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Kyoto Ukiyoe Water Series
The product of the “Kyo-no-Mizu Series” is aseptically filled mineral water sourced from the famous underground water which has been supporting the culture in Kyoto for 1200 years. We adopted eco-friendly paper containers. The package design is created and collaborated by Masumi Ishikawa, a successful painter and artist of new Ukiyo-e expression.
Our commitment to the environment
―Use of paper containers with low impact on climate change―
All of our paper containers are made of wood from certified forests or managed supply sources that meet a certain level of standards. About 70% of fibers used for a container is very tough and recyclable. That is why used paper containers can be turned into new products. It also has PET bottles and aluminum cans.
Commitment to taste
―Fine and mellow―
Fushimi in Kyoto is famous for its abundant good natural water called “Fushimizu”. More than 20 breweries there use this water to make sake. It has long been used not only for meals but also for making kimono such as Kyo-Yuzen. The flavor is fine and mild with the appropriate amount of minerals. The paper container is specially processed to prevent transferred smell, ensuring that fresh flavor of the aseptically filled water is preserved.
Obsession with design
―Ukiyo-e that evokes Japan's four seasons, and its beauty of nature―
The package of paper containers can be entirely printed. We take advantage of this strength to produce a work of art with Japanese flavor - our unique product “Kyo-no-Mizu”- is highly appreciated by inbound tourists. The design was created by Masumi Ishikawa, a painter and artist who attracts global attention for his new way of expressing Ukiyo-e. His delicate and bold expression of beautiful Japanese four seasons and nature has transformed ordinary packaged water into a very Japanese work of art.
The dancing figure is printed on the package of products using only various shades of indigo or with a limited amount of red or yellow to clarify the feature of water. This method is reminiscent of the Aizuri-e style, one of the traditional Ukiyo-e techniques. Ishikawa’s newly painted Ukiyo-e for the Kyoto ukiyoe water series employing this technique for the first time, making it a valuable work of art.
CERTIFICATIONS
We have obtained the following certifications to let more people know about the "Kyoto Ukiyoe Water Series" and to create products that anyone can feel safe using.
Halal Certification
We obtained Halal certification for our production line in December, 2022. This certification is not only a guarantee that the product is halal, but also an assurance by a halal certification organization that all aspects of the product, including the manufacturing environment, quality, and processes, meet standards in accordance with Islamic law.
For more information: https://jhba.jp/halal/
FSSC22000 certification obtained
All departments of our Ryuo Plant obtained FSSC22000 certification in May, 2022. This is an international food safety management system with a wide range of requirements including food defense, general hygiene management, and production environment.
Artist
Masumi Ishikawa, the designer of the product package, is a leading Japanese painter and artist of the new Ukiyo-e style. Ishikawa has engaged in various collaborative works. He creates works of art employing the Ukiyo-e style from the very unique modern perspective. His works ranging from 2D art works to displays and advertisements have become a hot topic. They are painted in his own hand, but just look like wood-block prints. Ishikawa now attracts global attention as one of a kind.
Other works https://www.konjakulabo.com
About this work(on the release of the first product)
―What was your impression when we asked you to design a package for us?
I have had no experience in designing packages for beverages, so I received the offer with much interest. This could be a good chance, in my honest opinion, to let more people know about Ukiyo-e, because if it is printed on the packages, they can easily experience Ukiyo-e. I also thought it would be a new proposal from the marketing perspective. After tossing around some keywords the president provided me, I finally decided to stretch my imagination of water and selected the beauty as the water personified based on the color blue, which is reminiscent of Aizuri-e, the Ukiyo-e indigo prints.
―What is the theme of your work?
“Beautiful water has a beautiful spirit” is the theme of the work. I expressed the good water of Kyoto to represent a graceful dancing water spirit.
―What do you try to do when you paint?
I like the style of Ukiyo-e, so I always think about how I can create “my one and only” utilizing the style in this modern age.
Visit to Osaka Headquarters and Ryuo Plant
―The original painting is wonderful. I would like you to check the finished products with your own eyes in our plant.
I truly appreciate for this opportunity. I wanted to show you my real original work, and I was also looking forward to visit here to tour the factory to see the manufacturing processes.
―You are here just in the middle of the cherry blossom season. You expressed dancing and falling cherry blossoms in the first piece. Are you particularly aware of the season when you make your works?
Depending on the type of work the way I interpret the season changes. For the first piece, “sakura” (cherry blossoms) should be included in my Ukiyo-e due to the offer, and it was truly perfect in the high season of blooming to depict Sakura. I like summer personally, so I am very motivated when the season changes, from the season of cherry blossom pink to the fresh greenery.
―I understand how much difficult to get the conception of work of art.
Even if I grasp a rough theme for my work, I look at my notes I have taken especially when I cannot come up with the specifics. My notebook is kind of a material book where I draw rough sketches. I sometimes take notes using my smartphone.
―We experimentally make a wide variety of products in our Product Development Department using many types of flavors and spices arranged in the lab.
It's fun to see so many flavors and spices, just looking like art painting materials. They might inspire me with ideas of other product packages. I would be happy to work with you again.
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