Ayako Takase 高瀬文子
たかせ あやこ USA · Industrial Design & Education高岡、井波、飛騨古川、白川郷、金沢
Ayako Takase 高瀬文子
Master Wood Carver Taniguchi opened his door to welcome us.
I had a pleasure of working with Mikki for planning an investigative research trip for curriculum development for Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) this summer in 2019.
Starting from my vague idea of wanting to do something mutual with Japanese traditional crafts and American design/art students, and after brainstorming together, Mikki crafted an informative and meaningful trip through Toyama and Gifu visiting craftsman, local traditions and culture.
Metal foundry, Takaoka — over 90% of Japan's cast bronze ware comes from here
Bentwood furniture factory — steam-bending techniques passed through generations
What is different and unique about this trip Mikki planned and toured with me, from any other cultural tour trips that I have taken elsewhere, is her company's mission and commitment to sustaining the local traditional arts and crafts. I not only experienced the culture hands on, but I was able to witness the dire needs for actions to be taken to sustain its heritage and shokunin skills & culture in rural Japan. She keeps asking what everyone can do as a unique stakeholder to maintain and revive the traditional arts and move it forward. She is well connected locally, professional and flexible with my needs and opportunities I sought out.
I plan to continue working with her to build a foundation to do meaningful and lasting work with traditional craftsman and RISD students in near future. We (Japanese) are very lucky to have a passionate and capable visionary such as Mikki making these connections and bridges to support local crafts and arts industries and traditions.
Ayako at the lumber mill — holding the tissue-paper-thin wood shaving that caught her eye
「日本の伝統工芸とアメリカのデザイン・アートの学生を結び付けて何かをしたいとの漠然とした思いを、ミッキは職人と地方の伝統・文化に触れる富山と岐阜を巡る有意義な旅にしてくれました。
これまで体験した文化ツアーと比べて、今回の旅がユニークなのは、タケトンボ社（ミッキ代表）が使命として地方の伝統美術・工芸の保存を献身的に思っている点です。旅を通して文化体験だけでなく、地方の遺産や職人技と文化を守り継ぐ必要性を切実に感じました。伝統芸術の保存・復活・実現には、誰もが独自の関わりを持ち何ができるかを考えてほしいと彼女は願っています。」
Wood joinery workshop — traditional Japanese kumiko puzzle
Lunch on the road — the best onigiri
Words from Taketombo:
It was great pleasure to support Ayako in her journey of Craft. Her objective was clear and simple: to see, learn and be inspired by as many traditional Japanese crafts within her limited time of stay. And explore how the American creative academics can deep-dive and learn from the intelligence of hand-crafts while leaving these historic towns with something sustainable and of value as well. We have planned her trip based on her interests and experience in Industrial Design.
Last but not least, we always love to see what our curious travelers bring home as they all have the quirkiest idea for souvenir and keepsakes (from charcoal rubbing of manhole cover to broken porcelain shards). Ayako was particularly drawn to a pile of wood shavings at the carpenter's woodshop. We were both amazed by the sharpness of the tools where lumbers are planed to perfection. Not sure if the long strip of tissue-paper-thin wood shaving arrived back to the US in 1 piece though. :-D
