February 2026 Craft Exhibition

In 1907, the first-generation Kawabata Chikio studied under Nijii Sadajiro at Nijii Bekko Shop in Nagasaki, mastering craftsmanship techniques. He later moved to Tokyo in 1950 and opened Kawabata Bekko in Higashi-Jujo, Tokyo. While producing and selling items at his own shop, he also took on work for specialty tortoiseshell shops in areas like Asakusa.
In 1965, Toshiaki, then a company employee, quit his job to begin his apprenticeship. After Chikio’s passing, the workshop relocated to a studio-only space within Kita Ward, Tokyo, continuing to take on work for Japanese musical instrument shops and tortoiseshell specialty stores.
The tortoiseshell craft has a history spanning approximately 400 years. Treasures made from tortoiseshell remain in the Shōsōin Repository at Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara Prefecture, demonstrating its status as a traditional craft industry dating back to ancient times. The raw material is the shell of the hawksbill sea turtle, which inhabits the Caribbean Sea and the equatorial regions of the Indian Ocean. Large specimens can reach a total length of 180 cm and weigh up to 200 kg. The hawksbill sea turtle is an endangered species. International trade has been prohibited since the Washington Convention, and imports have been completely banned since 1993. The tortoiseshell currently in circulation consists of materials procured by artisans before the Washington Convention. Originally, in countries and regions around Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, hawksbill sea turtles were long consumed as food, and their shells were discarded. A waste-free cycle existed where shells from turtles caught for food were reused. However, some unscrupulous individuals targeted the high-value tortoiseshell and ivory trade, leading to poaching and overharvesting, which ultimately prompted conservation efforts. Currently, the national and metropolitan governments have successfully cultivated hawksbill turtles on Ishigaki Island to preserve the traditional Edo tortoiseshell craft, enabling a more stable supply of materials. The process of tortoiseshell craftwork involves cutting sheets from the shell, determining the product’s shape and pattern placement, then bonding several cut pieces together using water and heat. The degree of moisture, temperature, and pressure applied during this bonding significantly affects the final result, requiring years of experience and skill. The shape is then refined, and the piece is polished to completion. From traditional accessories like combs and hairpins that complement Japanese attire, to shamisen plectrums, eyeglasses, and even modern accessories with enhanced design appeal, the natural luster and texture of tortoiseshell are cherished by people of all ages.