By Tottori Prefectural Government
Tottori Prefecture
CONOKA, woodworking of Tottori prefecture (2020-03-01) by Kaori FujimotoTottori Prefectural Government
The Beginning
“Each wood has its own character and one can have a dialogue or consult with the wood as one uses it to create something,” says Kaori Fujimoto who was attracted to the charm of woodcraft. Having fallen in love with the woodcraft by Tadashi Yamane who works at Wakasachō in Tottori prefecture, she decided to become a kijishi (woodturner or woodworker) basing in Tottori, where she was born and raised. In the past kijishi were artisans who made wood crafts by moving from place to place, wherever there was an abundance of timber. Kaori Fujimoto creates works using a great variety of wood because she wants people who use what she creates to know about the benefits of the type of wood used.
The Material
One becomes attached to a piece of woodcraft when one holds it in one’s hand and feels the story within the wood—the serenity and the capacity of a tree that had grown in the same spot for a long time. Woodcraft is fascinating because it comes from trees that were once living things, rather than materialistic objects.
The Crafting Process
All jigs are originally created according to what is to be made.
The wood to be used is fixed onto the jig.
After the corners of the wood have been planed off, the wood is then roughly planed using the lathe.The surface is planed and the piece is cut to a size larger than the intended final size to accommodate contraction and distortion.
Next, the piece is hollowed out.
Once the final shape is created, the piece is then sanded to a smooth finish.
Concept
Kaori Fujimoto’s pieces speak of qualities that only a mother with a child of primary school age can create. Her pieces are called hagukumiwan, literally ‘beautiful child-rearing bowls’. They are created under the LEXUS Takumi Project whose conditions are that the pieces must draw from local characteristics. She creates these bowls with the wish that, by the universal beauty and vigour as well as the power of life since ancient times they embody, they may protect and oversee the growth of children.
As Tottori prefecture is known as Hoshitori (‘star-catching’) prefecture, her black lacquer bowls are garnished with star motifs.
Her red lacquer bowls called Yayoi have the kaben-takatsuki (petal-shaped pedestal bowl unearthed at the Aoyakami-ji site that once flourished during the Yayoi period) as a design motif.
Towards the Future
Trees that take decades and even centuries to grow big have overpowering beauty and dignity within them. As the number of kijishi declines, so are species of trees disappearing. Even so, Kaori Fujimoto continues to create using wood because she wishes to transmit the beauty and characteristics of wood.Today we are still able to obtain timber and wood thanks to the people who planted trees in the past. With the future in mind, kijishi work whilst considering what they as woodworkers can do, such as growing and not just consuming trees.
DOMOKU-DŌ
Woodworks created by Asakura Yasunori
Domoku-dō, woodworking of Tottori prefecture (2020-03-01) by Yasunori AsakuraTottori Prefectural Government
Woodwork artist Yasunori Asakura fell in love with woodworking after he made one spoon from wood.He has always enjoyed working with wood and his dream as a child was to become a carpenter one day. At the suggestion of his parents-in-law (who are the ceramic artists of this collaborative unit) he began woodworking as a hobby. He would go and buy materials at a home improvement store and use his kitchen or the park near his home as his workstation. The decision to get serious about woodworking came when he sold a spoon he had created for an exhibition to which he was invited by his parents-in-law.
Making a Fork
The basic shape is sketched out on a piece of dried, raw cherry wood and cut out using a jigsaw.
A manual jigsaw is used to cut out the small spaces between the prongs of the fork.
Once the basic shape is cut, a small knife is then used to sharpen the corners, shaping the fork while leaving the cutting marks visible.
Next, the fork is polished to finish using a cloth soaked in walnut oil.
While it is time consuming, every bit of manual effort made to leave the cutting marks instead of creating an even curve allows for the expression of his own style.
The Material
As he creates many pieces to be used for eating, Yasunori Asakura uses only natural wood that is safe to put in the mouth. Because the wood imported to Japan contains chemicals, he also needs to select and control the wood that is to be the material of his creations.
The cheery wood that is abundantly obtained in Tottori prefecture has a dense vessel which makes the wood hard and difficult to crack, thus suitable for making tableware.One of the charms of products made from wood is the fact that the colour of the wood changes as one uses the product.
Concept
Yasunori Asakura’s pieces are mostly cutlery, dishware, butter holders and other tableware items. These he creates with the hope that the users of his pieces will enjoy the act of ‘eating’ which is an important part of life.
Yasunori Asakura says that he wants to keep making tableware items that are environmentally friendly, but he is also taking up a new challenge: making furniture pieces such as dining tables and chairs.
SHIROITANI KOUBOU
Nakamura Kenji
Shiroitani koubou, woodworking of Tottori prefecture (2020-03-01) by Kenji NakamuraTottori Prefectural Government
Wood transmits tranquility, warmth, longing, gentleness and vigour. Shiroitani Koubou makes use of wood texture to create their work. Using the yosegi-zaiku technique (multi-piece technique), they create mainly accessories and stationery, but also other items such as furniture.
The Beginning
Kenji Nakamura, who heads the workshop and has worked as a carpenter for 20 years, turned his attention to industrial wood waste produced at construction sites and from the dismantling of old houses.Shiroitani Koubou was born from the wish to reduce as much wood that has taken many long years to grow as possible and reuse it in different forms.
The Crafting Process Cutting the wood
First, the wood is cut into sheets. Next, these are cut into small parts using special techniques.This step is the most challenging one in the making of yosegi-zaiku pieces.At Shiroitani Koubou the smallest parts measure 2.7 mm wide.
Bonding
Once the small parts are carefully bonded together, they are then held in place using a rubber band and left to dry for about 15 minutes.
Filing
The corners are then shaped using a file.
Waxing and Oiling
The surface is given a final finish by applying a mixture of beeswax and vegetable oil.This step allows the wood texture to appear more vibrant.
Principles
At Shiroitani Koubou any wood material makes the cut, because even wood eaten by insects or rotten wood has a nature texture to be appreciated.Not only so, cutting the wood into small pieces also saves the wood from being wasted and helps to turn it into a new product.
Works of Shiroitani Koubou
Shiroitani Koubou became much talked about after their hairband was featured on the protagonist of a TV series in 2015.
Concept and
Development
As a place of local employment, Shiroitani Koubou is dedicated to creating a workplace that gives consideration to its workers who are rearing children.Wishing to transmit the charms of Nichinan, the workshop created a local brand called Nichinan Biyori.Making use of the abundant nature, the workshop not only sells food and processed products, it also holds educational activities.As part of its efforts to cultivate a rich understanding of trees and wood, Shiroitani Koubou creates wooden toys such as woodblocks.
Words Kept to Heart
Influenced by his father, Kenji Nakamura aspired to become a carpenter when he was in primary school. After he turned 18 he spent 6 years training in Okayama prefecture, before becoming independent at the age of 24. Not wanting to see wood materials go to waste, he began teaching himself the yosegi-zaiku technique after learning about it on television.“The boughs that bear most hang lowest.”These words that Kenji Nakamura keeps to heart are also reflected in his modesty as well as his calm and gentle disposition that can be felt in his work.
Supported by:
CONOKA
Tottori Prefecture
DOMOKU-DŌ
Tottori Prefecture
SHIROITANI KOUBOU
shiroitanikoboinstagram
Tottori Prefecture
Directed by:
Tottori Prefecture
Movie by:
Takayama Kengo, A-PROJECTS
English translation by:
Eddy Y.L. Chang
Text and Exhibition created by:
Inazumi Riko, Kyoto Women's University
Iwao Yukie, Kyoto Women's University
Iwasaki Kanae, Kyoto Women's University
Ota Chiharu, Kyoto Women's University
Nanbu Momoka, Kyoto Women's University
Project Directer:
Dr Maezaki Shinya, Kyoto Women's University
This exhibition is provided by:
Tottori Prefectural Govenment
