We’ve collaborated with artist Makoto Kagoshima to create two covers in the 2018 Hobonichi Techo lineup: Bird, Flower, Willow and Cat Trio. When the two covers were completed in summer 2017, Hobonichi’s Makiko Hoshino and Masahiro Tanaka went to Fukuoka to visit Kagoshima’s workplace.

This is the room Kagoshima uses for meetings and interviews. (He has a separate studio for his work.) It’s a wonderful place with soft sunlight pouring in the windows and beautiful piano music playing in the background.

Every detail, down to the small sign, is captivating with its charm.

The room is filled with Kagoshima’s creations. This is where we sat as we talked with Kagoshima about his work.

First we’d like to take this opportunity to introduce each of Kagoshima’s works we saw in the room.

This pottery is particularly popular among Kagoshima’s work. The bowls are decorated with flowers, leaves, fish, animals, and more, all beautifully drawn with delicate lines. We were impressed by the level of detail achieved in these decorations in ceramic.

There were also coffee cups and saucers that had a different feel than the bowls, but still had the same gentle, beautiful look.

The image you can see in the back was once used as the design in our Yasashii Towel product. The artwork makes us feel like we’re going to join in on the fun.

A handmade mobile hung from the ceiling. The silver fish dangled playfully and cast cute shadows on the ground.

This modern, subtly-colored bowl is part of a series created in collaboration with ceramic artist Yumiko Iihoshi. Kagoshima told us that these are fired in a kiln by veteran artisans in the famous town of Arita.

This beautiful paper-coated box was created with the specialty paper-box shop Box & Needle. Kagoshima told us, “The paper is made in Nepal, and the staff of Box & Needle is working to provide Nepal with support by working often with them on these projects.”

This piece was also made in collaboration with Box & Needle. “Isn’t it pretty? This washi paper was dyed by artisans using the Kyo Yuzen method.” The gorgeous paper almost looked translucent when held up to the light.

There were many more kinds of things that Kagoshima has created. The cloth hanging on the wall was something he designed in collaboration with fashion brand dosa. “Christina Kim, the designer for dosa, created a dress with this material,” Kagoshima told us.

This pencil drawing was created for a magazine feature article. “I submitted two pieces, and this is the one that didn’t make it,” said Kagoshima with a laugh. “But I really like it, so I hung it up.”

Kagoshima has also made decorative pieces, such as this ceramic doll. Similar to the plates, the doll is fired in a kiln. It presents an interesting juxtaposition in its gentle appearance yet commanding presence in a room.

This piece was created in 2017 from plum tree wood for a solo exhibition at the treasure hall of the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine in Fukuoka. “The shrine has a ceremony called ‘Kyokusui no Utage’ in which a traditional sake cup is floated along a garden’s man-made stream, and each person writes a poem until the cup reaches them. I created this piece with that ancient ceremony in mind. I drew a trail of thin ink on this long roll of paper to portray the flow of the stream, with many small plum trees around it.”

This beautiful container goes by the name “A Box of Birds and Flowers.” It has a quiet aura to it, and is meant to store precious belongings.

These plates lining the shelf are so beautiful, they make perfect works of art on display.

All of these works of art are filled with details that are fascinating to study and never tiring to look at. How uplifting it must be to have even one of Kagoshima’s beautiful works to use in daily life. It’s clear in his work how much happiness can come from certain things.

With all this talent, we approached Kagoshima to work together on techo covers in the 2018 Hobonichi Techo lineup. He created the A6-size Bird, Flower, Willow and the A5-size Cat Trio. The covers contain bright colors printed on textured linen fabric, with a charming pattern that makes you feel as if you’re walking around with one of Kagoshima’s works of art in your hands.

(To be continued)