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In conjunction with display of Aramono (miscellaneous items for everyday use), Japan House is delighted to present a talk by Matsuno Hiroshi, owner of Matsunoya, a wholesaler of miscellaneous household items which can be found in the popular Yanaka Ginza shopping lane in Tokyo.
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 the small workshops that can be found scattered around Japan. Unchanged for decades, made of straw, tin or bamboo, aramono have a retro charm and often do not fail to surprise with their functional, ingenious designs.
In his talk, Matsuno Hiroshi sheds light on the history of the manufacture of tools and objects used in everyday life, which have remained unaltered despite changing lifestyles or the introduction of new production technologies and materials in Japan. The speaker also shares the vision behind the business model based on collaboration with small-scale local businesses and makers in tandem with opportunities for retired senior citizens to engage afresh in the workforce and learn new skills. This illustrated talk provides a chance to get to know the story behind objects used in everyday life and to get to know their individual makers.