an "editor of meaning"
WABISUKE's work involves dealing with things that are difficult to see.
It is not something that can be immediately seen in numbers or results.
However, in someone's daily life, it can create an experience that makes their heart "unwind" at unexpected moments.
We believe in such a "quiet revolution."
As "editors of meaning," we will continue to draw water from the deep well that is Kyoto,
I will continue to work on re-injecting it into a modern vessel.
It is a modest but certain activity that connects the past and the future.