Materials: Hinoki (Japanese cypress)
Exhibition location: ESPACIO Nagoya Castle – Houou Suite (11th floor)
Auspicious Sign - KICCHO
A ranma transom forms a subtle boundary that allows light and air to pass through while gently defining the space. Set within this architectural threshold is a soaring Houoh motif, masterfully carved by the Inami Sculpture Cooperative. Originating in the temple and shrine architecture of the Muromachi period, the cooperative's woodcarving techniques have been carefully preserved and handed down through generations. Executed with remarkable precision, these carvings lend the suite a quiet sense of dignity while enriching the contemporary interior with the spirit of traditional craftsmanship.
Inami Woodcarving Cooperative
The Inami Woodcarving Cooperative is an association of master woodcarvers dedicated to preserving the tradition of Inami woodcarving, a craft handed down for centuries in the Inami district of Nanto, Toyama Prefecture. Until the end of the Edo period, its members primarily created architectural carvings for temples and shrines, later expanding their work to include decorative ranma transoms for traditional residences. In 2018, seven transom carvings were installed in the restored Honmaru Palace of Nagoya Castle. In the same year, Inami, renowned for its woodcarving tradition, was designated a Japan Heritage site.
