Kyo-Butsugu KOBORI Co., LTD

July 7, 2001  

With the tour organized by Kamogawa-kai, we (1, Gap, Kae, pPra, Kiyomi and me) visited the Buddhist altar studio of Kobori Co., LTD in Yamashina. Established in 1775, Kobori co., LTD 小堀 has produced Buddhist altar and its accessories both for temple and family uses. The company also restores invaluable old altars and decorates inner temples for temples all over Japan. Because of high-skilled craftsmanship, this industry is one of traditional industries in Kyoto.    

Kyo-butsugu京仏具, as the Buddhist altar is called in Japanese, originated in Nara奈良 period (710-794). In house altar, however, was only installed around the middle of Edo江戸 period (1603-1867). The traditional style is golden altar金仏壇, which is made by sticking golden leaf on lacquer ware. Besides this golden type, altars also come in Wood Type唐木仏壇 first created in Meiji period and New Type新型仏壇 which came only after WWII. Because golden altar is the oldest, it is the most popular one.

At Kobori studio, visitors can see all stages of making traditional altars, starting from wood work木工, lacquer work漆工, gold sealing　金箔押す and assembling加工. Some work is distributed to other skilled craftsmen to work from their places and then send the final products back to Kobori studio to assemble. Using highly skillful craftsmanship in all stages, it is not surprisingly that these altars are highly priced, ranging from 30,000 for simple wooden ones to more than 100,000,000 yen for sophisticated golden ones.

After seeing the whole process, we experienced sealing gold leaf on sake cup. The task is not as easy as it seemed. All of us, however, came up with shining golden sake cup as a beautiful souvenir.

For those who are interested, Kobori studio can be visited by appointment for free but sealing golden leaf on sake cup is charged \500.

Further information:

Kyo-Butsugu Kobori Studio Co.,LTD

607-8301 Kyoto-shi, Yamashina-ku Nishinoyama dodo-cho 88

Phone: 075-591-0165, Studio visit appointment should be made via 075-341-4121

URL: www.kobori.co.jp

Sponsored by Kamogawa-kai, a Kyoto-based non-profit organization. Established in 1984 by a group of Japanese housewife to promote Japanese culture to foreigners. The group invites foreigners to various programs, helping overseas visitors to appreciate different culture.

Contact person: Mikiko SASAKI (075-721-7522) and Yao KITAJIMA (075-791-0364)