Actor Gota Watabe Launches 'Gotas' Project to Commercialize Traditional Japanese Crafts; Fan Club Opens April 1st

The 'Gotas' project, initiated by actor Gota Watabe, will commercialize traditional techniques and crafts that have continued since ancient times, encountered during his travels across Japan, and those that have deeply moved him. The project aims to create ripples, connecting people and regions that resonate with these traditions. 【What is Gotas?】 The brand name 'Gotas' means 'drops' in Spanish. Watabe himself has a fondness for water-related elements such as plain hot water, spring water, hot springs, and public baths. Therefore, designs inspired by the pure flow of water and water surfaces, harmonizing with nature, will be incorporated into the products. ・Commitment to materials for daily goods and wearable items, empathizing with the stories of artisans. ・A lifestyle of using one item carefully and for a long time. ・Japanese traditional techniques and crafts, regional revitalization. Gota Watabe (born 1986, from Ibaraki Prefecture). Actor. Active in stage, film, television, and advertising. During his teenage years studying abroad in Canada, he rediscovered the good aspects of Japan from an overseas perspective. Since then, his hobbies include using tenugui (Japanese hand towels), collecting traditional daily goods, and engaging in handicrafts like sewing. He has been studying Japanese dance for 9 years, which he started after appearing in historical dramas. From 2015, he appeared in the E-tele program 'Haru-san's Holiday at Old Cafes,' where he visited over 100 old folk house cafes across Japan, gaining knowledge and insight into traditional Japanese architecture from these experiences. HP is here Instagram is here Focus on Kiryu, a representative textile town in Japan KIRISEN, a dyeing factory founded in 1919 with a workshop in Kiryu City, performs dyeing of silk threads, fabric dyeing, and product dyeing. Yuri Hiramoto, the fourth-generation owner, graduated from Tama Art University and worked at a graphic design office in Tokyo. After taking over the family business, she leverages her experience as a designer, along with her unique female sensibility and understanding of contemporary needs, to develop new products that showcase the appeal of dyeing. KIRISEN As the first 'Gotas' product line, T-shirts, tenugui, and tote bags dyed by 'KIRISEN' will be released. The color variations will be two provisional colors, 'Water Surface' and 'Deep Green,' inspired by the flow of water. The gradation dyeing of KIRISEN expresses the changing flow of water depending on time and place. The launch is scheduled for late May. Gotas Instagram 【POP UP Event】 Date: Scheduled for late May 2026 Location: Undecided (Tokyo) Content: Unveiling and sales of Gotas products, photo exhibition. 【Creative】 The branding design for 'Gotas,' including the brand logo, packaging, and product design, is directed by art director Tetsuro Jozaki. The visual imagery for 'Gotas' is handled by photographer Sodai Yokoyama, who is active in advertising and also presents various works as his life's work. Tetsuro Jozaki (born 1985, Fukuoka Prefecture). After working at a design office and production company, he established Token in 2020. With a theme of design born from empathy for the subject, he is widely active in branding, packaging design, and spatial design. In 2025, he won the JAGDA New Designer Award, ADC Award, and ADFEST Lotus Awards: Silver. Instagram Sodai Yokoyama (born 1988, Hiroshima Prefecture). After working at a studio in Tokyo in 2015, he apprenticed under Osamu Yokonami. He became independent in 2017. He is active mainly in numerous magazines and advertisements. In addition to sophisticated portrait photography, he also holds photo exhibitions of his life's work and has published a photo book 'REMIND'. Instagram 【Gota Watabe Official Fan Club】 ～Daily life, Japanese things, and a well-side community～ Actor Gota Watabe's official fan club will start on April 1st. In addition to providing the latest appearance information and advance ticket sales for stage performances and live shows, it will serve as a place for information sharing and communication with fans. Fan meetings and events utilizing Watabe's hobbies and life's work are also planned. 【Comment from Gota Watabe】 Through the NHK E-tele program 'Haru-san's Holiday at Old Cafes,' in which I appeared for about 11 years from 2015, I visited over 100 old folk house cafes across Japan, listened to stories from people in various regions, and caught glimpses of their lives. I originally loved using tenugui and daily goods made by traditional artisans, but through this experience, I became even more interested in 'Japanese living.' With the desire to learn and share many more things, I created a place where we can communicate casually, like the 'well-side meetings' or 'borrowing soy sauce' of old. I hope we can enjoy Japanese culture together and make new discoveries. Fan club is here The concept of the fan club is based on the experience content of his hobbies and life's work introduced on his YouTube account 'While Drinking Plain Hot Water.' 【Tea Party Event】June 13th (Saturday) ～Drinking coffee at an old folk house cafe～Vol.1 A tea party, also serving as a fan gathering, is planned for June 13th (Saturday) at an old folk house cafe. The location will be 'Cafe Okimoto' in Kokubunji, which was a filming location for 'Haru-san's Holiday at Old Cafes.' There will be a period for FC advance lottery applications. Details will be announced later.