Visit to the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic

Kawaseman Orimono Co., Ltd. (Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto; President: Hitoshi Kawase), which has carried on the tradition of obi craftsmanship for over 150 years in Nishijin, Kyoto, visited the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic in Prague in January 2026.
As the world’s only company officially authorized by the Mucha Foundation to reproduce Mucha’s works through Nishijin weaving, the company donated a Nishijin-woven hanging scroll of his masterpiece Gismonda, which is now part of the Embassy’s collection.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the sister city partnership between Kyoto and Prague, making this initiative a symbolic expression of the deep cultural exchange between the two countries through traditional craftsmanship.

Alphonse Mucha was raised in Prague, Czech Republic, where he cultivated his artistic vision.
Prague, a city rich in history and culture, stands as one of Europe’s leading artistic centers and profoundly influenced Mucha’s creative work.
It was here in Prague that we at Kawaseman Orimono encountered Mucha, embarking on a new journey to fuse his art with the tradition of Nishijin weaving.

Kawaseman Orimono Co., Ltd., a long-established Nishijin textile house based in Kyoto, visited the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic in Prague in January 2026.
During the visit, the company presented kimono and obi that reinterpret the artistic world of Alphonse Mucha—one of the Czech Republic’s most celebrated artists—through the traditional techniques of Kyoto, while also engaging in meaningful cultural exchange.

As a bridge connecting traditional Japanese beauty with the world and future generations, this visit reaffirmed our belief that Nishijin weaving from Kyoto can transcend borders and bring people together through the universal language of beauty.

Within the serene and dignified setting of the Embassy, we presented works of Alphonse Mucha expressed through Nishijin weaving.
The refined weaving techniques of Nishijin, Kyoto, which capture the decorative richness and the beauty of Mucha’s lines with remarkable precision, were met with deep appreciation and understanding.
Alphonse Mucha, a symbolic figure of the Czech Republic, continues to be highly regarded worldwide for his distinctive decorative style and spiritual depth.
Kawaseman Orimono has reinterpreted the elegance of Mucha’s linework and compositional beauty through the traditional weaving techniques of Nishijin, Kyoto, bringing them to life in the form of kimono and obi.

Kawaseman Orimono Co., Ltd. has donated a Nishijin-woven hanging scroll of Alphonse Mucha’s Gismonda to the Embassy of Japan in the Czech Republic.
This work expresses the decorative richness and the beauty of Mucha’s linework through intricate weaving using gold threads, and has been installed within the Embassy as a symbol of cultural exchange between Japan and the Czech Republic.
For all of us as artisans, it is a profound honor and a great source of pride to see this piece displayed as a representation of the cultural connection between the two nations.

This visit to Prague, the presentation of the hanging scroll to the Embassy of Japan, and the dialogue held at the milestone of the 30th anniversary of the sister city partnership have together become a meaningful testament.
They affirm that Nishijin weaving from Kyoto transcends the boundaries of tradition, serving as a universal language of beauty that resonates with people around the world.

Kawaseman Orimono Co., Ltd. is an officially authorized Mucha partner.
Discover the story behind this collaboration.

Kawaseman Orimono, a Nishijin textile house based in Kyoto, brings Japanese tradition to the world.
The company participated in one of the world’s largest textile exhibitions, held in Milan, Italy.