TEXT BY: Natsumi Tabusa　
Aeru Company, General Manager of Japan West Division 

“Simple,” “basic,” “natural”...
Words we see over and over in fashion magazines and other media.

For my daily use, I prefer practical clothes and products rather than products with too many decorations But sometimes, I find something that fascinates me.
"This could be used without this decoration... but it's so pretty...!"
Today’s topic of “Kanamono,” metal fittings, is one such thing.
In this article, I will talk about old-fashioned, traditional metal fittings you can find in Japan.

When I first began to pay attention to "Kanamono" metal fittings, I remember feeling unfamiliar even with its name.
Metal fittings actually exist everywhere in our lives, including nails, screws, hinges, and the part of "fusuma" sliding doors that you hold to open them.
In traditional wooden townhouses in Japan, highly ornate metal fittings have been used for a long time.
But it is said that designs got more plain to fit our western lifestyles.

A book published by Kawacho, a metal fitting wholesaler, first taught me about the appeals of metal fittings.
I came across the book at an event to mark the launch of its release at my workplace, "aeru gojo".
Reading the book about both traditional and modern metal fittings with illustrations, I was surprised that such a “profound world” was so close to my daily life.

Traditional metal fittings seemed beautiful and even modern despite not being recent designs.
I got to notice the existence of traditional metal fittings, which combine functionality with beauty.

The event for the Kawacho metal fitting book launch was an eye-opening talk.
It was a talk about how we recognize something as being "Japanese style."
What exactly makes us sense that Japanese flavor?
Let’s think about the Japanese chest in this photo as an example.

There are handles called “Tansukan” that we hold to open the drawers.
More metal fittings are used for keyholes and corners as well.
Now, what would happen if we removed all of these and replaced them with western handles?
The Japanese chest would probably give a very different impression.

In other words, we can understand that metal fittings actually play a big role in giving us the feeling of "Japanese."
The small metal fittings were the quiet heroes that create a “Japanese space.”
They are in an understated color, yet their presence is paramount in staging the room. . . .
The way they add splendor is subtle and elegant.
After hearing this talk, I realized just how fascinating metal fittings were.

The other day when I went to Nara, the ancient capital of Japan, I stopped in at a traditional wooden townhouse called "Naramachi Nigiwai-no-Ie."

I discovered this coat rack inside the house.
If you look closely, you can see it has gently curved metal fittings.
It’s not just the metal fittings; it also has a beautifully textured wooden board and is quietly accented with a stick of bamboo at the top.
(Be sure to check out my previous article, "Enjoy Wood Grain.")

Maybe it is because we are in an age of mass consumption that there is a trend for things around us to be simply designed and trimmed of all extras.
So this kind of decoration might be said to be "too much."
But whenever I find the commitment to detail and a sense of beauty, I feel like communicating with artisans from decades ago.
It is like a conversation with creators beyond time and space.
They might have left something with a touch of excitement, wondering if anyone would notice the works.

What the opposite of “simple is best” is.
The small metal fittings show us a type of beauty different from the minimalist design.

I'm going to finish up by talking about a metal fitting that I’m most interested in now.
There’s a place I’ve been long waiting for the opportunity to go and see its metal fittings, the Katsura Imperial Villa.
According to the Kawacho metal fitting book I introduced before, the villa has a famous metal fitting.
It is a "fusuma" sliding door handle (the part where you put your hand to open it) in a design based on the Chinese character for "moon."

The Katsura Imperial Villa has features related to the "moon" in various places.
The artisans’ commitment to their work is visible even in a single door handle.
Wouldn’t you like to visit a site with such attention to details?
It's exciting to go explore somewhere led by the inspirations that artisans give you.

The more I learn about Japanese traditions, the more places in Kyoto that I want to visit.
My rising curiosity I hadn't noticed previously also makes me feel like discovering a new part of myself.
I hope you will also get inspired by this story.