There are many craftsmen in Japan who create attractive works. It is the vessel maker who quietly connects the craftsman and our lives. The "Taoya Nazuya" in Nara Prefecture is an utensil shop filled with exquisite utensils that can be pictured even if they are decorated. The owner, Hiroko Ogaki, quietly told me about her recommended craftsmen.
Choose things correctly according to the sensibility cultivated over the years
Hiroryo, Nara Prefecture, is a city where sock production flourishes. Built in the residential area of Hironeo-cho, the "Pottery House" is a utensil shop where selected craftsmen's utensils are placed in their own home. If it is your own home and shop, you will generally separate the space you live in from the space of the store, but this is a unique style of placing utensils in the space of daily life.
"It felt like staying in a shop (laughs). During a long break or change of exhibition, first clean up the utensils, and then live in the placement of the utensils. If you wanted to open a store in the first place, of course you could, but now there is no way to do it.... But as long as there is nothing on the table and on the sofa watching TV, you can make ends meet. ”
Inside is the dining room and in front is the living room. The beautiful property was thus turned into a display space
The porch also displays utensils. It was beautiful to have a blank display
Detached house in a secluded residential area. Exhibitions are held 8 to 9 times a year.
The owner, Hiroko Ogaki, said with a smile. The utensils are displayed in an open space divided into three rooms: the dining room, the living room, and the room. The number of works on display is also considerable. Mr. Ogaki said: "At the solo exhibition, the writers will prepare a lot of works, and I will be very happy if you can enjoy them leisurely."
What is even more surprising is that the lineup of craftsmen is strong, giving people a feeling of popular craftsmen gathering.
"I started the store in 2005, and the craftsmen in the shop are almost all new to the artisans. I've been associated with since then and I can only be thankful. "Mr. Ogaki had such a prescient vision, and he was very powerful from a young age. He even regularly went to kiln factories and vessel production sites, but he never dreamed of opening a shop.
"After giving birth, I quit my job and worked as a housewife, but when I was about 35 years old, I had spare time with my children and started working part-time. However, after receiving the invitation, He hui had already done several part-time jobs at the same time, and the time became very tight. I felt like I couldn't stay that way all the time, so I kept wondering if I could do something about it. ”
It was at this time that I moved to build a house and met the interior decoration coordinator of the residential company. "The coordinator was very interested in the interior decoration and utensils etc of our home and resonated. Under her impetus, whether it is utensils or decorative items, I want to open a shop to introduce. ”
Decorative shelves for Japanese-style rooms. Works by Ito Huan, Tsuda Kiyokazu, Morihito Tatsuruhama, Takashi Yumiya, and others are on display.
This should also be the interest of interior decoration experts. Mr. Ogaki has been interested not only in utensils, but also in furniture and daily necessities from a young age. It is said that he has always been keen to collect these items, and the room is full of antique salad dressing tables made in Britain, antique shelves made in Japan, and writers' tables, which make people feel very tasteful. He laughs and says, "Over time, the preferences will change, so the taste will be different."
Mr. Ogaki said, "As soon as I see the vessel, I can't help but want to put flowers in." He holds flower fairs 5 times a year that coincide with the seasons. The invited lecturer is said to have met because of the customers in the shop. "I love the floral materials you choose and the flower arrangements that use beautiful containers, which often carry beautiful seasonal breezes," Mr. Ogaki said. I am also interested in this workshop.
Decoration can also determine beautiful works
Such Mr. Ogaki, please introduce the piece of the disposable craftsman.
The first is Mr. Murakami's teapot and teapot, which makes pottery in Yagatake, Nagano Prefecture.
The beautiful "teapot" of platinum color, easy to use and upright shape, is very popular.
The unique texture and color are mesmerizing "mugs" with ample capacity and comfort to use
"The 'teapot' is Mr. Murakami's most iconic work, and its exquisite design is fascinating. Its function is very powerful, the part of the tea residue is also made very carefully, the way to brew the tea is just right, the fluency is also very good, and it will not drip.
The same is true of "The Teapot", where Mr. Murakami's work is a delight to be loved. There is a warm touch, but no superfluous shape. The color and texture of the glaze are also calculated to be well balanced and very cool. Mugs also give this impression. It's easy to pick up and the taste is good. As long as you put it there, you will feel happy, you will be healed when you see it, and you will accept it after use.
Before opening the store, I liked Mr. Murakami's works very much, and I always wanted to sell Mr. Murakami's works, which was my wish. Now there are a lot of fans, it's so happy. There are exhibitions held every February, and it is more exciting than anything to introduce so many works. ”
Next up is a vessel made by Mr. Takashi Watanabe in Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture.
"Fruit plate (ink black)" dyed with natural materials. Elegant black is the first choice for interior decoration.
"It was made in Kawakami Village, Nara Prefecture, a place surrounded by trees in the mountains, and is a local woodworker who values the personality of trees and makes works while using materials. The slender and beautiful "fruit plate" is carefully cut out with pomegranates. In addition to utensils, he also makes furniture such as tables and chairs based on materials.
The opportunity to start making fruit plates was commissioned by a pastry chef near the workshop, a shape made after years of trial and error. Black is dyed with soot from persimmons and pine smoke (smoke that comes out of burning pine trees), and then coated with a layer of color, it becomes an inky black color. I would like to take 'colors that are repeatedly applied in this form' as a classic and continue to introduce it importantly. ”
Finally, the chopstick holder made in the garment workshop in Osaka Prefecture's Sleeping House.
The shape of the chopstick holder "four-corner pillow" is very cute. It can also be used as a cutlery stand.
"Mr. Lingyi Workshop is made centered on knives such as forks and spoons with mallet eyes (patterns struck with hammers). The mallet eyes of the chopstick holder are very beautiful, and this chopstick holder is a simple square type chopstick holder without hammer eyes that the guest asks to make.
They tried it several times, and the colors, materials, and sizes were different. Although the chopstick holder unexpectedly occupies a place, the small chopstick holder can be paired with a very refreshing table. It is also beautiful to place or stack and decorate as a work of art. ”
What does Mr. Ogaki pay the most attention to when choosing a craftsman?
"The most important thing is that I like the work of the craftsman myself, the technical aspect is not my area of expertise, it is all intuitively chosen. The common denominator of attractive things is that things that look beautiful when serving vegetables are as attractive as paintings just by putting them there.
In fact, the opportunity to attract the utensils was the rough utensils like burning tight or kiln changes, but later became easy to operate, beautiful utensils. Now I like simple shapes, and colors like white, black and other simple things. ”
Although it is his own home, the space and the number of works are not inferior to the utensil shops on the street. I was also surprised by the holding of exhibitions and workshops. The source of this power is the pure idea of "liking containers." The "pottery house" has awe-inspiring and fresh utensils that are pleasing to the eye, so be sure to choose an utensil that moisturizes your daily life.
Photo / Hiroko Ogaki Interview / Wen Ofe
Pottery House Month
11:00 ~ 17:00
Day ~ water holidays
Kita-Kashiro-gun Hiroyashi-cho, Nara Prefecture, Mami Kita 9-2-6
Nearest Station: About 5 minutes by bus from Kontetsu Osaka Line Gonodo Station to "Mami-naka 5-chome" and a 4-minute walk
A 23-minute walk from Gonoado Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line, 6 minutes by taxi
https://www.naduna-utsuwa.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hirohiro0220/
◆Mr. Murakami's solo exhibition is scheduled (February 24 - March 12)
◆Personal exhibition of Mr. Kiyokazu Tsuda (glassmaker) is scheduled (May 12 ~ May 21)
◆A solo exhibition with paper craftsmen is scheduled (July 28 to August 13)