Dialogue - Yuichi Sasaki [Part 2] -

Tanned leather is made by tanning raw cowhide using tannin, a component found in plant tannins, and finishing the leather with almost no surface processing such as embossing.

He renovated the place himself and opened "Ibitsu", a shop selling tableware, clothes, and antiques he has collected, in 2018. Sasaki says he is attracted to things that have withered, and the spaces he creates are a landscape of their own, brought together by his discerning eye.

If you don't have a material you like, just make it yourself.

Sasaki-san continues to face things without being bound by knowledge or preconceived notions. What is important to her is not the opinion of others, but whether or not she likes something.
"I don't like tanned leather that is in a perfect state and has not been dyed at all."

Materials are important when creating a piece. Sasaki says that instead of simply accepting what already exists, he repeatedly experiments to see how he can create the expression and shape he likes.

It is said that the important thing is how to turn something you don't like into something you like.

"Nubuck leather is inherently different from one another, but when it's in good condition, it feels like that individuality is lost. I don't know if that's a good thing, but before I start making it, I expose the nubuck leather to rainwater and rub it. Then I dry it, cut it out and sew it, dye each piece mainly with persimmon tannin, and finish it by applying oil."
It all started with my curiosity about what the material would look like if it absorbed rainwater.

Between Artificiality and Nature

When he couldn't find the metal fittings he was looking for, he heated them over a fire to create the texture he wanted. Aesthetic sense is incorporated into every detail.
Sasaki explores materials through repeated trial and error because he has a strong desire to create what he loves.

As he continues to create, his knowledge and skills improve, and he says he wants to gradually eliminate artificial elements.

"When I set out to create something in a certain way, I often end up disappointed, thinking that it has turned out too artificial. As my skills improve, I want to try all sorts of things, and I tend to become obsessed with what I want to create. I try to reduce artificial elements as much as possible, and strive to create expressions that appear as if they were born by chance in nature."

"When I'm making something, if I overdo it I feel like I'm trying to look cool and it makes me really embarrassed. So rather than wanting to create a shape, I think I want to create something using materials that I like. Just like exposing the material to rainwater, I feel that when making something, it's important to figure out how to get the material into the state that I like."

"It's not like I was satisfied with the facial expression right from the beginning," he says. Looking back, he says that it was only by constantly working with his hands and constantly reflecting on himself that he was able to create something that felt right.

It takes time and effort

The "Ibitsu Shop Owner Yuichi Sasaki Exhibition" will be held from Saturday, April 17th.

It is not hard to imagine that a lot of preparation went into this first exhibition by Yuichi Sasaki. The 160 or so works on display speak volumes.
Each leather item is signed by Sasaki, and is a poetic piece. Each item is handmade and one of a kind. The shape, dyeing method, and expression of each piece of leather are all different, giving each piece a special charm.
Aside from their practical use, the works of art possess a beauty that is meaningful simply by existing there.

The exhibition will run until Sunday, April 25th. We hope you will come and experience the scenery that can only be found here.

The exhibition will feature leather items such as wallets and bags, as well as dyed and finished clothing from old clothes and a collection of antiques from the Tohoku region. This scene can only be seen during the exhibition period.