KOBO MOKU | WOODWORK

Brand

From our workshop in Hayama, connecting the time of wood and people

KOBO MOKU

• 1992
• Woodwork
• Yasuo Ushijima

History

Craftsmanship That Began with an Encounter with Wood

I began woodworking in 1991.

Until then, I had been a high school Japanese language teacher.

Around the time I decided to leave teaching, I spent some time sitting under a large cherry tree in a park.

Being near that tree brought me a strange sense of peace.

I felt a kind of connection with the tree—something I couldn't explain in words—and that was one of the reasons I started woodworking.

The baobab trees I saw from the train window while traveling through Africa—on my way from Tanzania to Zambia—when I was around 30 years old still linger in my memory.

No two trees are the same.

When I realized how different they looked, I came to believe that it's okay for both people and trees to be unique in their own way.

I began woodworking in the woods behind my house and, the following year in 1992, named my workshop "Kobo Moku."

In 1994, I moved my workshop to Hayama and began producing custom-made furniture in earnest.

I have been handcrafting items used in daily life—such as tables, low tables, cabinets, and vessels.

Since then, my scope of activity has gradually expanded to include solo exhibitions at department stores and galleries, participation in international trade fairs in Germany and the United States, and the delivery of my works overseas.

In 2020, I established Kobo Moku Co., Ltd.

Although the form has changed, my commitment to engaging with wood and bringing its power into everyday life remains unchanged.

Characteristic

Bringing the Natural Power of Wood into Everyday Life

Wood is a living thing.

Even within the same species, the grain, color, and character of the knots vary depending on where and in what environment the tree grew.

Each tree bears its own unique form, marked by the passage of time it has lived through.

That is precisely why we do not treat wood as a uniform material; instead, we seek to discern the inherent strength and character of each piece and bring out its natural form as much as possible.

At Kobo Moku, we primarily use domestically sourced solid wood that has long been a part of Japanese daily life, such as zelkova, oak, chestnut, cherry, cedar, and cypress.

We are committed to handcrafted work, shaping each piece one by one while carefully observing the wood's unique character.

For finishes, we use lacquer and natural oils, prioritizing finishes that preserve the material's inherent qualities.

One of our signature techniques is "Ichiboku."

Rather than assembling multiple components, we carve each piece from a single tree, allowing the wood's inherent presence to shine through in the finished work.

We aim to create pieces that let people experience the strength and warmth unique to wood that has lived for many years.

As craftsmen working with wood, it is not only important to use trees but also to plant and nurture them.

We continue our craft while considering the long-term future of the coexistence between trees and people.

For Customers

Carrying the Encounter with Trees Into the Next Chapter

When I gaze at a tree, I sometimes find myself imagining the long span of time it has lived through.

A tree that has lived for decades or even centuries, exposed to rain and wind.

Taking a part of that tree and transforming it into a tool for daily life—connecting it to a new chapter of time—is one of the greatest joys of working with wood.

No two pieces of wood are exactly alike.

The grain, color, knots, and shape are all unique to each piece.

Sometimes, these differences become a source of character, evolving into a sense of attachment unique to the user.

The products we are presenting today are also born from wood that has lived through the passage of time and the craftsmanship of human hands.

Please pick them up and savor the grain, the color, and even the feel of the wood against your skin.

We hope that each piece, created in our Hayama workshop, will be cherished in your daily life for many years to come and passed down to future generations.

We would be delighted if you could enjoy this one-of-a-kind encounter with wood.

Award

2015: Selected as a "Master Craftsman of the Forest" (Yasuo Ushijima / Custom-Made Furniture)

2015: Winner of the Wood Design Award 2015 (Akita Cedar Charred Black Single-Piece Irori Table, Akita Cedar Charred Black Single-Piece Table, Akita Cedar Charred Black Square Plate)