[ABOUT]

BROOKLYN MUSEUM was founded in Tokyo in 1979. Ninnaji Temple was founded in Kyoto in 888. Leather brands and temples. Two people who seem to have no contact with each other took on an unprecedented challenge that transcends time, place, and genre.

How did these items come about, which aim to bridge cultures, wishes, and feelings while complementing each other's charms and strengths?

We are featuring a special interview with Masahiko Kusagaya, leather craftsman and CEO, and Harumi Naito, designer and COO, who were involved in the project.

━What did you think when you first heard about this matter?

Kusagaya: I was surprised. Ninnaji Temple? In Kyoto? That world heritage site! That's it. This is truly an honor.
I visited Ninna-ji Temple on a school trip when I was a junior high school student, and even now, decades later, I still have vivid memories of it.
That's why I was so impressed when I revisited the site for this issue. The Niomon Gate that I saw that day remained as majestic as ever.

━How did this initiative begin?

Naito: I heard from someone I worked with before. With the recent increase in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, many people from all over the world are visiting Ninnaji Temple.

Under these circumstances, they wanted to increase interest in Ninna-ji Temple not only among foreigners but also among Japanese people, so they were looking for ways to make this a reality.

When I heard about this, I was honestly excited to be able to express that help through leather.

━The collaboration between a leather brand and a temple seems unusual, but did the talks come together smoothly?

Naito: We had a meeting online that also served as a greeting, but the content was pretty much decided in that one meeting, and things went very smoothly.

━Just once? That's amazing. What kind of story did you talk about?

Naito: We were a little nervous going into the meeting as it was a meeting with a temple with a long history, but the people at the temple seemed to sense our nervousness and spoke to us in a very friendly and cheerful manner, so we were able to propose items one after another on the spot that I had in mind.

Kusagaya: Actually, before the meeting, I was worried that the use of animal skin for temples and leather items was religiously negative, so I frankly asked, ``Is it okay?''

When I told him about this, he kindly encouraged me and said, ``Taiko drums are also made of leather, so don't worry about it.'' They immediately gave us their opinions on our proposal on the spot, and thanks to that, we were able to have a very concrete discussion from the beginning.

━It feels like a corporate meeting. Since it is a temple with tradition and formality, I thought there would be a lot of adjustments and confirmations.

Naito: That's not the case at all; in fact, I got the impression that it was innovative and advanced.

Kusagaya: Due to the deep generosity of the people at Ninnaji Temple, I was able to have a lot of freedom in my work. It was an exciting meeting.

━What steps did you take to materialize this item?

Kusagaya: We received the offer in April, had an online meeting in May, had a meeting in Kyoto with samples in mid-July, and final confirmation in late August.

Naito: Overall, things progressed at a fairly good pace, and I think the design process was particularly quick.

Kusagaya: The design took less than a week.

━One week is fast, isn't it?

Naito: Actually, I had an idea that I had been warming up for a while. This year's lineup includes goshuin stamp covers, amulet covers, and sacoches that can be used during worship, all of which I've been planning for several years, thinking it would be nice to have.

━I see. Did this idea come to you during your visit to the shrine?

Naito: No, in everyday life. I think many people carry amulets with them, but back then I kept them in my wallet or business card holder. This will expand your wallet and business card holder. I thought I would like to place the amulet alone in a place where it feels comfortable. That's why I wanted to design an amulet cover using leather that changes over time and that allows you to enjoy the colors.

Also, when my children were small, I was a little worried about how to give them charms. I don't think many adults lose their charms, but I worry that children will lose them easily. So I thought it would be hard to lose it if I had an amulet cover with a chain, and inspiration is always present in everyday life.

━If it's a design that can be "shown and used" on a regular basis, it would have a wide range of uses.

Naito: That's right. It would be nice to have an amulet cover that looks like a fashion item and doesn't look out of place.
For example, in a business setting, it is difficult to wear a personal amulet in a visible manner, but if you put it in an amulet cover, you can wear it as a fashion item. I would be happy if this could become a new option that could resolve some of your ``minor concerns''.

━What points did you pay attention to when fleshing out the design?

Kusagaya: We were particular about the materials. We thought that the appropriate element for a temple that represents Japan and a place that is visited by many people from Japan and abroad is its ``Japaneseness.'' Therefore, we chose ``Persimmon Shibu Dye'', which is a one-of-a-kind piece of art with a unique pattern that shows the skill of Japanese craftsmen, and ``Yamato'', which is all made in Japan and allows you to feel the beautiful texture of cows raised in Japan.

━I would like people from other countries to know more about the appeal of Yamato and its persimmon tanning.

Kusagaya: That's right. According to the people at Ninnaji Temple, many foreigners place more emphasis on "experiences" such as receiving a goshuin or meditating than on buying souvenirs.

I hope that through this item you can remember visiting the shrine and receiving a stamp, and I hope that you will enjoy the aging of the leather as well as the beautiful memories that deepen as time passes.

━This is the moment when Japan and the rest of the world are connected through leather items.

Kusagaya: This time, I was very conscious of being a bridge connecting "Japan and the rest of the world." At the same time, I also thought that if I could provide an opportunity for people living today to learn about the culture that has been condensed into Ninnaji's 1,200-year history, I would be able to become a link between ``the past and the present.''

Furthermore, I hope that I can help people who are not normally interested in temples and worship become interested, or conversely, that I can become an entry point for people who visit Ninna-ji Temple to become interested in leather items, and I hope that I can connect ``temples and fashion.''

━BROOKLYN MUSEUM✕Ninnaji Temple creates various connections.

Kusagaya: I would be happy if this could lead to new connections.

━Finally, please give a message to our readers.

Kusagaya: It's an item that embodies a variety of thoughts, so I'd be happy if you could pick it up.

I also hope that you will visit Ninna-ji Temple as well. This time, I visited Ninnaji Temple for the first time in more than ten years, and even though it was a hot day in July, the moment I entered the grounds, I felt that the temperature was lower than outside and the air was clear.

It was a soul-cleansing experience. The highlight is the seated statue of Amida Nyorai, a national treasure.
I thought it was a treasure that you should see at least once in your life. We would be happy if we could deliver the power of Ninnaji on leather.

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Ninnaji Temple
This temple was built by Emperor Uda in 888 (Heian period, Ninna 4th year). Currently, it is the head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism. It was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994. The principal image, a seated statue of Amida Nyorai (a national treasure), is also known as the oldest existing statue of Amida, which makes a seal in front of its belly.