To evolve the traditional culture, we re examine techniques, philosophies, and habits passed down to now using modern senses. By restructuring them, we aim to pass these down to the future in ideal forms. The Chinese Zodiac was originally devised in China to keep records of the dates. The animals from the Chinese Zodiac that we know were attributed to Chinese characters so that illiterate people could also understand the meaning. It is also widespread in Japan to decorate the entrance with an ornament of the Chinese Zodiac animal of that year on New Year’s Day to wish for a fortune that year. We took this to be an example of how cultures naturally shift and evolve, and we wanted to use our unique expressions to pass them down to later generations.
We interpreted the Chinese Zodiac ornaments as a "symbol that considers time." We completed the work with a modern and simple design that exists in harmony with the ever-changing living spaces in the present day. It is our wish that people feel refreshed at the start of the year with this Zodiac ornament and have a fruitful fear with hopes and resolutions.
The 2021 models are the "collaboration edition" created in collaboration with Meizan Pottery (1055-1 Nagano, Sigarakicho, Kokashi, Shiga Prefecture, CEO: Shinya Ishino) and a carefully made model by secca inc. workshop.