Q. What do trees mean to you? Tell us about the emotions you experience when working with trees, or the philosophy you discover within them.
To me, trees are nature itself, yet they also feel like people. Every time I carve a tree, I quietly encounter the years and traces of its life, as if I were peering into a person's life. Trees have a unique grain, shaped by the direction they grew. Going against that grain can tear the wood or damage the knife. Therefore, I carefully shape them, following the grain, and this process feels like caressing and conversing with the tree's very life. Working in this way, I come to realize that life, like the grain of a tree, possesses both purity and discord. Rather than trying to force it, I find it natural and beautiful to carefully examine the grain within me and live in harmony with its flow.
Q. Are there any moments of emotion or immersion that you feel during the process of selecting, carving, and oiling wood?
When a tree listens to me and gradually removes parts of itself, I feel a sense of connection. I don't over-carve, as if splitting the tree in half. That would seem to ignore its life. When I slowly carve along the grain, with the mindset of, "Let me examine your life," true connection occurs. As that connection deepens, moments of immersion arrive.
Q. When you encounter a completed work, is there a standard or moment that makes you feel, "This is a good work?" Please tell us.
I feel a work of art is good when the creator's intention isn't overtly revealed, and the natural beauty of the wood is revealed naturally. This is especially true when the wood's unique charm is truly unique. I'm most satisfied when a piece is completed with a simple, unassuming quality, as if it were always there.
Q. How are your work and daily life connected? I heard you enjoy drinking tea. I'm curious about the significance of tea making in your daily life and life.
As I began making tea utensils, my tastes became clearer. While there are many beautiful tea sets, there are definitely some that capture my heart. Appreciating and using my favorite tea bowls, bowls, and tea cups naturally inspires new work. Drinking tea is a precious moment where I can focus on my tastes and sensibilities. It's a pause between my work and a crucial time for new inspiration. The tea sets I create resemble earth, stone, moss, and forests, so when I drink tea, it feels like a small piece of nature unfolding on my desk.
Q. How do you feel when you imagine your tea set actually being used in someone's life?
It's truly special and meaningful that my work enters someone's daily life and accompanies them for a long time. It's like my energy, blending with a tree that's grown for decades, enters their lives. I feel deeply grateful to those who have carefully selected my work.
Q. Please share with us the series of work you are currently focusing on or any new directions you are planning for the future.
For this Teahouse exhibition, I wanted to preserve the natural beauty of the wood, so I created tools that included bark. I also applied ebonizing techniques to domestic cherry wood to capture its natural wear and tear. Currently, I'm experimenting with different finishing methods to express different tones in the wood.
Formally, I pursue a natural, imperfect simplicity. These forms seem to be a direct reflection of the creator's heart. It's as if the lines are similar whether you draw with your eyes closed or with them open, drawing with precision. I'm working on making the edges thinner and more solid, creating a more refined and refined work. Right now, I'm just following my heart, working as if I'm flowing with it.