An exhibition entitled The Japanese Eye by fashion brand Matohu was held in Tokyo, in January 2020, featuring their collections from the past eight years. Matohu has presented 17 collections in total for each season from 2010 to 2018 under the title of The Japanese Eye with themes inspired by the Japanese sense of beauty which has existed from old age such as Kasane (Layering Colors), Fukiyose (Blown together by the wind), and Nagori (Washed up on the Shore). The film follows the thought process of the designers, of how they express such Japanese sense of beauty in their clothes by finding beauty in landscapes, seasonal changes, and the ordinary things around them. 

Hiroyuki Horihata and Makiko Sekiguchi are the designers behind Matohu. Horihata studied German philosophy at university while Sekiguchi studied law. However, for their passion of handicrafts and dressmaking they made a big leap into the fashion world. The two met at the prestigious Bunka Fashion College, where they hit it off and have been working together ever since. Horihata later worked at COMME des GARÇONS, and Sekiguchi at Yohji Yamamoto as pattern makers. However, the two had doubts about the way fashion was developing in accordance with Western trends, centering especially around Paris. They decided to pursue true originality with a unique sense of beauty cultivated in Japanese culture, thus launching the brand Matohu in 2005. They first created a unique item called Nagagi (literally, “long garment.”) While being inspired by the comfort and freedom of wearing a kimono, Nagagi has a modern design that fits today's lifestyle.

The camera follows the production of the Nagori collection in 2018: the final theme of The Japanese Eye. They create textiles in collaboration with traditional weaving factories and craftspeople with traditional techniques that remain in various parts of Japan. The duo discusses and creates the designs in their atelier, sometimes debating without compromise to achieve the highest level of creation.

Finally in March 2018, the Nagori fashion show was held. Their clothes expressed the transience of all things, passing scenery, and the feeling of longing for the passing seasons. The show ended with models holding cherry blossom branches, sending the scent of spring in the air amidst the unseasonal snowfall in spring as if it was already longing for the passing of winter. 

After completing the eight-year project of The Japanese Eye collections, Matohu launched a new series called Journey from Palms of Hands, in which they explore the handicrafts of various regions in Japan to create new collections. They abandoned the fashion show, a format in which the clothes pass in front of the viewers in an instant. Instead, they started presenting their work through videos to share the handicrafts and the concept behind each collection. Turning their eyes to the true sustainability from the conventional way of fashion that generates a large amount of waste... A new journey of Matohu and their craftsmanship begins.