Hello! This is Taki from UTSUWABI.
Recently, Hasami-yaki pottery has been seen more and more at fashionable general stores and select stores.
You can often see beautiful table coordination in magazines and on Instagram.
Maruhiro” is the name that ignited the popularity of Hasami-ware.
Even if you don't know the name, you may have seen their products before. I am sure there are many people who have seen Maruhiro's products.
In this issue, we will provide a thorough explanation of MARUHIRO! We will also introduce a popular series.
Who is Maruhiro, the driving force behind the Hasami-ware boom?
On the verge of bankruptcy until a few years ago
Maruhiro is a maker of Hasami-yaki pottery that now boasts unrivaled popularity.
It is no exaggeration to say that the company represents Hasami-ware, but it is surprising to learn that the company was in financial crisis until about 10 years ago.
It was around 2000 that the term “Hasami-yaki” came to be used for items made in Hasami-cho, Nagasaki Prefecture. Until then, the small production area had grown as a subcontractor to Arita-yaki.
However, once it began to be known as “Hasami-yaki,” its production declined, and by 2011, it was only one-fourth of what it was during the bubble period.
The situation was the same for MARUHIRO, and around 2008 the company was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Established a new brand (HASAMI) under the consultation of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten.
In this critical situation, Mikiya Baba, then president (now chairman), decided to call back his son, Kohei, who had left Hasami (now president).
He decided to entrust him with a secret plan to overcome the current situation. That secret plan was to receive management consulting services from Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten.
The vision of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten was to “Revitalize Japanese crafts! Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, which has improved the management of numerous companies based on its vision of “Energizing Japanese Crafts!
The result was HASAMI.
When he first started planning the new brand, he was reluctant to follow the taste of “Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten” and the fashion of the time. However, a comment from an employee prompted Kohei to change his mind.
He decided to rethink what he liked and what he was interested in.
He bought and studied many mugs, and after trial and error to determine what kind of design would be easy to use, “HASAMI” was completed with a taste that was the exact opposite of his initial image.
The mugs created with such passion are still popular products that represent MARUHIRO.
HASAMI” was a big hit.
The rugged design and exquisite colors reminiscent of American vintage.
It was thought that the product would be popular immediately, but for about six months there was not much of a response. Some people around him were harshly criticized for the use of colors that had never been used before.
However, the company's breakthrough came when it opened a store at an exhibition.
First, “Yoshida Kaban” placed an order for 20,000 units, which triggered calls from various apparel makers. So it was the fashion world that discovered HASAMI.
This shows how HASAMI was a brand with ideas that transcended the conventional concepts of Hasamiyaki pottery and tableware.
Various collaborations also developed
The reputation of the product reached overseas and led to a connection with the font design company “House Industries.
We asked them to design a pattern for the initial “m” of our new brand “Monohara,” and plates and bowls with an impressive dot “m” were created.
Mono-hara” is a place near the climbing kiln in Hasami-cho where unprocessed items are discarded. It is said that the works of successive generations are like a geological formation there.
This is the history of Hasami-yaki itself. Maruhiro's desire is to cherish the history of traditional crafts, transcend industries and countries, and continue to take on new challenges while building a future for the future.
MARUHIRO also collaborated with “HOUSE Industries” on the “HASAMI” series. The “H” of “HASAMI” and “HOUSE” are designed here.
Collaborations have also brought new encounters. We even made a smoking pipe with a skateboard brand.
Now our collaboration partners have expanded to include soil research laboratories, and we also sell a “POT & MANUA SET” that includes a flowerpot and culture medium (no plants are included).
Now a leading wholesaler of Hasami pottery
Since then, the reputation of the brand has grown, and its visibility has steadily increased as it has been picked up by magazines and other media.
In 2017, he held a pop-up store and exhibition in Harajuku and Kyoto, which became his sole exhibition and sales event. It opened a store at “MONO JAPAN” in the Netherlands, which introduces traditional Japanese crafts and other products. An online store has also been launched.
While continuing to create unique “MARUHIRO” products, the company has increased contact with the general public and gained an increasing number of fans.
Maruhiro's products have also been selected as a gift for tax returns from the “Furusato Tax Payment. It is no exaggeration to say that Maruhiro is now one of the leading wholesalers of Hasami pottery in Japan.
So popular that numbered tickets are given out at pottery festivals
The “Garage Sale” held at the same time as the “Hasami Pottery Festival” held every year during Golden Week is so popular that numbered tickets are distributed.
This year, even though it was already the third day of the garage sale, 600 tickets were distributed within 30 minutes of the start of distribution, and when we received them around 7:00 a.m., there was an hour-long wait to enter the sales tent. Some of the bargain wagons were already empty.
Limited edition colors of HASAMI were also available at the event; the 2018 “pink” color received such a strong response that it has since become available as an “online store and directly managed store exclusive” color.
More brands are currently being developed.
MARUHIRO” has come back to life with the ‘HASAMI’ series. In addition to the “Monohara” brand introduced above, the “BARBAR” brand is also being developed.
Within each brand, products are further categorized by themes, etc., so if you are a new fan of MARUHIRO, it may be difficult to tell whether a product that catches your eye belongs to MARUHIRO or to any other brand.
So, let me introduce “HASAMI” and “BARBAR” in some detail.
What is the HASAMI series?
Series Overview and Attraction
The HASAMI brand was the catalyst for the revival of MARUHIRO. It is said that HASAMI was created for people who were not interested in ceramics, so it is no wonder that the brand was ignited by a fashion brand from a different field.
HASAMI is a brand that is familiar to people's daily lives as a “tool,” and is used in their daily lives. For this purpose, not only design but also usability is important.
People will naturally reach for things that are easy to use, and their attachment to them will grow. In this way, we grow attached to them. This simple yet functional series is divided into five seasons.
SEASON 01
The design is inspired by the popular tableware used in American cafes in the 1950s and 1960s. The colorful yet somehow subdued tones are the result of careful attention to glaze blending.
The mugs that are synonymous with MARUHIRO are also from this series. Plates and bowls are also available, and can be stacked if the diameters are the same.
SEASON 02
Mexican-inspired colors and a crack pattern.
Ceramic flowerpot and honeycomb pot. The honeycomb tray, which can be used as a water tray, can be enjoyed as an interior decoration, such as a small container for small items as well as a plate for taking dishes.
SEASON 03
This series is just like a French make-believe set, and is exciting just to put on the table. It has a toy-like form and plastic-like texture.
Gratin, quiche, and other dishes look great straight out of the oven on the table.
SEASON 04
Lamp with an industrial design inspired by the German industrial landscape. It is now discontinued.
SEASON 05
Tableware for enjoying drinks that looks like it could be found in an English pub. It is now discontinued.
SEASON 05s
Like “SEASON 05,” this cup is inspired by an English pub, but this one has a matte finish achieved by adding color to the pottery fabric.
The edge of the cup is very thin, allowing you to enjoy your drink with a good mouth feel.
What is the “BARBAR” series?
Series Overview and Attraction
In contrast to “HASAMI,” which incorporates foreign tastes, “BARBAR” was born as a Japanese tableware brand in 2011, and until August 2017, it was developed under the brand name “Baba Shoten.
The new brand name was born out of the desire to “create free, cool, and exciting products without any boundaries! With this in mind, “BARBAR” was re-launched with a new brand name and logo, and continues to take on new challenges while carrying on the tradition.
Soba cup Encyclopedia
Hasami is said to be one of the birthplaces of soba cup.
The production techniques have been handed down to this day, and Hasami pottery is still one of the best at what it does. The “Soba cup Encyclopedia Pop-up Store” is a pop-up store that offers a wide variety of designs, including more than 100.
The “Soba cup Encyclopedia Pop-up Stores” are being held throughout Japan.
IROHA
Kurawanka bowls were made in the Edo period (1603-1867) with various innovations so that porcelain, which was expensive, could be used by the common people.
We have reproduced the characteristics of the dynamic patterns on the grayish white porcelain.
AIGOMA
Slightly thicker and rustic in texture, each hand-drawn line is tasteful. The fabric is decorated with canna carvings.
talisman
This series uses motifs that are auspicious to look at. A paulownia box is also available, making it ideal for gifts.
Stylish and well-coordinated
Just by serving it, it is somehow stylish. Such “MARUHIRO” tableware is frequently seen on Instagram.
From official accounts to those who are enjoying them wonderfully, here are some examples. Please refer to the colors and sizes for your shopping.
The navy blue tsukemono also brings coolness to the table. A cool breeze is sure to blow over your summer table when served on the “Aigoma” plate, which is reminiscent of ripples on a wave.
Small mugs can be used to hold fruit or yogurt.
If you want to fit even dessert on one plate, you can prevent moisture from transferring to other dishes by placing them in separate containers.
The traditional Kurawanka bowl is perfect for serving soba or udon.
By combining plates and mugs of different sizes, a stylish parent-child coordination can be completed.
The Japanese tableware brand “BARBAR” and of course “HASAMI” go well with Japanese food.
With a flat plate, you can combine any dish into one plate in any desired portion.
What is Hasami-yaki to begin with?
Proven technology backed by more than 400 years of history
Although it is only in the last 20 years that Hasami-yaki has started to appear on the market as “Hasami-yaki,” Hasami-cho has a history of more than 400 years of pottery production.
To begin with, Hasami-cho developed as a subcontractor to the neighboring town of Arita for the mass production of everyday tableware for the masses.
As can be seen from its use, Hasami-yaki is durable, easy to handle, and relatively affordable. This characteristic fits perfectly with the theme of mass-produced tableware in the “HASAMI” SEASON01 series.
Division of labor for mass production and low cost
In order to efficiently mass-produce Hasami-ware, a division of labor has been adopted, including mold making, fabric making, and kiln making.
As a result, highly specialized techniques have continued to be refined in each field. Many craftsmen are involved in the production of a single piece of tableware, and the products that are sent out are filled with the thoughts and feelings of each craftsman.
Maruhiro” has been doing business as a wholesaler in the production area.
While wholesalers have traditionally been engaged mainly in purchasing and selling products, MARUHIRO has launched its own brand and continues to take on new challenges while working closely with each craftsman.
summary
Hasami Ware, which began in the Edo period and has continued to produce tableware for the common people while inheriting reliable techniques, has come back to life by preserving its traditions while incorporating the essence of the modern age.
Maruhiro” is leading the revival of Hasami-ware.
The brand's high design quality has attracted the attention of the fashion world and has expanded the awareness of Hasami-ware among the younger generation, but behind the scenes, the brand's solid techniques have been passed down from generation to generation.
That is why it is not just a passing fad, but continues to gain fans even today.
Durable, affordable, easy to use, and stylish.
Why not create a dining experience that is not only delicious but also uplifting with Maruhiro tableware that has all three and four things going for it?
UTSUWABI handles a wide variety of Hasami Ware, from traditional to modern, so please take a look here as well.
So, thank you very much for taking the time to read this to the end. I wish you all the best in finding good works of art!