Discover the stories behind a range of aramono (everyday Japanese household objects) during an object handling session at Japan House London created especially for blind and partially sighted guests.
Aramono refers to objects such as brooms, dustpans, and kitchen tools, all items for use in daily life found in most Japanese homes. Aramono items are individual and one-and-only, sometimes rough and imperfect, as they are made of natural materials, often by hand, or manufactured in one of many small workshops that can be found scattered around Japan.
While handling the range of objects, from handy sake warming cups to comfortable slippers made of straw and recycled fabric, guests can learn about each object’s functionality, materials and the craftspeople who made them while gaining an insight into everyday life in Japan.
The workshop is led by Matsuno Hiroshi, owner of Matsunoya, a wholesaler of miscellaneous household items based in Tokyo.
About the speaker
Matsuno Hiroshi was born in Tokyo in 1953. He is the owner of Matsunoya, a wholesaler and retailer of miscellaneous household items based in Tokyo. After studying bag making at Ichizawa Hanpu in Kyoto from 1977 to 1981, he returned to his place of birth. Influenced by bluegrass music and heavy-duty workwear, he shifted his business focus to everyday items when he took over his family’s wholesale bag business. Since then, he has been supplying Japanese households with sustainable items indispensable in daily life. Matsunoya staff travel across Japan to find items lovingly made in small, local factories and farms. The company also produces its own original aramono by working directly with small manufacturers.
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