+++Note that our schedule was very tight and "crazy". Do not try this on your trip! +++
Our first stop was to see the great Sasano Ittobori, the wood carving that creates these beautiful eagles and owls from one block of wood. Most of these carvers have a full time job mainly as farmers and they carve these products when they are not too busy especially in winter season as a side job. Picture on the right shows the carved eagles waiting to be painted for the final finish.
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This contemporary art museum called Aomori Museum of Art just opened in July 2006. The beautiful architecture were done by Jun Aoki, and local artist Yoshitomo Nara is just few of the artists featured at this museum.
http://www.aomori-museum.jp/en/index.html |
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The coiled beech bowl is made of strips of beech wood which is coiled and is turned into this beautiful bowl shape. There is no mold or machine used in the process but somehow they all finish in exactly the same shape! Can you see that the craftsman uses a yunomi cup to turn it into a bowl?
<click here to see their products on our online store> |
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Shunji Kurimori is a third generation craftsman of WAPPA products, which uses bent cedar technique to create our beautiful sake cups and fruit bowls. With his designs and techniques, Kurimori received nemerous "good design awards" in the past. You can tell that he really enjoys his work!
<click here to see his products on our online store> |
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Believe me, this trip has been very hectic, we HAD to stop by this onsen, the great Nyutou hot springs! The ryokan we stayed at was called Magoroku Onsen, which had the view of the beautiful ko-yo-! The minerals here are so thick, people visit all over from Japan to cure their illness. For us, we just needed to recharge and eat good food... :)
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Nobuho Miya is another third generation craftsman of the manufacture of great Nanbu Tekki, cast iron products. The picture on the right shows the sand casts for each iron pot! There were at least 200...!
<click here to see his products on our online store> |
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After the seven hour drive, we arrived to Chigasaki city to meet Emi Shirakura, the pottery artist that creates our white flower pots. Her lifestyle showed us where these pots gets the natural and warm shapes. We discussed to exhibit her collection at Hare Gallery (back space of Tortoise) someday in near future! (All dishes on the right image are made by Emi.)
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