Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Our Products and Craftspeople

How can I design my own product?

Kesapasa’s craftspeople take private orders for woodblock prints, noren curtains and Edo-moji calligraphy. For example, you might want to create your own senshafuda print with your design, an authentic noren curtain for your business or an Edo-moji calligraphy piece with your name in Japanese kanji.

Noren Curtains

We have developed a convenient design tool for you to create your own noren curtain. You can choose your desired font, color and text designation. This tool provides a good example of how your final noren curtain will look, and our noren craftsman Takumi Katayama will contact you to finalise your design.

Woodblock Prints / Edo-moji Calligraphy

If you would like to design your own woodblock print or Edo-moji calligraphy piece, please request a private order through our contact form. The associated craftspeople will contact you to create your design based on your ideas. We also have access to artists who can draw your design!

The Challenge of Handmade Products

Every item on our website is a unique creation made by skilled hands, adding a personal touch to your purchase. As a result, there might be subtle variations between the product you receive and the images displayed on our website. These differences ensure the handmade nature of our products, showcasing the craftsmanship that goes into each item. We appreciate your understanding and celebrate the individuality that comes with each handcrafted piece. We are committed to delivering a product that reflects the dedication and artistry embedded in our handmade creations.

How are your products made?

Our associated craftspeople are all specialised in crafts originating from the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan. They all completed an intense training period to master these crafts, as students would have done in the Edo period.

Nowadays, there are more convenient tools to print, create or dye products. However, these craftspeople still highly value the Edo period way of working, and still use the same tools from this period. For example, Nobuto Ogawa uses woodblock printing paper, tools, brushes and ink similar to the ones used 300 years ago in order to produce prints as close as possible to the originals. This also applies to our noren curtains, boro fabrics and calligraphy. Therefore, we can proudly say that all our products are made by hand in Japan. There are no machines involved in the creating process.

Who made your products?

Our craftspeople all reside in Japan, mainly in the Tokyo Arakawa Ward, which still has a compact but strong community of craftspeople. The Arakawa Artisan Training Project is a huge factor in this development and is dedicated to keeping the traditional crafts alive.

Due to this dense community of craftspeople, all of whom followed a similar, tough training, it seemed an obvious move to join forces. Since our staff at Kesapasa have a deep understanding of what it takes to become a craftsperson, we want to highlight our craftspeople and give them a platform. They are the real stars and without them these beautiful products could not be realized.

At the time of writing, we collaborate with the following craftspeople:

Nobuto Ogawa - Woodblock prints

Takumi Katayama - Noren curtains

Yuka Mekaru - Yose-moji calligraphy

Jelle Hoeks - Indigo and boro fabrics

Sylvain - Soy wax aroma candles

Who is in charge of Kesapasa and the website?

Nobuto Ogawa, Founder and CEH (Chief Executive Handicraftsman)

Fascinated by watching his grandfather print woodblock prints, Nobuto pursued a career in woodblock printing himself in 2014. With a dream to continue his family woodblock printing tradition, Nobuto started his 7 year long training with his grandfather's successor. After finishing his training and witnessing the challenges of many other craftspeople around him, he came up with the idea of Kesapasa. Nobuto noticed that most craftspeople were so occupied with mastering their craft and physical work that they did not have the knowledge and time for showcasing and selling their work. The lack of English proficiency was also a roadblock for most. Besides that, Nobuto developed a real passion for traditional handmade crafts, which he thinks should be shared with the whole world to enrich our daily lives. Therefore, he founded the online traditional handicrafts platform Kesapasa in April 2022.

Nobuto manages the relationships with the craftspeople at Kesapasa, takes care of all finances and administration, continuously creates new ideas and steers the direction of the platform. Besides all that, he keeps working as a woodblock printing craftsman and teaches new craftspeople.

Jelle Hoeks, Creative Manager

Jelle's initial passion for traditional handcrafts started with his discovery of old Japanese fabrics when he was still living in The Netherlands. There are dozens of Japanese fabric types, all made with incredible attention to detail with natural ingredients through various creation processes. However, he was completely sold when he dyed with natural indigo for the first time in Japan and saw his indigo blue hands. As a result, his mission was to learn about all Japanese traditional handicrafts, and coincidentally met Nobuto in Tokyo, who was a woodblock printer and just started Kesapasa.

Jelle is in charge of the website, all creative and promotional work like photography, videography, graphic design and social media. Apart from that, Jelle collects, repairs and sells Japanese fabrics and occasionally works with natural and indigo dyes.

What languages does your staff speak?

The staff and members of Kesapasa are proficient in Japanese, English, French, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Dutch. If you speak any of the aforementioned languages, please feel free to contact us in your language!

Shipping

Where do you ship from?

We ship our products worldwide from Arakawa in Tokyo. The reason for this is that our office is located in the Arakawa ward and most of Kesapasa's craftspeople are operating in this area. After a product is sold, we collect the works from our craftspeople and carefully prepare them for safe shipping.

How do you ship your products?

Kesapasa proudly ships worldwide. After collecting the sold work from the craftsperson, we prepare the package for shipping. Particular works like a woodblock or calligraphy print demand extra safety like thick carton and bubble wrapping. We ship our products through local Japan Post offices, with normal and express shipping options available. All deliveries are provided with insurance and a tracking code.

Can I ship my order as a gift?

Kesapasa does not currently offer any gift wrapping or other gift options. However, it is possible to change the delivery name if you would like the package to be delivered as a gift to the gift receiver's address. Please leave a message when ordering your product to which address you wish to deliver to!

How long will it take for my order to arrive?

Kesapasa offers two worldwide shipping options, standard and express shipping. For every order, we take 2 or 3 days to prepare your purchase. This includes collecting the work from the craftsperson and carefully packing the order.

Worldwide Standard shipping takes around 7 business days to arrive. Including an order process time of 2 to 3 days, you should receive your order in 10 business days.

Worldwide Express shipping takes around 2 to 3 business days to arrive. Including an order process time of 2 to 3 days, you should receive your order in 5 to 6 business days. As might be expected, more costs are involved with express shipping.

Japan Domestic Shipping takes just one working day to arrive after the day we shipped your order. Including an order process time of 2 to 3 days, you will receive your order in 3 to 4 business days.

What are the international taxes, duties, etc., that I have to pay?

Unfortunately, our website cannot provide precise information regarding international taxes and duties that customers may incur for international orders. The variability in import regulations, coupled with factors like the product type and declared value, makes it difficult to provide specific details. We recommend checking with your local customs office or using online calculators provided by shipping services when making a purchase.

For orders within Japan, please note that we are obligated to apply the Japanese Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate of 10%. This statutory requirement is in accordance with the tax regulations governing domestic transactions. Consequently, the total amount payable for your order will include the applicable 10% VAT in your shopping cart. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we adhere to the legal framework governing taxation within Japan.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes, Kesapasa ships worldwide. Please check the other FAQs to learn more about our shipping process and costs.

What are your shipping costs?

Kesapasa offers two worldwide shipping options, standard and express shipping.

Worldwide standard shipping starts at 2000 Japanese Yen (€12,95 or US$14) for all orders under 1kg. Please note that for orders weighing more than 1kg we will charge extra shipping costs.

Worldwide express shipping starts at 4000 Japanese Yen (€26 or US$28) for all orders under 1kg. Please note that for orders weighing more than 1kg we will charge extra shipping costs.

Japan domestic shipping has a fixed price of 1000 Japanese Yen (€6,5 or US$7) for all shipments to Japanese addresses. The shipment should take one business day to arrive after the day we ship your order. 

Returns / Cancellation

Can I cancel my order?

Once orders have been checked out and paid for, there's unfortunately no option to cancel your order in the order portal. However, if you need to cancel, no worries! Please send us an email at kesapasashop@gmail.com or complete our contact form.

Please keep in mind that speed matters in this case, so contact us ASAP to increase the chances of a successful cancellation. We can usually cancel most ready-made orders before they leave our shop. Please note that custom-made orders like a noren curtain or a custom calligraphy print cannot be cancelled after the craftsperson has started to produce it. Therefore we will keep you up to date with the creation process so you are aware of the date until which you can cancel a custom order.

How do I make changes to an order I’ve already placed?

Following the completion of an order, customers cannot modify order information through the online platform. However, we can make changes through direct communication via email at kesapasa@gmail.com or our contact form. Should you require adjustments to your order details, kindly reach out to us!

What do I do if I never received my order?

In the event that you have not received your order as expected, we kindly request you to contact us at kesapasashop@gmail.com or complete our contact form. Please provide us with your order details, and we will promptly initiate an investigation to ensure a satisfactory resolution to the matter. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

What do I do if I receive a defective order?

In the unfortunate event of receiving a damaged item, we extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. To make things right, we kindly request you contact us at kesapasashop@gmail.com or complete our contact form. Please provide us with detailed information and, if possible, photographic evidence of the damage. Needless to say, we can initiate the process for a replacement product or, if preferred, provide a refund. We are committed to ensuring your satisfaction and appreciate your cooperation in addressing this matter efficiently.

What is the return policy?

We have a 7-day return policy, which means you have 7 days after receiving your item to request a return in case you are not satisfied or expectations were not met.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase. Please note that customers who are not satisfied with their order and wish to return it are responsible for shipping costs as well as duties on all returned items. Of course, in the instance of a damaged or incomplete product, Kesapasa will bear the costs for returning the product.

To inquire about returning an item, please contact us at kesapasashop@gmail.com or complete our contact form.

If your return is accepted, we will send you instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.

Exceptions / Non-Returnable Items

Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on custom orders like noren curtains and calligraphy.

Refunds

We will notify you once we have received and inspected your returned item, and will let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded your paid amount minus the shipping and customs costs, on your original payment method within 10 business days. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process the refund.If more than 15 business days have passed since we approved your return, please contact us at kesapasashop@gmail.com.

Others

What payments options do you accept?

Kesapasa offers flexible and secure payment options, accepting both international credit cards and PayPal for all orders. Feel free to choose the payment method that suits you best, and we look forward to fulfilling your order.

How do you secure my personal information?

We prioritise the security and confidentiality of customer information on our website. Therefore we follow the necessary security protocols, including advanced encryption and strict access controls. We are committed to ensuring the utmost safety and privacy protection for your data. Please be assured that your personal information is handled with the highest level of security, aligning with the necessary privacy standards. For more information, please visit our privacy policy.

Do you have any burning questions, interests or concerns that we have not mentioned in our FAQ's?

Please contact us using the form below and we will get back to you in one day!

Contact form