On March 17, the exhibition
“Hiromi Kiriyama Solo Exhibition
—from Rice-Washing Strainers to Basket Bags—”
opened.

During the first five days,
the maker, Hiromi Kiriyama, traveled from Ōita to be with us,
and gave live demonstrations of carving chopsticks from green bamboo.

Some visitors arrived carrying basket bags made by Kiriyama,
their surfaces glowing with a beautiful, honey-colored sheen.
Others told us they already owned several of his baskets.
Through these conversations,
we learned many things as we talked together.

There were also those who came because
they had just begun to take an interest in bamboo baskets.
Listening to the exchanges between Kiriyama and our visitors,
the five days passed with a warm and heartening atmosphere.

We would like to sincerely thank everyone
who made reservations and took the time to visit.

The exhibition continues beyond these days.
From here on, you are welcome to visit freely without a reservation,
so please feel free to stop by.

Behind the seat where Kiriyama gave his demonstrations,
several works were on display:
the “Sēkai Chakago,” a tea basket holding flowers,
a four-directional weave “Oshiki” tray (upper left in the photo),
and a “Nokago” basket (lower left).

(All three works are available for purchase.)

Sēkai Chakago

The “Sēkai Chakago” is based on the traditional “chakago,” a tea basket originally used to gather freshly picked tea leaves and carried on the back.

While this Sēkai Chakago is already quite large, an actual chakago is said to be nearly four times this size.

Here, the chakago has been made much slimmer
and finished with a sēkai weave—the decorative pattern applied to the upper part of the basket.

When light falls across its surface, shadows emerge, evoking the movement of waves on a blue sea.

At times it may be enjoyed as a flower vessel, and at other times simply appreciated as a basket in its own right.

If you would like to take a closer look,
please feel free to let us know.

Compote Basket

On the center table stands a serving basket that Kiriyama described as
“a form I had long wanted to make.”
This piece is known as the Compote Basket.

The gently cinched silhouette—drawn in tightly at the middle—
is a form distinctive to Kiriyama’s work.

Seen from the side and seen from above, two entirely different kinds of beauty unfold.

Whether holding fruit or sweets, its open form seems ready to receive a wide variety of things.

Egg Basket / Shopping Basket A

This is a charming basket known as the “Egg Basket.”
As the name suggests, it was created in response to a request
from someone who wanted a basket for carrying eggs.

The Egg Basket is sized to fit neatly inside the oval-opening “Shopping Basket (A),” and was also designed to be used as a bag-in-bag.

What a delightful idea—it was a joy to learn about this thoughtful way of using it.

It could also be used as a flower basket, or as a place to keep remote controls.

Though small, it seems likely to play an active role
in many different everyday scenes.

Garden Basket (F)

Before beginning his work in bamboo craft,
Kiriyama originally intended to pursue woodworking as a profession.
The object shown on the left in the photograph is a sewing box he made around thirty years ago
as a birthday gift for his wife.

Beside it stands the “Garden Basket (F).”
This basket was created in response to a request from a gardener,
who asked for a lidded basket that could separate tools from a lunch.
With its distinctive presence,
it can be considered one of Kiriyama’s representative works.

Its functionality and form
also seem to share a common sensibility
with the sewing box made years earlier.

This basket was made by Kiriyama
just six months after he entered the training center in Beppu, Ōita Prefecture.
The passion and natural ability required to create a work of this level in only half a year
cannot help but inspire admiration.

This piece belongs to Kiriyama’s personal collection, but it is being displayed here on loan.
When you visit, we hope you will take the opportunity to see it up close.

// Information //

*1 All works will remain on display until the final day of the exhibition.
We hope as many people as possible will have the opportunity
to see this wide range of baskets in person.

*2 Reservations are not required to visit.
However, as the shop space is small,
you may be asked to wait if the shop becomes crowded.
We appreciate your understanding.

*3 Please note that our regular, permanent items
will not be on display during the exhibition.
If you would like to see our usual items,
letting us know clearly which items you are interested in
will allow us to bring them out from storage more smoothly.
Thank you for your cooperation.

** An article featuring Hiromi Kiriyama,
written by craft writer Atsuko Tanaka,
was published on February 27 in Fujingahō Digital.
(The article is available in Japanese only.)
We invite you to take a look.

→ Article introducing Hiromi Kiriyama

*** Our shop was also introduced as the venue for this solo exhibition.
(The article is available in Japanese only.)
If you wish, please take a look at this article as well.

→ Article introducing 1basketry

Exhibition Title:
Hiromi Kiriyama Solo Exhibition
—from Rice-Washing Strainers to Basket Bags—

Dates:
March 17 (Thu)–March 27 (Sun), 2022
*Open every day during the exhibition period

Hours:
11:00 AM–4:00 PM