Custom-made furniture company holds exhibition in Kagoshima: ‘Convey the beauty of camphor’
Takehito Kubo, welcoming visitors
On November 20, an exhibition of works by Uchi no Uraya, a company that manufactures custom-made furniture and small items, opened in Tagami, Kagoshima City. The venue is the architectural design office Chord.
The exhibition is part of the “Ash – DESIGN & CRAFT FAIR,” a design and craft event that started on the 20th in Kagoshima and Miyazaki. This fall is the 14th edition of Ash. This year, 57 stores and businesses are hosting the event, and 83 creators are participating. Chord and Uchi no Uraya are taking part for the first time.
Uchi no Uraya manufactures custom-made furniture and various items using camphor wood, as the camphor tree is the prefectural tree of Kagoshima. Takehito Kubo, the owner, says, “Camphor wood is not suitable for mass production because its color varies greatly and it is difficult to match the color. There are not many companies that deal in furniture made of camphor.” The company arranges each piece of wood, keeping in mind where the furniture will be placed and considering the grain and texture of the wood itself. In some cases, they even make use of knots and cracks as individual characteristics. At the venue, small drawers and shelves made of camphor and cedar and tables made of aged wood are on display.
They also produce home accessories using camphor wood. At the exhibition, visitors can purchase camphor fragrance oil Kusu-n-Kaza (10ml = 2,640 yen), incense stands made of camphor, and incense bags containing camphor wood chips. Boxed Kusu-n-Kaza sets (5,700 yen) are also available, and a set includes a round-shaped Satsuma ware base made by Shichizengama Ceramic Studio in Hioki.
The venue, Chord, was founded in April 2020 by Kentaro Kaneko, an architect. As he wanted it to be a place where people could connect, he designed a section of the office as a rental space that could be used for events. He also plans to open a café.
The event is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It runs until December 5.