Japanese Art T-shirts | Japanese Gift

WAJIN T-shirts are produced by KUME Co.,Ltd. at Tokyo. KUME is one of the long-established manufacturer since 1935, that is the first company who had started to make outer T-shirts in Japan.

Their manufacturing process is further specialized, for example, in the sewing department, each part of sewing - cuff, shoulder, neckline, hem - is sewn by each specialist. These efforts are all for the perfection and the stability of products, they share the same goal, to crate T-shirts that can be used comfortably a lot longer. Please enjoy soft feeling of 100% cotton material which is very carefully knitted in domestic factory using a little bit thick yarn - count of twenty, and, tough and strong 'JAPAN QUALITY'!

A lot of experience and knowledge that only long-established company can have, for example, sewing method which stands up to repeat of washings and pullings, or, techniques to prevent the collar rib from losing its shape. These various attention that is introduced at a hidden place, is just compassion for user, and also their pride as craftsmen. If you put on, it is sure that you feel like 'Good thing is definitely good'. Please wear and wash repeatedly, and make that one of your favorite T-shirts!

Photo : KUME Co.,Ltd. / Masayuki Shiratori

WAJIN T-shirts are all printed in water-based ink. Water-based ink dries quickly at normal temperatures, so it takes a lot of time compared to oil-based ink which does not dry without heat treatment. Instead, water-based ink is eco-friendly, and first of all, the surface finish becomes tender. 　

The printing table used at WAJIN is very old, manufactured about 40 years ago. Only two T-shirts can be printed at a time, and because water-based ink is used, the ink must be wiped off the plate each time. This is an inefficiency that would be unthinkable at a normal print shop, but artist Makoto Komai has continued to use this printing table since the studio was founded. This is because he feels that the inefficiency of the time and effort required, as well as the inability to produce large quantities at once, is just right for careful work that pays attention to every detail. Please enjoy beautiful silkscreen prints, each one carefully printed by an artist with 30 years of printing experience. 　

In general, printing tends to be thought as easy and good for mass production, but in actuality, that is very profound method which needs techniques and also experiences. WAJIN prints use several different ink-bases according to the purpose. For example, we use glossy one to get the effect like 'Inden' - Japanese trditional crafts using lacquer -, or sometimes use mat ink to fit in with material, or use transparent ink for overprint to make three-dimensional effect, various measures have been made to enhance the design.

In addition, WAJIN prints place great importance on texture. Oil-based ink, which is commonly used, does not dry at natural temperatures, so it does not clog the plate and has good work efficiency, however, it dries rapidly at high temperatures, resulting in a hard, rough texture. On the other hand, WAJIN uses water-based inks, which require wiping off the ink each time to prevent clogging, so they take more time and effort to print, but they dry slowly at natural temperatures, which means the prints have a softer, gentler feel. Especially when printing large designs or on dark fabrics, we aim to create prints that have beautiful colors and a light texture that does not impair comfort. 　

What the artist Makoto Komai values is the "Style" of Japanese culture. Everything has a "Style" or "Form" that is the base of themselves, he thinks that it is difficult to express the true nature of something ignoring this fundamental part. The thing which calms free ideas or playful mind down well, that is, inherited "Style", and this "Style" gives off a sense of elegance and refinement. 　

WAJIN designs are all drawn by hand. He repeatedly makes a rough sketch many times to get the convincing line. The impression of design changes depending on whether an inside or outside of the line width less than 1mm is adopted, therefore, in the next step, he downloads the rough sketch to the software of PC, and makes black solid coating manuscript for each color which is called 'perfect block copy'. Then, he makes the film using this block copy, and using this film, the silk screen printing plate is completed by exposing the solvent to light. 　

Enjoy a warm touch unique to hand drawing, and a modest color scheme featuring Japanese traditional colors, and, of course, beautiful unique Japanese designs! 　

'Tenugui' is called as Japanese traditional towel, but that is unlike typical Western towel, made of more thinner and smooth cotton, and dyed variety of Japanese patterns. Tenugui can be used in various ways other than just drying hands or bodies, for example, used like tapestry for your room display, or as a place mat, like a scarf... please find your favorite style freely!
'Hare' means 'Sunny' in Japanese, we hope you to feel happy like be under sunny sky with using our Tenugui. We offer really beautiful Japanese dyed cloth, not to be seen elsewhere even in Japan! 　

Normaly Tenugui uses two types of cotton cloths, one is knitted by a little thick yarn loosely, called 'BUNN', and another is knitted by more thin yarn tightly, called 'OKA'. OKA is good for the delicate expression since it is very flat. HARE Tenugui is useing 'TOKU-OKA'(means special OKA) which is more tightly knitted than OKA, and it has property of strength and good feel! 　

HARE Tenugui is dyed by 'Tenassen' that is the traditional techniques of dying using screen plate and starch mixed with dye. 　

Also to use the way 'Reactive dye' makes beautiful graphics even if you see from the back. Making dyes permeate without dye bleeding thereon is the high-technique that only skilled artisan can have. Enjoy tender feeling of dyeing own and beautiful Japanese traditional art! 　

"I've always preferred old things to new things, and simple things to flashy things, so I think it's this personality that drew me to traditional Japanese culture. I also traveled abroad for a long time, so I think the reason I started this job was because I was able to look at Japanese culture from an outside perspective.
About 30 years ago, when the studio was founded, the Japanese lifestyle was still strongly influenced by Western culture, and many people didn't seem to notice how cool Japanese culture is. In the midst of this, I started making printed T-shirts that anyone could wear, with the hope that people would once again feel the greatness and excitement of Japanese culture.

Nowadays, many products that incorporate Japanese essence can be seen in a variety of fields, not just T-shirts, but what I want to express has not changed since I first started making it. It is not a "current Japanese sensibility" that incorporates tradition, but a "traditional Japanese sensibility" that incorporates the current style. These are traditional Japanese sensibilities such as "Wabi" and "Sabi," "Iki" and Ade" that have been familiar to Japanese people for a long time. I would be very happy if you could feel this old, comfortable Japanese atmosphere in the modern material of a printed T-shirt."

Artist / Makoto Komai

　

In September 1995, WAJIN Art T-shirts Japan started in a small apartment in Suginami, Tokyo. After selling at art events and department store events, we started wholesale sales to general stores in 1998, and in 2002 we started selling our products as "Japanese souvenirs" at Narita International Airport. Since then, I have come to realize that my expression, however small, plays a role in spreading "Japanese culture" overseas. In 2005, I moved my studio to Nishiizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where it is now, and in 2008, I opened an online store for overseas customers. In 2010, I started wholesale sales to overseas retailers in the United States, Australia, and other countries, and continue to do so to this day. I would like to continue to convey the charm and excitement of Japanese culture to as many people as possible, both at home and abroad, and to that end, I strive to make products and do my work with care.