HAKUZA (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
Hakuza is a store specializing in gold gilding. It is located in a town in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. This town is renowned for its gilding. In fact, 99% of the gilding in Japan is made there.
The name of the company, as well as its brand name, Hakuza, has its origin in "Hakuza", the control agency of gold and silver gilding that occupied an important place in the history of this product. It is driven by the commitment to remain the center of gilding, contributing to the traditional culture of Japan, while manufacturing a high quality product whose renowned techniques could be transmitted to the world.
In the beginning of the Showa Era (1926-1989), the founder, Genji Takaoka, launched "Takaoka Gold Gilding Store", specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of gilding in gold. It has continued to make "entzuke" (the process of making handmade gold leaves), the traditional type of gilding. This technique has been used for the restoration of important cultural treasures including Chusonji Kinshokudo, (the Golden Pavilion of Chusonji), and Nishihonganji (the Western Temple of Original Vow, one of the two complexes of Judo Shinshu in Kyoto), which have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. In 2002, Hakuza developed "pure gold platinum gilding", an original gilding with magnificent color and texture, unparalleled in the world. It has been engaged in the creation of "contemporary aesthetic values" in all kinds of fields that have as their materials gold leaves, which are renowned for their long history and tradition.
The exterior of the headquarters of Hakuza.
Extraction of the gold leaves
"The Gold (ceremonial) Tea Room" at the headquarters of Hakuza.
"The Gold Treasury", Hakuza's "storehouse of radiance".
Hakuza website
http://www.hakuza.co.jp/
The name of the company, as well as its brand name, Hakuza, has its origin in "Hakuza", the control agency of gold and silver gilding that occupied an important place in the history of this product. It is driven by the commitment to remain the center of gilding, contributing to the traditional culture of Japan, while manufacturing a high quality product whose renowned techniques could be transmitted to the world.
In the beginning of the Showa Era (1926-1989), the founder, Genji Takaoka, launched "Takaoka Gold Gilding Store", specializing in the manufacturing and marketing of gilding in gold. It has continued to make "entzuke" (the process of making handmade gold leaves), the traditional type of gilding. This technique has been used for the restoration of important cultural treasures including Chusonji Kinshokudo, (the Golden Pavilion of Chusonji), and Nishihonganji (the Western Temple of Original Vow, one of the two complexes of Judo Shinshu in Kyoto), which have been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. In 2002, Hakuza developed "pure gold platinum gilding", an original gilding with magnificent color and texture, unparalleled in the world. It has been engaged in the creation of "contemporary aesthetic values" in all kinds of fields that have as their materials gold leaves, which are renowned for their long history and tradition.
The exterior of the headquarters of Hakuza.
Extraction of the gold leaves
"The Gold (ceremonial) Tea Room" at the headquarters of Hakuza.
"The Gold Treasury", Hakuza's "storehouse of radiance".
Hakuza website
http://www.hakuza.co.jp/