ABOUT US

“Metal leaf culture, shaped by the Japanese sense of beauty, is brought into the modern era.”

“Paper” resistant to discoloration is created using the traditional Japanese craft technique of metal leaf application.
Building on our one-of-a-kind technology, we develop and propose new materials and decorative applications.
Creating new possibilities for culturally rooted yet contemporary interiors and products.

Rekiseisha was founded by Seijiro Hisanaga in 1905. The family had originally been in the sword trade, but the Haitōrei in 1876, which banned the wearing of swords, forced them to change their line of business. They turned their attention to the furnishings of the samurai residences and wealthy households they had regularly visited, and began dealing in folding screens. This marked the beginning of Rekiseisha.

The family began by purchasing folding screens made with pure gold and silver leaf from Kyoto, but these were expensive, time-consuming to produce, and difficult to acquire. After much thought, Seijiro embarked on developing metal leaf paper using brass leaf that was more affordable. Through repeated experimentation with adhesives and other materials, along with extensive practical testing, he finally succeeded in commercializing Japan’s first gold paper that would not discolor and was durable enough for practical use, just like when it was made with pure gold leaf.

From there, Rekiseisha’s growing reputation helped expand its reach beyond Japan to markets around the world. Rekiseisha’s products are used in a wide variety of settings, from shrines and temples to luxury hotels, museums, and more.

An accumulation of craftsmanship, refined over generations and continually evolving.

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“A chimney that survived the atomic bombing still stands today at this factory”

Rekiseisha’s factory is located in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima, where a chimney that survived the atomic bombing still stands today. Built using salvaged materials collected from a nearby elementary school and relocated to this site, the building remains much as it was when it was reconstructed. It is a place that embodies the philosophy of reflecting on history and building the future.