A Story About Our Shop Staff

Hello, I’m Hiro Kashihara, owner of Konohino Shop and a sculptural artist.
@hirokashihara

My bangle exhibition, “My Contours,” began this Friday.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already come to see the exhibition.

Today, I’d like to share a story—not about myself, but about the wonderful people who work at our shop.
(It’s a little long.)

For this exhibition, you’ll find bangles made by three members of our team: kumugi, who assists me in my studio @kumugi__, Nagi, one of our shop staff, and Ami, who takes care of our Instagram posts on weekdays.

Kumugi joined my studio exactly two years ago, in August.

She had no previous experience in metalworking, and had never even held a file before. She started from there, and now mainly helps with the cutting and polishing processes that determine how comfortable our cutlery feels in the hand.

Over these past two years, she has gradually developed her skills and knowledge, while also beginning to shape the things she herself wants to make.

And finally, this bangle exhibition became her very first opportunity to have her work offered for sale.

She struggled, remade her pieces again and again, and kept thinking right up until the very last moment before placing her work in front of visitors.

I imagine she must have been incredibly nervous.
Perhaps she was filled with uncertainty, too.

And yet, she trusted what she loved, put her heart into her work, and saw it through to the end.

Perhaps that feeling reached someone, because soon after the exhibition opened on its first day, one of Kumugi’s bangles found its new home with a visitor.

It was a big first step for her as an artist.

From the moment the customer picked up her work, I was nervous and excited, too.

And when it was finally chosen, we all celebrated together.

No matter how old we are, there is something truly wonderful about watching someone take on a challenge and open a new door for themselves.

When a single piece of work can bring happiness to both the person who makes it and the person who chooses it, I believe that is the kind of making we will continue to pursue.

The online sale will begin next Friday, August 28, at 9:00 p.m. JST.

We hope you’ll look forward to this special moment, where all of our different “loves” and passions come together.

Hiro Kashihara
@hirokashihara

───
August 21 (Fri) –
Bangle Exhibition “My Contours”
Online sales begin August 28 (Fri) at 9:00 p.m. JST

Hiro Kashihara
Sculptural Artist / Cutlery Maker
Konohino Shop Staff

【Upcoming Exhibition】
September 4 (Fri) – September 30 (Wed)
mingu gallery Solo Exhibition
Junichi Taketani / mingu gallery
Woodworker