Outer Shell

Nakagawa Mokkougei’s studio carries on the finest wood crafting traditions from the region of Kyoto, where time-honored techniques are passed on from father to son.

Nakagawa's workshop is widely recognized for its contemporary iterations of the ‘Ki-Oke’ – the iconic Japanese wooden bucket –, handcrafted using a technique developed seven hundred years ago during the Muromachi era.

During the Edo period, households used wooden buckets for bathing rituals and for storing rice and miso. The buckets can still be found in many Japanese households today, although they are used for different purposes such as champagne coolers, bathtubs or beautiful objects for everyday life.

Nakagawa Mokkougei maintains both his personal studio in the mountains of Shiga, where he creates museum–exhibited pieces, and the family workshop in Kyoto, which he runs with his father, Japan’s National Living Treasure, Kiyotsugu Nakagawa. The title is bestowed upon the most revered Masters of the country by the Emperor of Japan and is a recognition of their contribution in perpetuating the cultural legacy of savoir-faire.