Craftsman Story

"I craft each pen freehand, one by one. I take care to ensure every one is the same size, shape and weight.
Each should feel the same: comfortable to hold and write with."

- Yasutaka Takeuchi, Kozo Craftsman

Yasutaka Takeuchi, Kozo Craftsman

"I craft each pen with care, so I would be glad to know that they are being loved and used for a long time.

Hida pens are made with wood, and each peice of wood is has its own unique grain. The pens have an original shape, and take time and care to carve freehand. It's important that every one is comfortable to hold and use.

Mino pens are made with Mino washi. The washi motifs evoke Japan and are really lovely. When I cut the washi, I think about how it will align when it's wrapped around the pen and arrange it neatly so the pen looks beautiful from every angle. "

Traditional Japanese Craftmanship Runs in the Family

"My grandfather was a traditional Toyohashi fude (calligrapy brush) craftsman. I learned a lot from him. Especially that when making things the traditional way, to make each and every object with all one's heart. I certainly feel that my pen crafting is connected to the traditions my grandfather was working in. My father is also a woodworker, and loves detailed crafting. He often works on Hida pens with me in the woodshop. My mother as well, helps with selecting and wrapping the Mino pens with washi."

Merchant Story

"After working in apparel for 25 years, I realized it would be more interesting and worthwhile to come home to Gifu and work with traditional Japanese craftspeople, promoting local Gifu culture. "

- Kozo Furuta, Kozo Brand Creator

Kozo Furuta, Brand Creator

"After working in apparel for 25 years, I realized it would be more interesting and worthwhile to come home to Gifu and work with traditional Japanese craftspeople, promoting local Gifu culture.

When I was little, I used to hang around Uesugi Lumber, a long-standing lumber shop in town, and the smell of the wood calmed me. So when I started Kozo, I thought of making wood pens from the trimmings of larger peices of lumber so that they would be more eco-friendly. Kozo's Hida pens are made with lumber trimmings from that same shop, Uesugi Lumber.

Gifu is also known for Mino washi, which has a very high quality thanks to Gifu's many mountains and clear rivers. There is a style of Kyoto pattern called yuzen which is very traditional. I was interested in the idea of sending Mino washi to Kyoto and having it silk printed with the best yuzen motifs, which are some of the most famous in Japan. This washi is used to make our Mino pens."

Collaboration and Craftmanship in Every Pen

"Collaborating with craftsman Takeuchi-san has been wonderful. His style of curved wood pens caught my eye right away and I was so impressed by his dedication to craftsmanship. He is also a great collaborator who can incorporate new ideas and designs, which is somewhat rare in the craftsman world. But Takeuchi-san and I are able to work well together, and I find that products made through collaboration are the ones that customers end up liking best, after all. When I imagine Kozo pens making customers happy, it makes me happy, too."

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