2017 & 2018 SECRETS OF SOUTHERN JAPAN We've been visiting folk craft masters and traditional factories around Kyushu, southern Japan since spring 2016. Learning from the nature of Kyushu, we created furnitures and objects symbolising new life, Moss. The friendly mindset of Kyushu people also inspired us to make a big Kotatsu table to be shared by the exhibition visitors. 2017 the project was exhibited at Call & Mina-to. Spiral building, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 2018 the project continued and was shown at solo exhibition at ARTIUM gallery, Fukuoka, Japan All designs: COMPANY / Aamu Song & Johan Olin Collaborators: Artium, Call, Miyata Orimano, Unagi no Nedoko, masters in Kyushu Photos by COMPANY Thank you: Artium, Mina Perhonen, Spiral, Artek, Finnish Cultural Foundation |
MOSS MOSS – Secrets of Southern Japan
At Call. Spiral 5F, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
MOSS MOSS – Secrets of Southern Japan at Call, Spiral Building.
MOSS MOSS – Secrets of Southern Japan at Mina-to, entrance gallery of Spiral building.
MOSS MOSS – Secrets of Southern Japan at Mina-to.
New secrets from Japan at Secrets from Forest exhibition. On left new osaki ningyos made in Saga. Behind set of spinning tops made in Yame. On right containers made in Nagano and incense holders from Konoharu. On top of items are chochin lanterns from Yame, Japan.
Secrets from Russia.
Long table ends to a shop wall.
Under the Moss Moss Chochin lanterns are Kokeshi Stools, Kurume Kasuri Kokeshi Hanten shirts, Moss Moss pillows and Moss Moss Hanten shirts.
Aamu with new Japan secrets; Spruce Chotaro made by master Takayanagi in Saga and Blue Bear made by master Sunohara in Nagno, Japan.
Installing MOSS MOSS – Secrets of Southern Japan at Mina-to, Spiral 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Making of Tree Lanterns.
MOSS MOSS PRODUCTS
| TREE LANTERN (CHOCHIN) Fabric made by Miyata Orimono in Chikugo, Japan Coloring by Ogomori-san Lantern by Ito-san / Yame Lantern Material: Fabric 100% Cotton, bamboo, electrical supplies Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
MOSS MOSS KOTATSU Made by Miyata Orimono and Niikawakei in Chikugo, Japan Material: Fabric 100% Cotton, wadding 80% cotton, 20% polyester Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
| MOSS MOSS ZABUTON Made by Miyata Orimono and Niikawakei in Chikugo, Japan Material: Fabric 100% Cotton, wadding 80% cotton, 20% polyester Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
MOSS MOSS CUSHION SET Made by Miyata Orimono and Niikawakei in Chikugo, Japan Material: Fabric 100% Cotton, wadding 80% cotton, 20% polyester Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
| MOSS MOSS HANTEN Made by Miyata Orimono in Chikugo, Japan Material: Fabric 100% Cotton, wadding 80% cotton, 20% polyester Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
MOSS MOSS MYSSY Made by Miyata Orimono in Chikugo, Japan Material: Fabric 100% Cotton, wadding 80% cotton, 20% polyester Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
| MOSS MOSS STUMP Made by Master Masahiro Takayanagi and Johjima Masaki in Saga, Japan Material: Clay, gouache Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song |
MOSS MOSS MAN Made by Master Masahiro Takayanagi and Johjima Masaki in Saga, Japan Material: Clay, gouache Design (based on Osaki doll) by COMPANY / Aamu Song |
MOSS MOSS SPIN
Made by Master Tomonobu Kumamoto,
painted by Hisao Shibata in Yame, Japan
Material: Mizuki (dogwood) tree, gouache paint, cotton yarn.
Designed by COMPANY / Johan Olin
HANA KOKESHI
A set of 7 kokeshi
Material: Maple wood, paint
Made by Master Abo Mutsihide in Kuroishi, Japan
Designed by COMPANY / Aamu Song
BLUE BEAR
Material: Birch, paint. Made in Nagano region, Japan by Master Sunohara Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Size: 160 x 90 mm. Price: 195,00 EUR
SNOWMAN
Material: Birch, paint. Made in Nagano region, Japan by Master Sunohara Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Size: 160 x 100 mm. Price: 180,00 EUR
Mr. TONGUE
Material: Wood, Papier-Mache, cotton string. Painted and lacquered. Made in Kumamoto, Japan by Master Atsuga-san. Colour: Wood or Red. Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Size 250 x 100 mm. Price: 250,00 EUR
KONOHAZARU INCENSE HOLDER
Material: Ceramic. Made in Konoha, Japan by Master Reizo Nagata. Size: 80 x 60 x 35 mm. Price: 29,00 EUR. Design: COMPANY / Johan Olin
PINE CHOTARO
Material: Clay, gouache
Made in Saga, Japan by Masters Masahiro Takayanagi and Johjima Masaki. Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Size: 110 x 70 mm. Price: 30,00 EUR
SPRUCE CHOTARO
Material: Clay, gouache
Made in Saga, Japan by Masters Masahiro Takayanagi and Johjima Masaki. Design: COMPANY / Aamu Song
Size: 100 x 60 mm. Price: 30,00 EUR
SPINNING HEAD (picture shows front and back side)
Made in Yame, Southern Japan. Material: Mizuki (dogwood) tree, cotton yarn, paint. Design by COMPANY / Johan Olin
Size: 50 x 40mm. Price: 15,00 EUR / pc
SPINNING MAN
Made in Yame, Southern Japan. Material: Mizuki (dogwood) tree, cotton yarn, paint. Design by COMPANY / Johan Olin
Size: 70 x 30mm. Price: 19,00 EUR / pc
Table continues towards the the other wall wall where forest becomes a city with kiosks and shops.
Head Matryoshkas.
Trees Lehmusto.
Trees Kuusisto.
Tver Trees.
Secret Shop and shop keepers.
Aamu painting her dream shop at ARTIUM, Fukuoka, Japan. Secrets from Forest exhibition opening soon.
Irasaimase! A still from Company's secret Japan life video. The movie premieres on the opening of exhibition Secrets from Forest, March 17th at ARTIUM, Fukuoka, Japan. Movie by the amazing V. Vainio.
Secrets from Forest poster. Illustrations: Aamu Song, graphic design: Misako Taro.
Setting up the exhibition. Thank you Akio and Tsutsumi.Yasuda, Akiko, Nohana and Rumi. Funiya, Kanji, Yume and Yuu.
Hiroko and Rei! Honto arigato gosaimas for never ending support in finding more secrets!
MAKING OF SECRETS OF SOUTHERN JAPAN
25.10.2017
A forest of Tree Lanterns ready for take-off.
MOSS MOSS – Secrets of Southern Japan. Exhibition opening at Call/Spiral, Tokyo on 28th October.
In the island of Yakushima, Japan. Learning from the nature of Kyushu, we are creating furnitures and objects symbolising new life, Moss.
Business meeting Kyushu style.
Our amazing collaborators and dear friends Hiroko and Rei under a traditional Kotatsu with Aamu at Miyata Orimono, Kurume, Japan.
Aamu with traditional Ningyo (clay figurine) Master Takayanagi in Saga, Japan with our new ningyo dolls.
Aamu holding new Koma (spinning tops) models we are making with traditional Koma Masters in Yame, Japan.
Business meeting Kyushu style II.
Talking business with Hiroko, Rei and Mr Whitewater at Unagi office, Yame.
COMPANY outdoor office in Takachiho, Japan. In spring 2017 we are back for another two week trip to tour Kyushu in search for more Secrets.
Okinjo Ningyo doll making at Hinagu Onsen on our way to Kagoshima.
We visit Ningyo (clay figurine) Master Takayanag-sani in Saga, Japan. Takayanagi is one of the last makers of these traditional ningyo dolls that originate from Mongolia some 700 years ago.
Traditional lantern (Chochin) making at Yame.
Visiting the amazing Baba-san and his hundred year old water-powered insence factory in the mountains near Kurume.
We're big fans of this amazing fan manufacturer. He joke all the time. Must have been hilarious time always in this 400 year old family company.
The secrets of knife making. He makes the best of the knives and plays electric guitar. Usually one year waiting time to get his knife, but we had our lucky day today.
On our first visit to Yame Koma (spinning top) factory we get to try the traditional painting.
Temporary office at Unagi no Nedoko, Yame, Japan. This fantastic project and store is all about Kyushu craft and life. Our Kokeshi collection we made in 2015 is happy to be part of it (that blue family of products in the front corner on the table).
Spring 2016. SECRETS OF SOUTHER JAPAN.
We'll spend a week in the good hands of our dear friends Hiroko and Nobuhiro of Miyata Orimono. Miyata Orimono manufacture handmade-home-jacket 'Hanten' for 102 years with their own weaved fabric Kurume ori. Onegaishimas!