Bamboo craftsman Takashi Miki is coming to the Garden to give a presentation on his craft and its beautiful and vivid history. As the fifth- and sixth-generation owners of Miki Bamboo shop, Takashi and his father Kiyoshi Miki continue the tradition of kyo-meichiku, a distinctly Kyoto way of cultivating bamboo and processing it into beautiful products. Elaborate bamboo craftwork is especially notable in Kyoto, where high-quality bamboo is certified as a traditional craft product by Kyoto Prefecture under the name Kyo-meichiku (Genuine Kyoto Bamboo).

Miki Bamboo, founded in 1877, grows bamboo in its own company groves — it is the master himself who chooses the stalks to be cut during the fall harvest. Roasting bamboo is a distinctive Kyoto tradition, one that requires precision and patience. It results in an exquisite surface lustre and durability not achievable through the faster, easier methods used elsewhere in Japan. It is Miki’s belief, passed down through generations, that one must consistently stand close to the bamboos from the very beginning to the final product in order to produce character in each and every one.

About Takashi Miki

Takashi Miki joined the family business in 1995 after college and since then has received numerous awards for his fine bamboo crafts every year. He has constructed fences at such iconic locations such as the Katsura Imperial Villa, Murin-an Garden, and Nijo Castle in Kyoto, and also participated in countless design events including Tokyo Designers Week. His “Tsutsu-gata” chopstick design is in official use at the Kyoto State Guest House, and he is certified by Kyoto Prefecture as a Kyomono Traditional Craftsman.

This is a complimentary members-only event, but tickets must be reserved in advance. The lecture will be in Japanese with translation. The event is supported in part by a grant from the Japan Foundation’s Center for Global Partnership.