The Majestic Beauty of Japan,
Woven through Bamboo
Supple yet strong, bamboo reflects the Japanese spirit. Shifting with the seasons, from the fresh green of young spring bamboo to the vibrant hues of summer, it has long stood as a symbol of Japanese beauty. The Seiko Presage Museum captures moments where timepieces resonate with the sensibilities of contemporary artists. In this third installment, we visit the world of fourth-generation bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, whose works explore the possibilities of bamboo craftsmanship on a global scale.
Tanabe Chikuunsai IV,
Bamboo Craftsman and Contemporary Artist
Tanabe Chikuunsai IV,
Bamboo Craftsman and Contemporary Artist
Fourth-generation bamboo artist Tanabe Chikuunsai IV creates installations that transform spaces through the expressive power of bamboo. Rooted in traditional craftsmanship while embracing a contemporary artistic vision, his internationally acclaimed works connect nature, people, and places through organic woven forms.
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Anton Wormann
Joining him is Anton Wormann, a Swedish-born resident of Japan with a passion for Japanese craftsmanship, design, and the restoration of traditional residences. Together, they reflect on the quiet beauty embodied in bamboo.
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Anton Wormann
Craft Leaves Behind Form,
Installations Leave Memories
Anton:Your family’s history with bamboo craft goes back generations. How did the Tanabe Chikuunsai lineage begin?
Chikuunsai:My great-grandfather, Tanabe Chikuunsai I, came from a family of physicians serving a feudal domain in Hyogo. When society changed during the transition from the Edo (1603–1868) to the Meiji (1868–1912) period, his father encouraged his children to pursue what they truly loved. Fascinated by bamboo craft, he apprenticed under the master Waichisai Wada at the age of 12. After 10 years of training, he inherited the name Chikuunsai, beginning our family's history in bamboo art.
Anton:What led you to transition from traditional bamboo craft to large-scale installations?
Chikuunsai:I spent many years creating traditional bamboo works and exhibiting them internationally, but I gradually came to see the limits of how Japanese craft was perceived overseas. In London in 2008, I encountered a powerful contemporary installation that completely changed my perspective. I realized that art needed to engage people not only visually, but through senses and space itself.
Upon returning to Osaka, I asked myself what only bamboo could express. This became the starting point for my installations.
Anton:Your installations are dismantled after exhibitions, and the bamboo is reused. Why is this process important to you?
Chikuunsai:Studying sculpture, I always struggled with the amount of industrial waste created through art production. Since bamboo is a natural material, I sought to realize a sustainable cycle. After each exhibition, we carefully dismantle the installation and reuse about 95% of the bamboo strips in future works. In a sense, the bamboo itself travels the world, taking on ever-new forms.
Anton:What is the difference between creating craft works and installations?
Chikuunsai:Craft works carry techniques, knowledge, and cultural values forward through time. They are made to endure. Installations are different. Once an exhibition ends, the work is dismantled and disappears physically. What remains is the impression it has made on people. In that sense, craft works preserve form, while installations preserve memory. Both are profoundly important to me.
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The Quiet Strength of
Japanese Beauty
Anton:What does “Japanese beauty” mean to you?
Chikuunsai:I believe Japanese beauty is found in restraint rather than extravagance or spectacle. In many Western traditions, beauty can seem additive—more decoration, more expression. In contrast, Japanese aesthetics often work through subtraction. By removing excess, the essential can emerge. Japanese beauty lies in restraint, humility, and respect. It does not draw attention to itself, but creates harmony with the surrounding space, materials, and environment. In traditional bamboo flower baskets, the work is complete only when flowers are arranged inside it. The basket does not overpower the blossoms; rather, they enhance one another.
Bamboo itself embodies many aspects of Japanese beauty. It stands tall and straight, yet bends gracefully in the wind. It is elegant, yet remarkably strong. It changes appearance with the seasons, and those transitions are themselves beautiful.
Anton:What was your first impression of the Presage Classic Series?
Chikuunsai:I felt a strong connection to the philosophy behind the watches. Rather than boldly asserting themselves, they are designed to naturally accompany the wearer in everyday life. They are refined and understated, yet have a presence. That balance feels very Japanese to me.
In Japanese craftsmanship, beauty often emerges through layering. In bamboo dyeing, we repeatedly apply color to bring out depth and richness. The Presage dial gives a similar impression. The design appears simple at a glance, but contains delicate layers and subtle gradations that reveal themselves slowly like ripples spreading across water.
Anton:As someone who works with bamboo daily, what are your thoughts on the wakatake color?
Chikuunsai:Wakatake is one of my favorite colors because it represents young bamboo in spring: fresh, vibrant, and full of life. What impressed me about the watch was how the color changes depending on light and angle. At times it appears vivid and energetic, then in other moments is soft and understated. That shifting expression feels natural and alive.
I was also drawn to the gentle curves of the design. In bamboo craftsmanship, even slight differences in curvature or finishing can alter the entire character of a work. Through careful accumulation of small details, warmth and elegance can emerge. I sensed the same philosophy in this watch.
Like bamboo itself, the design feels supple and dignified, balancing flexibility with a quiet strength.
Through bamboo, Tanabe Chikuunsai IV finds beauty in qualities that evolve with time: the vitality of young bamboo, the subtle shifts of color under changing light, and the balance of graceful curves together with quiet strength. He sees those same qualities reflected in the Seiko Presage Classic Series. Inspired by the fresh green of young bamboo in the spring, the dial reveals different expressions throughout the day, its flowing forms conveying both suppleness and dignity. Like a finely crafted work of bamboo art, the watch rewards closer attention, revealing new depth with every glance.
A Journey Through
Japanese Beauty
Osaka
Discovering Japanese Elegance through History,
Culture, and Urban Vitality
Located within Osaka Prefecture, the city of Sakai flourished as an international trading port in the 16th century and was home to cultural figures such as Sen no Rikyu, who shaped Japanese aesthetics through the art of tea. Today, this rich heritage can be seen through historic landmarks.
At the same time, Osaka remains a city where tradition and innovation coexist. From Osaka Castle and performances of bunraku puppet theater to contemporary institutions such as the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, diverse layers of culture continue to shape the city.
Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko explores the cultural legacy of Sakai through two figures representative of the city. At its heart is “Sakai Taian,” a recreation of Rikyu’s renowned tea room, realized through meticulous research and traditional craftsmanship. No mere reconstruction, the space offers insight into Rikyu’s philosophy of simplicity, harmony, and respect.
The Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to some of Japan's most impressive burial mounds, including the immense mounded tomb said to be the resting place of Emperor Nintoku, built over 1,500 years ago. Located within the Mozu Kofun Group, Daisen Park features a museum, library, tea house, Japanese garden, and a lawn area, offering a peaceful space to experience Sakai's historical legacy.
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Located within Daisen Park in Sakai, the traditional tea house Shin-an serves to bring the culture of chanoyu to the public. Designed by renowned sukiya architect Rodo Ogi, the building unites the refined tradition of sukiya-style architecture with a quiet sense of openness. Shin-an offers visitors a place to experience the spirit of tea culture rooted in Sakai—birthplace of the tea master Sen no Rikyu.
The Osaka Sakai Balloon is a tethered balloon that rises approximately 100 meters above ground, offering sweeping views of Sakai and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group. During the approximately 15-minute flight, visitors can enjoy the region’s cultural heritage and expansive scenery from a perspective unlike any other.
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Osaka Castle, originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583, is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Although the original castle tower was destroyed during the Siege of Osaka in 1615, the castle was later rebuilt and underwent extensive restoration in the 1990s. Its majestic appearance continues to remind visitors of Osaka’s important place in Japanese history.
Opened in 1984 in Osaka, the National Bunraku Theatre plays a central role in preserving and sharing bunraku, a distinctively Japanese performing art. The theatre also introduces younger audiences to bunraku through educational programs and contemporary collaborations.
Developed in Osaka during the Edo period (1603-1867) as a form of popular entertainment, bunraku combines narrative chanting, shamisen music, and intricately operated puppets into a single expressive art form with over three centuries of history.
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Nakanoshima is one of Kansai’s leading cultural districts, home to museums, concert halls, office towers, and hotels. Standing prominently among them, Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka is defined by its striking exterior, conceived as a “floating black box in the city.”
The museum’s soaring atrium embodies its vision as an open and accessible cultural space. While housing a collection of approximately 7,000 works, it does not maintain a permanent exhibition, instead presenting a diverse range of special exhibitions, including works connected to Osaka, creating new encounters with art for every visit.
A staple of Osaka's food culture, okonomiyaki is made by grilling a batter of flour and dashi stock together with ingredients such as cabbage, meat, and seafood on a hot teppan iron plate. Each restaurant has its own style and flavor. Gathering around the teppan and sharing conversation and good food is an integral part of the Osaka experience.
“Tecchiri” is a hot pot dish made by simmering pufferfish, vegetables, and mushrooms in kombu broth before dipping them in ponzu sauce. “Tessa” refers to delicately sliced fugu sashimi. Deeply rooted in Osaka’s culinary culture, both dishes are celebrated for their refined flavor and subtle elegance.
Battera is pressed sushi made by layering vinegared mackerel over seasoned rice and topping it with kombu before pressing it into shape. The rich flavor of the mackerel and the delicate umami of the kelp come together in a refined balance. In contrast to the Edo-style nigiri of Tokyo, Osaka has long embraced a culture of beautifully crafted pressed sushi.
