Announcement: Layered Colors “Kasane” – A Special Exhibition at the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design

—Colors of the Season: Fresh Verdure Edition—

“Kasane no Irome” (layered color combinations) refers to an aesthetic sensibility that emerged from the Heian period onward, most notably seen in the jūnihitoe and other layered garments. By combining colors in carefully chosen layers, people enjoyed selecting palettes suited to the season and occasion.

This refined sensibility—reflecting the changing beauty of nature in clothing and expressing the four seasons through color—was cultivated within the elegant courtly life of the Heian aristocracy and continues to live on in Japanese traditional crafts today.

In this exhibition, along with Heian-period court garments, we present fusego—incense cages used at the time to scent clothing. While reflecting on the refined lifestyle of Heian aristocrats, visitors can also explore a selection of crafts suited to contemporary living, including incense-related items, garments and accessories, folding fans, and traditional Japanese candles (warōsoku).

The venue, Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design, is a specialized museum showcasing 74 categories of Kyoto’s traditional industries in its permanent exhibition. At the museum shop and MOCAD ONLINE SHOP, visitors can purchase works by the exhibiting companies and artisans.

Period: Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Sunday, May 24, 2026
Hours: 10:00 – 18:00
Venue: Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts MOCAD Gallery
9-1 Okazaki Seishōji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Admission: Free
URL: https://kmtc.jp/en/