Collaboration
At Kira Karacho, we develop a wide range of collaborative projects and products using the distinctive Karacho patterns that have been handed down through generations.
Our concept is:
“To live with a sense of beauty by incorporating the things we love into our daily lives, and by embracing a life enriched with art.”
With this philosophy, we continue to explore collaborations that connect tradition, art, and contemporary life.
Karuizawa Whisky “ONCE IN A LIFETIME”
Limited Edition of 145 Bottles Worldwide
Karacho Collaboration Label
At the end of 2025, Number One Drinks released a rare blended whisky distilled at the legendary Karuizawa Distillery over its 45-year history, from the 1960s until its closure in the 2000s.
Only 145 bottles were produced worldwide and distributed across the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Japan. The bottle was priced at £19,950.
The name “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” is inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Ichigo Ichie, meaning a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. It perfectly expresses the significance and rarity of what is considered the final release of Karuizawa whisky.
When approached from the United Kingdom to create a special label for this extraordinary bottle, karakami artist Choemon Senda proposed expressing the story behind the whisky through a composition of nine symbolic grids.
Each element is represented through characters and colors.
Blue symbolizes the sea, copper represents the distillation still, and gold signifies barley.
Senda also designed ancient-inspired characters representing mountain, water, deity (angel), time, depth (strength), and forest.
The label itself is a special hand-printed karakami made using Kurotani washi, dyed with gofun pigment and printed with a shimmering cloud pattern in mica.
The three colors representing the elements were individually hand-painted by Choemon Senda, completing each label by hand.
The result is a unique Karacho collaboration label, worthy of a bottle that will undoubtedly remain in the history of the whisky world.
ROYAL ASSCHER Ginza Namiki-dori Salon
Collaboration with Karacho
In November 2025, ROYAL ASSCHER, the prestigious diamond-cutting jeweler founded in Amsterdam in 1854 and granted the title “Royal” by the Dutch Royal Family, opened a new salon in Ginza, Tokyo.
At the ROYAL ASSCHER Ginza Namiki-dori Salon, a collaboration with Karacho brought traditional karakami patterns into the interior design. The patterns Kaku-tsunagi and Nanban Shippo, which have been passed down through generations at Karacho since the Edo period, were incorporated into various materials including fabrics, tiles, mirrors, and traditional karakami paper.
In addition, artworks by karakami artist Choemon Senda were integrated into the space. Through this collaboration, the salon expresses a fusion of Japanese traditional beauty and European refinement, creating a luminous space that enhances the brilliance of the diamonds.
Ogurayama Landscape Preservation Society
Original Karacho Pattern Furoshiki for KOKON SAGA Rice
The Ogurayama Scenic Preservation Society works to protect the historic landscape of Ogura-yama and Sagano, a scenery that has been cherished for more than a thousand years.
In support of one of their cultural initiatives—preserving the traditional rural landscape while cultivating naturally grown rice (Kinu-hikari) in Sagano, Kyoto, an area designated as a Historic Landscape Preservation District—we created a special collaborative Karacho-pattern furoshiki.
The pattern selected for this project is “Unson Reiwa,” one of the designs from the 100 Patterns of the Heisei and Reiwa Eras Project.
Unson Reiwa, a pattern symbolizing the transmission of culture to future generations, gave profound meaning to this collaboration.
Doshisha University Faculty of Global and Regional Studies: Official Logo
Doshisha University’s Faculty of Global and Regional Studies (GR) commissioned us to create a logo for the 10th anniversary of its establishment. Conceptualizing the base of the logo as a karakami pattern, we collaborated with the faculty to create a pattern that matches the faculty’s concept. The pattern was included in the Heisei Reiwa no Hyakumonyo (100 patterns of Heisei and Reiwa) Project, and the symbolic part of that work was designed to become the official logo of the GR Faculty.
Craft Gin “Ki no Bi (The Beauty of the Seasons)”
The Kyoto Distillery
In autumn 2016, the Kyoto Distillery announced the creation of the first super premium craft gin in Kyoto, “Ki no Bi.” The Kyoto craft gin “Ki no Bi,” which has won international acclaim including the highest award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), owes its design to Kira Karacho. The product name “Ki no Bi” was even chosen by Choemon Senda (Toto Akihiko). He has also collaborated on various other products such as “Ki no Bi Sei,” “Ki no Tea,” “Ki no Tou,” “Ki no Jyu,” and “Kin no Bi,” supervising the design of each bottle.
Japan Racing Association (JRA)
90th Japanese Derby Commemorative Tie
To commemorate the 90th Japanese Derby, a special collaboration tie was created with the Japan Racing Association (JRA).
The karakami pattern used for the design, Kaku-tsunagi, carries meanings such as prosperity, connection, transformation, and continuity.
The design depicts horse and rider moving forward as one, set against the traditional Karacho pattern that has been preserved and handed down since the Edo period.
Together, it expresses the history and evolution of the Japanese Derby.
Bird and Beast Caricatures Collaboration Items
Tokyo National Museum
Special Exhibition “All About National Treasure Bird and Beast Caricatures: Frolicking Animals”
April 13, 2021—June 20, 2021 A special collaboration work of birds, beasts, and caricatures with Kira Karacho was launched as a Tokyo National Museum special exhibition entitled “Kokuho Chouu Giga no Subete (All About National Treasure Bird and Beast Caricatures: Frolicking Animals).” The unique patterns and sophisticated color schemes of Kira Karacho featured on special folding fans, small notebooks, kaishi (Japanese pocket paper), and miniature bags caused a sensation.
Silverware/Cutlery
Christofle
Silverware from Christofle, a long-established French company, is known as a “the art of the dining table.” A luxury lifestyle brand that was favored by King Louis Philippe of France and Napoleon III, Christofle has been committed to manufacturing products of the highest quality since its establishment in 1830. The meticulous and delicate craftsmanship of these artisans has given the “Kaku Tsunagi” pattern a beautiful luster, a new expressive element for a tray. In addition to being a practical tray you can use to create an exquisite tea time, it also works as an art piece for your wall creating an elegant and graceful space.
Macaron “Treasure Boxes”
LADURÉE
In the winter of 2018, Kira Karacho collaborated with the French Maison Ladurée to launch luxury treasure boxes, limited to six pieces worldwide. The first of these, the Karakami Treasure Box, was prominently displayed at the main Ladurée Paris Royale store.
Sherry cask-aged special original liquor “ito (thread)”
Koyama Honke Brewery
Nada Hamafukutsuru Sake Brewery of Koyama Honke Shuzo expresses the world woven by Japanese tradition and craftsmanship in this sherry cask-aged special pure sake fittingly called “Ito (thread).”
This esteemed sake manufacturer wished for something that had never been done before: a beautiful package that was worthy of their sake. Offered the opportunity to create, Kira Karacho gave shape to that desire by supervising the pattern and designing the labels and packaging. This beautiful and unique piece was created from karakami paper with a pattern called “Oami Botan (Big Net Peony).”
Tableware
NORITAKE
From spring 2015, Kira Karacho has been creating tableware with Noritake, a Western tableware company with its roots in Japanese esthetics, spirit, and sincerity.
Imabari Kinsei × Kira Karacho Towel
Imabari Kinsei
A commemorative towel series celebrating cumulative sales of 10 million units. Commemorating the cumulative sales of 10 million Imabari Kinsei towels, we announced the “Imabari Kinsei Kira Karacho Towels” in summer 2018.
Concept Rooms “KIN-UN (Golden Cloud)” and “GIN-GETSU (Silver Moon)”
Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto
Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto collaborated with Kira Karacho to celebrate the 50th anniversary of opening its doors. The concept rooms “KIN-UN” and “GIN-GETSU” were created under the direction of Kira Karacho, who was in charge of space and interior decorating, including carpets, curtains, mirrors, cushions, and bedspreads.
Patterned Jewelry
Grunberger Diamonds
Grunberger Diamonds is known for its excellent cut melee diamonds in heart and cupid patterns, which have been honored by the Belgian Royal Family and are considered the most brilliant in history. For three generations, Grunberger Diamonds has passed on the means of achieving the highest quality, utilizing outstandingly skilled craftsmanship, and the company produces gems that have been praised by high-class jewelry brands around the world.
Grunberger Diamonds and Kira Karacho have collaborated in three ways: the presentation of the world’s first diamond-infused karakami artwork, the creation of the heart & cupid pattern in the Heisei Reiwa no Hyakumonyo (100 patterns of Heisei and Reiwa) Project, and the designing and development of patterned jewelry under the supervision of Kira Karacho.
Archive
◎Original Kaishi (pocket paper) and fans / Kyoto Geihinkan (State Guest House)
Kaishi and fans with the Goshichi-kiri (5-7 paulownia) pattern have been available since winter 2013. Sold at Kyoto Geihinkan.
◎La quoh / Leather Goods and Accessories
La quoh offers stationery, bags, and accessories as an original brand of Masugi, which was founded in 1713 as a producer of luxury products of timeless and universal value. Our aim was to create lifestyle items to be utilized daily, imbued with the essence of the Karacho patterns, that express new nuances of design and value by taking the essence of the stories found in Kyoto.
◎Original Wrapping Paper/Sunshukai
The Belle Maison gift catalog, specializing in MUSUBI Wedding, and Kira Karacho have collaborated to create an original wrapping.
◎Tiles/X’S
In the fall of 2018, we collaborated with X’S to create tiles featuring Karacho patterns. Beginning from the wonderful concept of “WITH THANKS FOR THE MOTHER EARTH,” X’S produced high quality tiles, and these patterned tiles in particular are created with superior technology and attention to detail, resulting in tiles with a texture that cannot be found anywhere else.
◎Komachi-beni (Ita beni)/Isehan Honten
In Spring 2019, the collaboration with Isehan Honten, “Komachi-beni (Komachi rouge)” was presented. Since the establishment of the Isehan Honten (main store) in 1825, Komachi-beni has fascinated women with its signature colors. The limited-edition Komachi-beni came into existence due to a very special collaboration between Isehan Honten and Kira Karacho, which preserves the 400-year history of a karakami shop while looking toward the next generation.
◎SK-II/Christmas Coffrets
In the winter of 2016, SK-II and Kira Karacho collaborated to produce pouches and other items as Christmas Coffrets.
◎Package Design/Itohkyuemon
In the winter of 2015 Kira Karacho introduced a set of three kinds of matcha chocolates with papiers and a set of three types of matcha chocolates and bean dishes with Itohkyuemon, a teahouse in Uji, Kyoto.
◎Bedding/Nishikawa
In the winter of 2014, bedding with Karacho patterns was introduced in collaboration with Kyoto-based bedding manufacturer Nishikawa.
◎Package Design/Gekkeikan
Between 2012 – 2021, the pattern for Gekkeikan Sake “Tsuki (Moon)” and “Yamadanishiki (a type of rice) Junmai Pack” (duty free package) was produced.