MODERN EDO-TECH MUSEUM

[ Fans and a publisher ]

A pioneer of business copyright!
One publisher of world-famous ukiyo-e artists, such as Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi and Toyokuni, also produced artistic fans, and still exists. The producer is Ibasen. Ibasen was founded in 1590, and the current company president is the fourteenth generation. Historically, most of the pictures on the fans were of romantic themes.
In the Edo period, everyone could enjoy art reproduced in everyday items.

[Ibasen]

Address	1F Ibasen Building, 4-1 Nihonbashi Kobunacho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3664-9261
Open Hours	10:00―18:00 When open on Saturdays (April 1―30 August): 11:00―17:00
Closed on	Sundays and holidays

[ Hand-Forged Blades ]

What we need are lifelong tools!
Food culture grew among the common people, and a gourmet boom occurred in the Edo period. Kitchen knives had developed rapidly, and the Japanese kitchen knives used today had already appeared by this time. The master cutler for traditional Japanese knives, Ubukeya, was founded in 1783. Their quaint shop is in Ningyocho, which has been a commercial district since the Edo period.

[Ubukeya]

Address	3-9-2 Nihonbashi Ningyocho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3661-4851
Open hours	9:00―18:00 (Saturday―17:00)
Closed on	Sundays and holidays

[ lip and cheek rouge and containers ]

Beni gave dreams to women!
Isehan was founded in 1825 in Nihonbashi, the commercial center of Edo (now Tokyo), and is known as the oldest cosmetics producer in Japan. Cosmetics using beni were fashionable in the 1800's. Isehan preserves the tradition of making beni from safflower petals. It also produces modern cosmetics, and they have even become popular overseas.

［Isehan Honten Lip Coloring Museum］

Address	1F K’s Minami-Aoyama Building, 6-2-2 Minato Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-5467-3735
Open Hours	10:00―18:00 (last entry at 17:30) ※Changes in hours of operation may apply during special exhibition periods.
Closed on	Mondays (if Monday falls on a holiday or becomes a compensatory day off, the next day will be closed); End of the Year and New Year holidays.

[ Brush ]

Taking Edo crafts into the future!
The very best natural brushes are made with good quality horse-hair and boar bristles. The specialist brush shop Edoya has followed these traditional methods. Founded in 1718, it is a long-established store, with more than 300 years of history.
Techniques perfected by Edoya are now used for various brushes in hi-tech industry.
The crafts of Edo will continue into the future.

[Edoya]

Address	2-16 Nihonbashi-Odenmacho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3664-5671
Open Hours	9:00―17:00
Closed on	Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays

[ Combs ]

Passing the techniques to the next generation!
A comb was a luxury item for ladies during the Edo period. Geishas can be seen wearing many combs in their hair in ukiyo-e prints (Japanese woodblock prints).
Yonoya, in Asakusa, specialises in selling combs. It was founded in 1717, and still follows traditional manufacturing methods. The boxwood used to make each comb, and the tools to make the teeth of the comb, have never changed in this time. Yonoya combs are an example of ultimate handcraft.

[Yonoya Comb Store]

Address	1-37-10 Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3844-1755
Open Hours	10:30―18:00
Closed on	Wednesdays

[ sparklers ]

The symbol of 260 years peace!
In the Edo period fireworks were developed from gunpowder that was used for firearms up to that time.Not only fireworks, but also sparklers, hand-held fireworks for children, were now produced. Both of them have been a popular amusement and one of the characteristic scenes of a Japanese summer.However, the manufacture of senkou-hanabi stopped just before the start of the 21st century. Yamagata Shoten, an old-fashioned toyshop, has succeeded in reviving the tradition.

[Yamagata Shoten Store]

Address	2-2-2 Kuramae, Taito Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3862-3927
Open Hours	Weekday: 9:00―17:00 Saturday: 9:00―Around noon (in July and August only)
Closed on	Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays

Wall magazine

Discover life and learn about cultural history in the Edo period!
In the corridor are articles and photos of craftsmen and their long-established retail stores. Learn about life in the Edo period, and its cultural history, from a timeline and illustrations.

[Staff]

Direction	Hiroshi Morinaga
Photography	Teruo Sekiguchi
Text	Naoko Asai
Handscript Chronology	Michiharu Saotome
Design	Reo Fujii

[ Brooms ]

Durability is the value of tools!
Brooms became common as house-cleaning tools in the mid-Edo period. Before that they were holy items, used in prayers for a good harvest. Shirokiya began the manufacture of household brooms. It was founded in 1830, with a head office in Ginza.
Even today, Shirokaya's brooms are still handmade by craftsmen. It takes ten years to become an accomplished craftsman.

[Shirokiya Nakamura Denbei Store]

Address	1F, Hakuden Building, 3-9-8, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3563-1771
Open Hours	Monday-Saturday 10:00―19:00
Closed on	Saturdays and Holidays

[ Indigo dye ]

A little known worldwide
best-seller !
Aikuma Senryo was founded in 1818 in Asakusa, as a Chinese herbal medicine pharmacy. The fourth generation of the family company created a successful business selling indigo dye. Most of the work and casual clothes for the working class were dyed with indigo. Aikuma Senryo still manufactures and sells both traditional and modern dyes.

[Aikuma Senryo]

Address	1-5-1 Kaminarimon, Taito Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-3841-5760
Open Hours	9:00―17:00
Closed on	Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays

MODERN EDO-TECH MUSEUM

[ Japanese swords and nail clippers ]

A wise change, from weapons to everyday items!
Over 700 years ago a famous workshop of swordsmiths, Kikuichi-monji, existed in Kyoto. When Japan was westernized, samurai were banned from carrying swords. Kikuichi-monji then started manufacturing everyday items, such as kitchen knives, scissors and nail clippers, using their superb sword-making techniques. Their high-quality nail clippers are especially popular worldwide. Weapons were therefore replaced by daily items. They can be proud of a beautiful history.

[Kikuichimonji]

Address	14 Ishibashicho, Teramachi Higashi-iru, Sanjo-dori, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City
Telephone	075-221-0077
Open Hours	11:00―18:00 (from 12:00 on Sundays)
Closed on	Thursdays

[ cut glass ]

Handle the beauty of Edo!
In the 1830's the Edo glass producer Kaga manufactured unique glassware.
It developed a technique to grind Japanese-style patterns on glassware imported from the Netherlands.
This new type of glassware became popular within society.
With the technical guidance of an English craftsman in 1881, the Edo Kiriko technique was established. Hanasho is a workshop that follows this technique.

[Hanashyo Nihonbashi Store]

Address	3-6-5 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
Telephone	03-6661-2781
Open Hours	Weekdays 10:30―18:00; 11:30―17:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
Closed on	Mondays. When Monday falls on a holiday the shop is open and the next day (Tuesday) will be closed instead.