Bvlgari Japan Ltd hosted a special encounter between BVLGARI, the magnificent and contemporary Roman High Jeweler, and the excellence of Kyoto craftsmanship.
The Kyoto State Guest House is located in Kyoto, a traditional and culturally rich city of Japan. The facility was built in 2005 for the purpose of welcoming guests from abroad, for helping them understand Japan and for deepening their friendship with the country.
In order to harmonize the historical sites with the natural environment of the area, this house was created in a sophisticated traditional Japanese style, with a hip-and-gable roof which is called Irimoya.
Also included is the free architectural design based on the decorative alcove, which is called Sukiya. Another special feature is the formal style fence called Tsuijibei, which is made by pounding a mixture of mud and clay and placing it between wooden frames.
To build this house, many artisans, including Sukiya style carpenters, plasterers, special gardeners and metal foil cutters collaborated on special techniques which are recognized as traditional accomplishments in Kyoto. Interior design features include Nishijin fabric picture fittings called Makie, which are sprinkled with flecks of gold, silver or beautiful paint. Moreover, carefully selected lacquerware that exemplifies tradition and excellent craftsmanship augments the graceful interior decor.
The Kyoto State Guest House offers a sense of hospitality based on original Japanese culture which makes it unique compared to the Western style of the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace, Tokyo.
This is the first time in the 13 years since its establishment that a luxury brand has hosted a special event here to celebrate the incredible level of artistry embraced by the location and all of the city of Kyoto.
On the day of the event, Bvlgari Japan invited 30 students to a special talk session featuring the Kyoto-style Makie craftsman and poet Yutaro Shimode, as well as Jewelry Creative Director Lucia Silvestri and High Jewelry Senior Director Giampaolo Della Croce from Bvlgari’s Rome headquarters. During the session, speakers talked about special crafting techniques, traditional motifs, creative inspirations, different materials and how they are treated, and the techniques and inventive approaches used during actual production processes, as well as touching on the characteristics and commonalities between their individual crafts. The discussion served to heighten the students’ interest in craftsmanship that strives to embody the beauty of Kyoto and Italy respectively.
Meanwhile, a breathtaking exhibit showcasing Bvlgari’s new high jewelry collection “Festa” spanning over 200 pieces, in addition to luxury watches, was on display in Kyoto.
Giorgio Starace, Italian Ambassador to Japan, gave the following congratulatory message for this special event.
“The Eternal City of Rome, where BVLGARI was founded, and Kyoto, a place that has captivated people for thousands of years, both harbor long histories and deep-rooted craftsmanship. I had always secretly hoped that we could one day showcase the greatest high jewelry from Italy in the exceptional city of Kyoto,” Walter Bolognino, President of Bvlgari Japan.
Bando Tamasaburo, one of Kabuki’s most celebrated actors and National Living Treasure, performed a special dance ahead of the celebratory VIP dinner and gave the following comment.
The dinner was prepared by Luca Fantin, the Michelin-starred Executive Chef of BVLGARI Il Ristorante Luca Fantin.
Fantin’s motto is to offer an amazing sensory experience to guests by presenting dishes in a way that simulates their gustatory, visual, and olfactory senses, and he successfully demonstrated his exquisite presentation skills at the Kyoto State Guest House that evening, satiating the hearts and souls of those who enjoyed his meal.
To celebrate this cultural exchange between Kyoto and Italy, Oscar Winner pianist-composer Nicola Piovani delighted guests with his timeless and elegant compositions, which reflects the joy of living of Italy and BVLGARI alike.
Originating in Rome BVLGARI was founded as jewelry shop in 1884 by Greek silversmith Sotirio Bulgari. Kyoto and BVLGARI both represent passion, respect, admiration and inspiration coming from the highest level of historical craftsmanship.
