Profile
1952: Born in Fukui City.
1981: Opened PERSONA STUDIO in Matsumoto, Japan.
Continues to work to connect crafts and daily life through activities such as Craft Fair Matsumoto (1985-2012) and Rokku Craft Street.
2011: Opened her own gallery “10cm” in Matsumoto City.
Continues to work to connect crafts and daily life through activities such as Craft Fair Matsumoto (1985-2012) and Rokku Craft Street.
Books include “Wooden Spoon,” “My Life Walk,” “The Age of Living Crafts (co-authored),” “Craft Criticism (co-authored)” (Shinchosha), “Distant Towns, Hands, and Work” (Anonima Studio), and “Sugusoba no Kogei” (Kodansha).
PERSONA STUDIO
Thoughts on Design
When I want to build a house, I can find architects who make artworks and house builders who make products, but if possible, I would like to work with someone in between, such as a carpenter with good taste. I would like to work with someone in between, like a carpenter with good taste. I don’t want something that is overly made, but I don't want something that is crude either, so I am always looking for something in between. But when I say I’m looking for something, it doesn’t mean I’m looking for something special. I am just looking for something that is made in a normal and honest way. The materials and finishes are carefully examined, the work is done with care and attention, and the shape is beautiful, but it is hard to find. I think this is because design has become detached from the realities of daily life. There is an abundance of design in the form of artworks and products, but I feel that the convenience of each of them prevails and the real feeling of the people living in the world is somehow left behind. Design is all about making people’s lives happier, even if only a little, so I would like to create products that make people happy.
