Isetan Mitsukoshi and BEAMS have teamed up to host "STAND Kyushu," a project event to rediscover the charms of various parts of Japan, which will begin on March 29th at The Stage on the first floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku and at the first floor of BEAMS Japan.
FASHION HEADLINE interviewed Kyushu creators participating in the event. In the final chapter, we visited the Konohazuru pottery studio in Kumamoto Prefecture. We spoke with Reizo Nagata, the seventh generation master of the studio.
■Kinohazaru: "We want to pass it on to the next generation"
Konoha, Gyokuto-cho, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture. Here, there is a pottery studio that produces unglazed figurines of simple monkeys, reminiscent of ancient haniwa clay figures and aliens. This traditional toy, known as "Kinohazaru," originated in the early Nara period, over 1,300 years ago. It is said that the legend originated from a fugitive from the capital who, upon receiving a prophecy from an old man who appeared to him in a dream, enshrined Kasuga Daimyojin Shrine in Nara and made ritual vessels from the red clay of Mount Konoha, but when he threw away the remaining clay, the monkeys transformed into monkeys.
The palm-sized monkeys, each striking a humorous pose, such as the three monkeys of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," the horse-riding monkey, the primitive monkey, the singing monkey and the rice-eating monkey, have been cherished as guardian deities for warding off evil disease and disaster, safe childbirth and fertility, and prosperity of descendants.
The three monkeys of "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"
Monkey riding a horse
Reizo, the seventh generation revivalist of the Nagata family, makers of Konohazaru pottery
Based on this humorous Konohazaru, Shinomoto proposed a modern-style Konohazaru painted in pastel colors. "The adorable Konohazaru with its gentle colors was fun to make. We think young people will be interested in it, so we hope they will take this opportunity to get their hands on one and cherish it," said the Nagatas, who hope that the existence of the Konohazaru as a guardian deity will spread to the next generation.
【Event Information】
"STAND Kyushu"
■Isetan Shinjuku
Dates: March 29th - April 4th
Location: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 1st Floor = The Stage
Time: 10:30am - 8pm
>
■Beams Japan
Dates: March 29th - April 11th
Location: Beams Japan, 1st Floor
Time: 11am - 8pm
FASHION HEADLINE interviewed Kyushu creators participating in the event. In the final chapter, we visited the Konohazuru pottery studio in Kumamoto Prefecture. We spoke with Reizo Nagata, the seventh generation master of the studio.
■Kinohazaru: "We want to pass it on to the next generation"
Konoha, Gyokuto-cho, Tamana-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture. Here, there is a pottery studio that produces unglazed figurines of simple monkeys, reminiscent of ancient haniwa clay figures and aliens. This traditional toy, known as "Kinohazaru," originated in the early Nara period, over 1,300 years ago. It is said that the legend originated from a fugitive from the capital who, upon receiving a prophecy from an old man who appeared to him in a dream, enshrined Kasuga Daimyojin Shrine in Nara and made ritual vessels from the red clay of Mount Konoha, but when he threw away the remaining clay, the monkeys transformed into monkeys.
The palm-sized monkeys, each striking a humorous pose, such as the three monkeys of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," the horse-riding monkey, the primitive monkey, the singing monkey and the rice-eating monkey, have been cherished as guardian deities for warding off evil disease and disaster, safe childbirth and fertility, and prosperity of descendants.
The three monkeys of "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"
Monkey riding a horse
Reizo, the seventh generation revivalist of the Nagata family, makers of Konohazaru pottery
Based on this humorous Konohazaru, Shinomoto proposed a modern-style Konohazaru painted in pastel colors. "The adorable Konohazaru with its gentle colors was fun to make. We think young people will be interested in it, so we hope they will take this opportunity to get their hands on one and cherish it," said the Nagatas, who hope that the existence of the Konohazaru as a guardian deity will spread to the next generation.
【Event Information】
"STAND Kyushu"
■Isetan Shinjuku
Dates: March 29th - April 4th
Location: Isetan Shinjuku Main Building, 1st Floor = The Stage
Time: 10:30am - 8pm
>
■Beams Japan
Dates: March 29th - April 11th
Location: Beams Japan, 1st Floor
Time: 11am - 8pm
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