Page 130 - homestyle New Zealand (February - March 2020)

LIVING —— Design destination

Toyokazu Ono runs his textile art
and graphic design practice, Yotsume,
from his home in Kunimimachi Imi at
the northern end of the Oita Kunisaki
Peninsula. Focusing on the traditional
method of katazome fabric dyeing,
Toyokazu hand-cuts elaborate stencils
that are then adhered to fabric and
hand-painted with dye, before being
made into table linen, coasters,
cushions, noren (room dividers) and
clothing. He learned the trade from
his father and grandfather before him,
but his own aesthetic is decidedly
contemporary, with bold, figurative
prints all hand-drawn and brought
to life in striking colours.
On the outskirts of Usuki, an old castle
town known for its stone Buddhas,
the Usukiyaki studio is abuzz with the
production of fine porcelain ceramics.
The story goes that the Usukiware
aesthetic was prevalent in the Edo
period (1603 to 1868) but somehow
abandoned. Centuries on, Hiroyuki
Usami and his team are reviving this
art form using historical records to
inspire modern tableware.
Usukiyaki’s signature look comes
together as a collection of rounded
bloom-like shapes, using lotus flowers
and chrysanthemums to inform pieces
including tiny condiment dishes, delicate
cups and grooved cake plates. Their aim
is to create dishes that frame the food
served on them, and the result was put
into practice when I was lucky enough
to enjoy lunch prepared by Hiroyuki’s
wife Yuka, who runs a wholefood
catering business. The meal included
local specialities fried chicken, miso,
preserved vegetables and thick
hand-pulled noodles, all served
in Usukiyaki dishes.
Hospitality is a true art form in
Japan too, and staying at an authentic
ryokan provides an opportunity to
indulge in cultural rituals without
feeling too touristy. In Beppu’s
Kannawa neighbourhood, Yanagiya ABOVE Bamboo baskets and vessels are delicate yet pliable and sturdy, making them beautifully expressive.
keeps the customs of inn hospitality Having previously worked as a chef, Mikiko Sato of Cotake had a change of heart that led her to study at the Oita
Prefectural Bamboo Craft Training Centre in Beppu. The government-run school for bamboo weaving accepts just
alive with breakfast served in > 12 new students each year, and its graduates are held in high regard nationwide for the work they go on to make.

128 homestyle