Episode 7: Japan's 400-year karakami tradition - Karacho -

Founded in Kyoto in 1624, Karacho, is the only surviving karakami studio with over four centuries of continuous history. Using woodblocks passed down through generations, artisans hand‑press each sheet of washi paper. Karacho’s karakami has adorned historic sites including the Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle, while also enriching contemporary living spaces. Its distinctive worldview and aesthetic in color and pattern represent a cultural treasure Japan proudly shares with the world. Today, the 13th studio master, karakami artist Choemon Senda (Akihiko Toto), and his wife Aiko Senda, continue to preserve and evolve this tradition in Saga, Kyoto.

Takuo Kisaki joined Kyocera in 2006, specializing in ceramic materials for semiconductor components. As Development Leader from 2013, he reformed multilayer ceramic package production through innovations in ceramic materials and process technologies, achieved through cross‑departmental collaboration. These efforts produced the world’s first ultra‑compact packages, now essential for smartphones and wearable devices, accelerating miniaturization across the electronics industry. Currently a Manufacturing Division Leader, he ensures the stable, high‑quality supply of ceramic packages while striving to exceed customer expectations and contribute to societal advancement through technology.