News Releases 2006
Kuraray Interior Commences Sales of a Hokumin Furniture Photo Stand that Comes with a Picture by Shinzo Maeda
Collaboration with Takushinkan Gallery in Biei-cho, Hokkaido to Commemorate Kuraray Interior's 40th Anniversary
December 12, 2006
Kuraray Interior Co., Ltd.
(The Kuraray Group)
In commemoration of its 40th anniversary, Kuraray Interior Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City; President: Osamu Otani; Plant: Mikasa City, Hokkaido), a manufacturer and marketer of furniture made from solid birch wood, today announces the launch of a photo stand. The product was made in collaboration with the photo gallery Takushinkan of Shinzo Maeda(*1) in Biei-cho, Hokkaido. Sales of the stand together with a photograph will commence on December 15, 2006, via Kuraray Interior's Web site.
Based on the concept of a movement to support "folk crafts(*2), " Kuraray Interior's mainstay furniture has been cherished by a number of users for the functional beauty(*3) of its furniture made from solid birch wood since 1966 when Kuraray Interior commenced manufacturing in Hokkaido under founder Soichiro Ohara. The photo stand that resulted from this collaborative effort is notable for its compactness and its characteristic design.
Located in Biei-cho, Hokkaido, Takushinkan is a personal gallery of landscape photographer Shinzo Maeda. It was opened in 1987 with the town's support in a school that had been closed down. Shinzo Maeda had been struck by the landscape in Biei-cho and spent the rest of his life taking pictures of the hills there.
Kuraray Interior has long exhibited pictures from Takushinkan at Gallery Hokumin in the company's Tokyo showroom. However, on this occasion of its 40th anniversary, Kuraray Interior approached Takushinkan with a proposal to merchandise a picture and photo-stand set to give nature lovers across Japan ready access to the pictures. Takushinkan readily agreed with this idea, saying that they would like to extend a helping hand for the development of central Hokkaido to the best of their ability.
Under the title of "Hokumin Kiko," the set will be on sale through Kuraray Interior's Web site (http://www.hokumin.co.jp), designed by ISHIDA TAISEISHA, Inc. (Headquarters: Kyoto City). As the next theme of the Hokumin Kiko lineup, Kuraray Interior plans to collaborate with OHARA MUSEUM of ART, with which it has a longstanding relationship, to offer framed replicates from the museum's collection.
- *1 Shozo Maeda
- Making a debut as a photographer in 1967 at the age of 45, Shozo Maeda worked actively from the base of his independently established company, Tankei Corporation. His landscape pictures are full of poetic sentiment and unique sensibility, and are referred to as "Tankei fashion" or "Maeda style." He came across the hills of Biei-cho, Hokkaido, on his way back from a photography tour throughout Japan, and opened Takushinkan. His works are loved by a number of people even after his death in 1998, and Takushinkan attracts over 200,000 visitors every year. ("Shinzo Maeda" volume of "Meisaku Shashinkan" published by Shogakukan, Inc.)
- *2 Folk craft movement
- A movement advocated by Muneyoshi Yanagi (1889-1961), a thinker in the early Showa era. He promoted the movement to pursue beauty of the craftsmanship in people's commodities, and was supported by Kuraray's founder Soichiro Ohara and his father Magozaburo Ohara. Ceramic artist Shoji Hamada (who once was a director at Kuraray Interior), British potter Bernard Leach, and the dye artist Keisuke Serizawa encouraged this idea. Their support, and inspiration derived from a sensitivity and philosophy toward folk crafts have helped to guide Kuraray Interior's endeavors in craftsmanship.
- *3 Functional beauty
- Functional beauty describes the folk craft movement's core concept that "commodities we see and touch in everyday life must be beautifully designed." It describes the "beauty of useful artisanship," which is not beauty only to the eye, but deals with the beauty of usefulness ("40 Years of Folk Craft" by Muneyoshi Yanagi).
Product Information
1. Features
- 1) The photo stand is made from solid birch wood. Three colors are available: standard "Hokumin" color, walnut and natural wooden color. Square-type pictures can be set in the frame placed either in a horizontal or upright position.
- 2) Pictures can be chosen on the Web site from among 12 selections of hand-developed pictures from Shinzo Maeda's collection exhibited in Takushinkan. Focusing mainly on winter, seasonal pictures are uploaded onto the site to coincide with the product launch. Kuraray Interior will replace pictures with the changing of the seasons.
- 3) Pictures will be viewable against a mat board with the name of Shinzo Maeda printed on it that is attached to the frame for the purpose of preventing pictures from sticking to the glass of the frame, as well as providing an appearance of depth. Two colors are available for the mat board.
2. Sizes and Prices
| Photo frame size | 23cm in width × 18cm in height |
|---|---|
| Picture size | 12cm in width × 9cm in height 9cm in width × 9cm in height |
| Retail price | ¥6,000/set (including consumption tax) |
4. Sales targets
First year: 30 sets/month
Second year and later: 50 sets/month
Kuraray Interior Co., Ltd.
| 1. Headquarters | 1-12-39, Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8611, Japan (Shin Hankyu Building 9F) |
|---|---|
| 2. President | Osamu Otani |
| 3. Capital | ¥10 million (Kuraray's wholly owned company) |
| 4. Number of employees | 60 |
| 5. Business activities | Manufacture of furniture, custom-made furniture and interior finish work |
