[ Woodcraft ]
It became clear to me after seeing the finely worked ornaments recovered from Jomon ruins, the origin of the Japanese people, that humans have long sought after beauty. In old stories of the Ainu, there are characters who insist that respect is owed to "the man who is a good carver, and the woman who is a good sewer." Among the Ainu, the ultimate expression of the carver's art is found in the Iku-pasuy poles used in Kamuy-nomi ceremonies. These are not made to be bought and sold, they are made to be given as a gift, with a specific person in mind. The Iku-pasuy adorning our guest rooms cannot be bought for any price. They were gifts. Among them are many truly unique pieces, bears, orcas and cranes, and some that are purely abstract patterns, and each one was designed for a specific person.
■Pieces by Takeki Fujito
We created a gallery lounge centered on an Ainu Totem Pole in collaboration with master carver Takeki Fujito, of Lake Akan. While he was carving the totem pole, he told us stories he had heard from his grandmother. In such ways are the history and tradition of a region worked into its crafts.
Master Fujito carving wood
07/2012
Hokkaido Lake Akan
Lake Akan Tsuruga Wings
This lounge is called "Irankarapte." Irankarapte is a greeting, like "hello," in Ainu, but the expression also holds a meaning like "let me come close to your heart." The works of master carver Fujito helped make Irankarapte a truly welcoming lounge.
■The Gods of Kamuy Mintara Artist: Takeki Fujito
The meaning of the place name Kamuymintara is apparently "garden where the gods gather to play." This piece is a totem pole representing those as gods imagined by Fujito, who lives there.
Totem poles are apparently made by all kinds of northern tribes of Alaska and Canada as guardian spirits to watch over villages and natural areas. They are not original to the Ainu people, but Fujito, Ainu himself, uses them to tell the story of his people.
On the top level, there is a mysterious Kotankor Kamuy. The Kotankor Kamuy is a guardian spirit, a Blakiston's fish owl, that watches over villages. It is thought to be the highest of the Kamuy. There is a person in the Kotankor Kamuy's belly, and below that a raven. These three are merged into one and protect the Ainu Moshir (meaning the land of the Ainu).
In the middle section, there is a double-eared Kamuy Eper, the bear god. He holds Kamuy Chep, the salmon god, with both paws. They say the large outside ears on Kamuy Eper are to hear great stories, and the smaller inside ears are for stories requiring careful listening.
It looks like Kamuy Eper and Kamuy Chep are having a conversation...
Kamuy Eper: "I'll be having half of you..."
Kamuy Chep: "I have left my descendants in the bountiful rivers, I have no regrets in dying." Kamuy Eper: "Then I will have no regrets in eating half of you. The rest I'll share with the forest, to nourish the land. "
On the bottom we find Iruska Ekasi. Iruska means "get angry," and Ekasi is a name for elders. So his name seems to suggest he's an angry old man. His teeth are broken, fists clenched and feet firmly planted. It seems as if his body is saying: "I am angry! There is so much destruction of nature. Please, do no more harm to the forests and mountains, the rivers and seas. "
We listened to many stories as Master Fujito was carving this totem pole. The reason Iruska Ekasi's teeth are broken comes from a story passed down by his grandmother. The old man ate some dried black beans at a Japanese trading post, but it turned out they were stones. To show how the Ainu never waste what they are given, they say he still ate them after finding out they were stones, even though it broke his teeth.
This large piece was carved from camphor wood. The pleasant aroma of the wood fills the space, as do the thoughts of Master Fujito.
■Pieces by Masamitsu Takiguchi
I have often worked with master carver Masamitsu Takiguchi, of Lake Akan. He is a carver of gentle pieces. I often ask him to do engravings on counters and doors, or to make pieces based on drawings matched to the space. We forced worked together on Hina no Za. He carved the symbol of Hina no Za, the massive Kotankor Kamuy (the village guardian spirit Blakiston's fish owl) with wings outstretched, and Ainu patterned bench, in our welcome lounge.
12/2004
Hokkaido Lake Akan
Akan Tsuruga Bessou HINANOZA
Hina no Za Doma Gallery.This is the first work Masamitsu Takiguchi did for us, after we first met. He carved the symbol of Hina no Za, the massive Kotankor Kamuy (the village guardian spirit Blakiston's fish owl) with wings outstretched and the Ainu patterned bench.
06/2007
Hokkaido Abashiri
HOKUTEN NO OKA Lake Abashiri Tsuruga Resort
The Bar/Lounge at Hokuten no Oka. Masamitsu Takiguchi carved the symbols of Hokuten no Oka, the Steller's sea eagle, master of the northern sky, and whale. It was Master Takiguchi's first attempt at a whale, too. They are placed as if gathered around the fire.
07/2012
Hokkaido Lake Akan
Lake Akan Tsuruga Wings
We had Masamitsu Takiguchi carve these outstretched crane wings for the walkway connecting the two buildings facing Lake Akan. Along with the Ainu pattern, it creates an image of a crane taking flight.
07/2013
Hokkaido Niseko
Niseko Konbu Onsen Tsuruga Besso Moku no sho
The entryway at Moku no Sho. We had him engrave Moku no Sho's logo into the solid wood.
07/2003
Tokyo Higashi Ginza
Shinbashi Enbujo
The Front Desk at Shinbashi Enbujo. The ceramic relief tiles that remained after the original building was destroyed in the war were so beautiful, we recreated them in carved wood.
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