Ise Katagami Tokyo Exhibition 2026

The three-day event introduces visitors to Ise Katagami, a paper-stencil craft from Mie Prefecture with a history said to span more than a millennium, and presents new ways the craft is being adapted for contemporary interiors. 

What is Ise Katagami

Ise Katagami refers to the finely carved paper stencils traditionally used to dye patterns onto kimono fabric. The craft developed around Suzuka City in Mie Prefecture, where artisans laminate sheets of washi with persimmon tannin and carve them by hand using specialised blades. The resulting stencils carry motifs of extraordinary precision – often hundreds or thousands of individual cuts per sheet – and are then used to apply rice-paste resist to cloth before dyeing.

The technique was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1955, with six master artisans recognised individually as holders of the property. In 1993, the Ise Katagami Technique Preservation Association was additionally designated as the property's holder group. Separately, in 1983, the craft received Traditional Craft status in the tools and implements category from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

While the craft remains essential to high-end kimono production, the number of working artisans has declined alongside everyday kimono use, and recent years have seen efforts to find new applications for the stencils themselves as decorative objects.

Highlights of the 2026 exhibition

A central feature this year is a special display of stencils produced in cooperation with the television drama series Akinai Seiden: Kin to Gin. The selection includes motifs such as Suzu Komon (bells), Eto Komon (zodiac animals), Kanai Anzen (household safety), Hanabi (fireworks) and Suzuo (bell ropes), showcasing the variation in design vocabulary the craft can accommodate.

Alongside the stencils themselves, the exhibition debuts a new product range developed from these designs. Items include small accessories, bookmarks and tenugui hand towels intended to make the patterns accessible for everyday use. Framed works, lighting pieces and folding fans incorporating Ise Katagami motifs are also on display, and most exhibited items are available for purchase.

Live demonstrations

Throughout the three days, certified master artisans and successor craftspeople will give live carving demonstrations on the venue floor. Visitors can observe the carving process at close range, including the handling of the small punch and chisel tools used to produce repeating geometric patterns and curvilinear designs.