Interview with Yukino Shunme
Yuko Ishikawa Okuhara, aka Yukino Shunme, is the person who has expertise in several fields including languages and shikki design, and is becoming more and more eager to learn new things, which makes…
Interview about Tsuzumi Double Sakazuki Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
29 December 2024
I hold a master’s degree in literature and linguistics and completed all the required coursework for a doctoral program albeit without the doctoral thesis completion. After that, I was primarily engaged in university education, translation, and interpretation. From 2017 to 2018, I stayed in Canada, and upon returning to Japan, I formally started my own business, very small one. After receiving interpreter training, I expanded my work in interpreting and translation. Additionally, driven by a desire to introduce Japanese culture to the world, I began designing lacquerware, shikki, around 2020. Since I was born in a region with a connection to lacquerware, I believe I became familiar with it as a matter of course. Although I started as a complete outsider to the field, I was fortunate to meet talented artisans. As of the end of December 2024, I have achieved three entries in domestic public exhibitions in Japan, received the Silver Award at Italy’s A’Design Awards as you already know, been selected for contemporary art exhibitions in Japan and France, and won the Good Design Award from Chicago’s Good Design Awards in the United States.
A Designer, which I have never thought of becoming, but looking back on my life, I often looked for the things that I could never find. That is to say, I wanted to design such things.Shikki is no exception.
I believe it was a natural course of events.
Just Lacquerware, for time being, but in details, I would like to design those of Natsume, i.e. tea caddy, and Oju, i.e. stacked lacquer box.
Having the courage to stay true to your beliefs.
Being able to create designs that, in addition to fulfilling their functions and roles, possess elements that resonate deeply with the heart—whether by thoroughly pursuing functionality or standing out aesthetically, any point would be the one if it is extremely excellent.
Something that captivates people’s hearts while also serving its function, and at the same time, is created in a way that minimizes its negative impact on society and the planet.
To soothe people's hearts and contribute to guiding the world toward peace.
People who are exhausted from the pressures of daily life. My shikki may be expensive, and I am not wealthy myself, but if I could receive support, I would like to give it a try.
To display to show the whole world of my shikki series.
Recipe is following my intuition, and ingredient is the craftsman's profound comprehension of my concepts.
Some film makers whose view across elements such as what they want to insist, art, and music is consistent.
Nature. Everything it shows to us including terrain, scenery, and flora and fauna.
The luster of lacquer created by human skill and physical laws.
First, appreciating something beautiful. Second, fully communicating your idea to others who are involved in your project. Three, trying to introduce your works to people you do not know.
I would have remained to be a translator and interpreter.
The thing to enrich people's emotional experiences.
My friends and my family. My husband does not hide his objective view toward my works, and my sons support me even financially.
My passion and sometimes even negative experiences have helped me to grow but the key element is the dialogue with my artwork.
The economic reasons, which are ongoing, and the lack of communication in the creation of the artwork.
I am wondering it now.
I wold like to expand the series of my work.
The first and most important thing is that I can keep this line without any recession by obtaining more recognition and more audience who would appreciate my pieces of shikki.
Silent awe.
Fostering a culture that values not only people but also things, enriching the heart, which leads to world peace.
Unfortunately, I am not trying such things just now. What I spend most of my time on, regarding art, is promotional activities for the award-winning works.
'Tsuzumi Double Sakazuki' and 'Jouer avec Shikki' because the former one is the first work I could realize my idea and the latter one is also the first work to make a set of works that expresses most efficiently what I want to show through my shikki.
Of course, it would take direction to more eco-friendly cycles. It might be combined with the cutting-edge technology without any more harmful impact on people and the earth which can be realized through the advanced development for future.
Diversity.
About a year.
Shape of the object.
No compromise and true to myself.
It depends which power do you see in the question.
Regarding my projects, the only process the technology can be seen is that of the wood turning.
I do not use such things except just I do design drawings on the computer.
I guess those are not the roles but the important part of design itself.
Anything would be great.
I guess that is an excellent chef who can see things with their heart or in other words, their five senses plus sixth.
'The Unknown Craftsman: A Japanese Insight into Beauty' by Maha Harada.
I did almost nothing, but just think, think, think and enjoy films, reading books, traveling and think.
Michel Foucault, my ancestors and my father.
Very hard. This sums up everything.
My favorite colors are blue and purple. I love to visit the European countries as well as exploring unfamiliar cultures in other areas. I like all seasons partly because I am Japanese. I love horse riding.
Initially, I am completely an outsider, so what I wanted to do looks strange to people involved in the industry in many cases. Tsuzumi was no exception. They might have said by themselves 'what is it for?'
It's when I see my idea has completely been realised in front of me. I encourage myself by imagining what my future would become of after accomplishing something one by one.
I do not think so, but when I told my old friend that Tsuzumi was awarded Silver A'Design Award, she said to me it could happen. She referred to my batik work that I worked on in art class at middle school, and explained how she felt seeing my work - unexpected composition.
Hopefully, everyone is shining in their respective places without feeling the threat of losing their lives.
I live in Japan, and I like traveling the world. If the environment permits, I enjoy horseback riding at the places I visit. I am currently in a thrilling battle with my finances.
Designer Interview
29 December 2024
I started producing Japanese lacquerware, shikki, hoping to introduce its beauty to the world. I have never expected I could design something and get my design realized. However, looking back on my life, I often looked for the things that I could never find. That is to say, I wanted to design such things.
We basically receive translation and interpretation orders though the design has been included in our business since the start of our small business. Now is the time for us to enhance the visibility of the brand world wide.
Comfortable, sophisticated, beautiful, inspirational, caring and trustworthy thing.
I am just a beginner, but I think I like designing anything if it's possible.
Historical architectures in any area including Japan because human knowledges and aesthetics are accumulated in them, and we can see how human beings so far have included and excluded nature in and from their everyday lives, or in other words, we can see their efforts to conquer nature or to keep in harmony with it. Of course, those things are not contradict each other. We should conquer some aspects in nature to keep in harmony with it, and at the same time, we know we can never conquer nature if you know the intricately intertwined physical properties of nature.
Logo design and business card.
I do not have any favorite materials, but urushi and wood are definitely attractive ones for me.
I think I feel most creative when my mind is empty, or in other words, when I spend a vacant space of time between the times in which I think something intensively or experience something impressive.
Aesthetics and practicalness.
I feel hope and filled with energy.
I want to shout, 'yes, I am right!'
Both of them. I don't judge. The piece in front of me tells me. It's a kind of dialogue.
Purification of souls, which would positively result in environment.
Everyone will realize themselves as a designer in their favorite ways.
It was January of this year at Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square, but it was not our exclusive exhibition. I really want to hold our exhibition in Europe where Japanese art, especially shikki, has been accepted since the 1500's. After that, I would like to challenge in other areas.
Specification of the source of my creativity might be impossible. However, I guess favorite things, things that attract me and people around me whom I care for should stimulate my creativity.
I guess my mind keeps looking for a better something about my work even at the moment when I am not caring about it.
I live in Hokuriku region, Japan, where shikki production once flourished and now it still famous for it. However, shikki is generally no longer one of star items today. Only the limited number of the shikki brands survive, which means their branding are very successful in the field, while it would be very hard for new brands like us to obtain publicity. On the other hand, shikki and urushi are familiar to me since childhood because I was born and grown up in Hokuriku. Then, I, as a new comer, could take a step into the field. I did not have any acquaintances and it seemed not easy to do so, but Goddess of Fortune smiled at me. I hope she is still smiling.
It is simple style. Calling or visiting when it is necessary, sometimes bringing small presents for them.
Relationships between people involved is basically important, but whether or not you like the designer's work by intuition is another critical point to avoid unnecessary discussions and troubles.
I draw an image on Pages at my Mac making full use of it. I know I should get out of this situation. . .
Cars, Kartell’s white round table, Ant Chairs, an incense stand, sliding lattice doors my husband designed, a piece of stained glass my son made, copper-plate engraving by my son, and a horse objet.
Working on translation and interpretation, studying several languages, searching online for a company that will help me to realize my idea of the 'catch-up interpretation system', watching movies, doing house chores between them, and thinking about my elder son who temporary works in UK as well as younger son who will go to the Netherlands soon. If time allows, I enjoy watching movies and news programs. If time still allows, then, together with my husband, I worry about the future of my business.
Just pursue your way with your inspiration.
To be able to design what you want and share it with people around the world would be definitely the most positive thing, and the negative one for me is that it could not necessarily earn our living.
Just mind about whether or not you will love it and do not leave a doubt however small it would be.
Flexibility of communication with people involved in realization of your design without loosing strong mind.
Imagination and some searches are main sources, and I think travelling is also some kind of sources of my inspiration because many discoveries are waiting there.
Focus, relax, and restart.
It depends on what design you are putting your hand to.
I have been often asked where I studied design.
The most important job experience for me is to look for a new artisan to take the place of the previous one in the field of traditional craft. That's not easy for me as a new comer. However, I have found that if someone leave our project due to dissatisfaction with my decision to determine our direction, the new one is more excellent partly because this artisan would join our project agreeing our direction from the beginning of his/her participation. Such artisans would be more likely to contribute effectively to the project.
First and foremost, my sister became a fan of our shikki and has supported me. Then, my best friend and another sister kindly ordered our shikki and has encouraged me. Of course, there are many others who have admired the beauty of our shikki, saying that it’s so beautiful that any photo can not represent its beauty. Everyone who sees and touches them almost invariably marvels at the beauty of our items, whereas words and pictures are not enough to fully convey how wonderful they are. I think I should somehow introduce the beauty of the real things of our shikki to the world.
For now, I do not have specific design works to enjoy, but I vaguely imagine it might be nice if I can design my clothes by myself.
I want to visit and stay in countries around the world, which might bring a lot of new ideas to me.
I develop my designs myself. I like this style because, in my opinion, I could lost my ideas in the middle of the way if I have to make much efforts to explain my designs to other people before those designs are materialized.
I have some works-in-progress designs, but I cannot talk about here at this point of time.
E-mails, phone calls, FaceTime calls, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
Sometimes horseback riding enlightens me. Communication with a horse while riding occasionally suggests life lessons.
Interview about Tsuzumi Double Sakazuki Grand Interview