Japanese straw and crafts by Tamaki Ishii & Kazuma Yamagami. Handwoven rice straw traditionally used for harvesting rice in Japan.

Straft is a Japanese craft unit founded by Tamaki Ishii and Kazuma Yamagami, based in Tokyo. Their practice centres on rice straw, a material deeply rooted in Japanese tradition and historically used in both daily life and ritual contexts. 

Working with handwoven straw originally used in rice harvesting, they reinterpret traditional techniques through a contemporary approach. Their work draws on the cultural and material narratives embedded in the straw, exploring the relationship between nature, use, and form. 

Informed by an understanding of nature shaped through rice cultivation, the objects carry an attentiveness to material and craft. Installations and functional pieces are developed with a focus on balance and harmony, where tradition and present-day expression meet. 

Their work is defined by composure, precision, and a sensitivity to the natural qualities of the material, creating works that highlight the beauty of nature.