Hanchan Corporate LLC announced the launch of a new project to create and sell replicas of moulds for traditional Japanese sweets, known as wagashi, under its interior art brand WA!CHI®
The company specialises in converting these moulds, which are becoming less common in wagashi stores, into 3D data. The interior art pieces will be available through the company’s e-commerce site.
In the wagashi industry, the demand for rakugan, a traditional Japanese confectionery, and wagashi moulds used for their production has significantly declined over the past 30 years. This decline is due to various factors, including Japan’s economic downturn, price reductions due to mass retailers, and a lack of successors.
Since the Edo period, wagashi moulds have evolved, showcasing traditional craftsmanship that involves meticulous artisanal techniques and artistic designs.
However, there are fewer than ten artisans in Japan who possess the skills to make these moulds today. This poses significant challenges to the craft’s continuation, including issues related to the succession of techniques.
Recognising that some of these moulds are being used as displays in stores and targeting the growing international interest in traditional Japanese crafts, Hanchan Corporate will offer the moulds as interior art pieces on its e-commerce site.
The company aims to leverage 3D scanning technology to preserve and pass down the tradition to the next generation, in addition to collaborating with wagashi shops to repurpose unused wagashi moulds.
For more information, visit Wa-gachi.com.
