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For those of you with additional interests in Japan, we have prepared a short video of how I was invited to perform with a village kabuki group.
Kabuki is a stylized Japanese drama that includes dance, best recognized by the ghost-like white make-up that the actors apply. Click here to read more about Kabuki on wikipedia. Village Kabuki is a non-professional version of Kabuki that were and still are community events in the more rural parts of Japan.
I have been performing for 10 years now and it is wonderful to be part of a fading tradition in Japan. Please enjoy!

A great way to complement a hinoki bathtub is with wooden wainscoting.
There are two options to choose from. Narrow [top left] and wide [top right].
The wood paneling is packed and delivered like this:

installed like this:

and looks like this:

another example with granite bottom wall and knotless wainscoting for the high portion of the wall.

Here is another short VTR that Yoshiaki took in Kiso valley when visiting the ryokan of a friend.
The place is located in Nagano-ken, Kiso-gun.
The name of the ryokan is: NEZAME-SANSHI (=purple mountains). This is because the mountains surrounding Kiso in all directions turn to purple at sunset.

I hope you enjoy!

We prepared a short VTR about our japanese ofuro tubs.
How do you like it? We welcome your comments!

Our client decided on option B, the doors with a contemporary feel. Below are the products ready to be shipped.

Shoji doors are usually made with rice paper, however, rice paper is delicate and doesn’t fair well in humid environments, like a bathroom. We recommend to replace the paper with a synthetic material that looks like paper call warlon. This fascinating material is used for many interior applications in Japan today. (Warlon website in Japanese only)

Above are the rails that are to be fitted above and below for the doors to slide.

And for the final touch wooden wainscot paneling, and Japan has been brought to your home!

We had a client who wanted a comprehensive Japanese look for his room. The image above was taken from the bedroom facing the bathroom and closet. Our client wanted to used traditional Japanese shoji doors to separate the spaces.
I sent my client the following two proposals:

Option A is classic Japanese but involves more pieces. This design includes a column and beam casing which separates the closet doors from the bathroom doors and the top storage from the full sized doors.

Option B is simple and more contemporary. There are no exposed columns so the doors look like parts of a whole and because there is no beam the ceiling will feel higher.

Options A and B can also be mixed and matched according to one’s vision.

Dear friend,
Did you contact us some time ago with reference to a quotation for a japanese tub?
Is your project still on track?
Or did you just knew about us and wish to have a quote?
We are at your disposability for any question/problem.
Also, note that if you confirm your order in september, we will be able to apply a 7% discount on the quote for what concerns hinoki products! (no discount on the transportation cost.)
There will be an extra 3% discount (10% total!) for the first 3 tubs ordered in september.
Updated 090909: sorry, the extra discount has been allocated…
This offer starts today aug/25 and expires sept/30/2009 at 18:00 JST.
Please note:
* This offer cannot be cumulated with other discounts.
* This offer is valid only for bank transfer payments (no credit cards or paypal)
* This is Bartok design`s first promotional sale.
* We do not have plans to make it a regular feature and in case it will be repeated it will not be before august 2010.
* These conditions include a governamental 5% tax facilitation.


Contact us for further details!

We received a mail from our previous hinoki-bath customer.
Now she wanted to complete her renovation with japanese style lighting fixtures.

The japanese maker of course cannot offer support or guarantee overseas and we had to ask our client to sign a liability release paper.
Since we are a japanese company we can purchase at 50% off listed prices and transfer this advantage to our clients. Sales conditions vary case by case according to the quantity, makers and products.
Some items are order made and may require one month or more for production. Feel free to contact us for any question.