Inspired by the dialogical relationship between humans and nature embodied in craft, we explore the interconnections between nature, culture, and making through the lens of the watershed.
Our base, Keihoku, is the headwaters of the forests and rivers that have long sustained the cultural life of Kyoto, the ancient capital. Moving between this rural landscape and the city—between sources of materials and sites of cultural expression—we create learning and practice-based programs rooted in place, including residencies and educational offerings.
Our work unfolds between two distinct yet interconnected landscapes:the forested mountain region of Keihoku, and the historically layered urban environment of Kyoto City.
Keihoku, located about 45 minutes north of Kyoto’s urban center, has long supported the culture of the capital by supplying timber and natural materials for its temples, shrines, and townhouses. Traditional knowledge rooted in forestry, agriculture, and craft still lives on here, though the region now faces serious challenges—including population decline and the difficulty of sustaining its forests and livelihoods.
Kyoto City, by contrast, is a cultural hub shaped by centuries of accumulated tradition—yet it also carries the weight of contemporary urban issues. Its spatial structures, cultural sensibilities, and spiritual values remain deeply embedded in daily life. At the same time, the city must now confront overtourism, aging infrastructure, and the pressing need to adapt to climate change.
By working across these two settings, we aim to reframe relationships between upstream and downstream, nature and culture, materials and systems—not as opposites, but as parts of a single living whole.
Our residency is based in Keihoku, offering immersive encounters with land and local life.Our educational programs are based primarily in Kyoto City, where we engage with the cultural structures and contemporary challenges of the urban environment.
While running a brand that introduced the stories behind craft across Japan, Sachiko gradually extended her curiosity upstream—to the forests, rivers, and local landscapes that sustain craft.This inquiry evolved into a deeper question: how are culture, nature, and the human act of making interwoven?She sees "craft" not merely as technique or tradition, but as a way of reweaving our relationship with the world.At PERSPECTIVE, she designs and facilitates programs that explore these connections through research, education, and place-based making.
Takuya is the fourth-generation successor of Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi, a Kyoto-based urushi (Japanese lacquer) refinery with over 100 years of history.When he stepped into the family business, he quickly recognized the fragility of the urushi industry—declining demand, fading knowledge, and a shortage of successors.To respond, he began exploring new possibilities for urushi beyond its traditional uses, applying it to architecture, bicycles, and other contemporary applications.A devoted surfer himself, he leads the commissioned production of wooden urushi surfboards at PERSPECTIVE.
Williams College
Osaka University Ethnography Lab
Kyoto Institute of Technology
KYOTO Design Lab
Kyoto Seika University
Kyoto Inspiration & Traditional Industries Innovation Center
ual: Central Saint Martins Material Futures
FabCafe Kyoto
ROOTS
Discover Noh in Kyoto
Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi Store
Asahi-yaki
Nishimura Urushi Atelier
From fieldwork and site visits to interviews, lectures, writing, consultation, and opportunities for collaboration—let us explore together new ways of engaging across nature, culture, and city. Please feel free to reach out.
For customized versions of our Learning Programs tailored for companies, as well as corporate training, we would be happy to hear from you through this form.
