Dialogue - Masayoshi Tono -
October 2022. At a time when the weather is just the right balance of warm and cool, Kunugi Masamitsu has just finished his first solo exhibition.
A fresh wind of life seemed to blow through the space of the reflection, where baskets made from bamboo and bark, as well as cutting boards made from ginkgo trees that he cut himself, were lined up. When I saw his works, I felt stillness, heartbeat, and gentleness. These three qualities, which at first glance seem contradictory, existed there without contradiction and straightforwardly, drawing in the inner self of the object I picked up. There is only one of them here, right now. However, they were slightly different from the words "one-of-a-kind," and exuded a light.
I wonder what kind of person makes things like this.
With pure curiosity in mind, we asked Masayoshi Kudo about the path he has walked and the scenery he has experienced. This will be shared with all those who will be getting to know him for the first time at this exhibition.
Please sit down in the early winter sunshine and take a look.
Is there a life involved?
How do you feel about holding your first solo exhibition as Tou Masayoshi?
Ito: I've been preparing mentally ever since the exhibition was decided in March of this year, so it feels like it's finally here. It's my first time, and I didn't know how much emotion or rhythm I should put into it, but I've come this far. However, I imagined an exhibition as a place to "express yourself," but in reality, more than that, I feel a strong sense of gratitude for the many people involved that make it possible. I'm grateful to all the people who have been involved...
Thank you. First of all, please tell us what made you decide to get into manufacturing, Mark (nickname).
Ito: I originally started out by going to a fashion school where I studied design and patterns.
So you didn't go straight into fashion design or working in the apparel industry?
Ito: At that time, there were about 3,000 students in my vocational school, and I was constantly thinking, "What is true fashion?" My friends and I both love clothes, so we all cut back on our food and living expenses to wear high-end brands and dress in our favorite outfits. However, no matter how expensive our clothes were, we still ate convenience stores and fast food, and I felt a gap between that and that.
yes.
Ito: When I traveled to London and Paris at the time, I saw the difference between Japan and the city lined with brand shops. People who wear high-end brands in London and Paris have a certain lifestyle. It's a bit of a high threshold, but it seems like only rich people live in the brand streets and they eat good food.
He said there was something strange about it.
To: At that time, even when Japanese people wore "Western" clothes, I felt like it was cosplay, and it was something unique that didn't fit into daily life. From then on, I started to want to pay more attention to daily life.
Shaped by the inside
So, to face life?
Ito: I wanted to enrich my life, and I worked in a restaurant and a studio that maintained and sold Scandinavian furniture. Then I discovered Danish furniture and wanted to go to Denmark. I wanted to know what kind of daily life the people who design things for a rich and beautiful life lead.
Did you get anything out of Denmark?
Ito: I was shocked when I encountered a certain school. There, students younger than me were talking seriously about social issues, environmental issues, war and peace, and I was deeply influenced by that. I realized that up until then, I had been trying to "express myself" in some way, and had not thought deeply about the resources I was using or my own actions. And the more I thought about it, the more self-centered "self-expression" seemed to me, and I gradually drifted away from making things.
It turns out that the trip to discover the background behind the creation of beautiful things actually ended up being the catalyst for him to move away from creating things.
To: I arrived at yoga while asking myself, "How can I live without contradictions?" I felt that as long as I had my wisdom, body, and space, I could live and also travel, which is what I love. After that, I discovered mindfulness at a retreat center in New Zealand, where I lived, and started meditating, and my interest turned to the inner world. Even now, I always "get my mind in order" before I start creating something. 
Calm your mind.
Ito: If the inside is solid, the outside can be created. The outside is formed because the inside is solid, and that's what a sister said to me when I was leaving the retreat center in New Zealand. We tend to focus on creating something and the necessary conditions, but it's the inside that's important. That was the message I got back when I asked how to do it, even though I wanted to open a retreat center myself at the time.
Specifically, what kind of work do you do?
Ito: For example, I always sit down and introspect for 10 minutes in the morning to calm my mind and organize my thoughts. It also relates to the idea that "if you try, you can do it," and if you have the determination to "really do it," it will take shape on the outside. I feel that the creator's consciousness itself is projected onto the things they create.
Braided products made in a place where life is handcrafted
Was it your inner exploration that made you feel compelled to start making things again?
Ito: I think it may have been influenced by the keyword "handcrafting your lifestyle" that I gave to my partner when we met. In the end, it all came back to life and living. For example, growing vegetables for your home, or making things that you use in your daily life, is also an act of making things. By moving my living environment from the city to a place closer to nature, I was able to understand even more the act of creating my own lifestyle.
Why was it a cage?
Ueda: This may not be the answer to why, but baskets are one of the oldest tools used by humans. Their ancient origins mean that they were made in a time when chemistry was not yet developed, and they are made entirely from natural materials and are recycled. I like that about them, so it just came naturally. 
The bamboo baskets on display in this exhibition have a texture and design never seen anywhere else. How did you learn about this?
Ushito: When I first started thinking about being able to make baskets, I considered enrolling in a vocational school, but I felt that going to school every day for two years was a little different from "making things by hand". Rather than trying to perfect it that way, I thought "I want to make things that are part of life, that come from life", so instead of going to school, I chose to learn at a class taught by a bamboo craft teacher. The teacher was a really charming person, and I was so glad to be able to learn more than just the techniques, as I could say I went to the class to feel his presence and the way he spoke.
What kind of person should we call Mark the creator?
Tono: I personally want to make braided items. Cloth and bamboo baskets are the same; they are everyday items made by taking natural materials and braiding or combining them vertically and horizontally. So, I would like to continue weaving with various materials other than baskets.
I'm looking forward to the next exhibition! Thank you very much.
Tou: Thank you. 
After our conversation, I still vividly recall the moment I first saw his baskets, and how I was captivated by the refreshing air they gave off. There was something I perceived before I even considered the design, materials, or strength. I immediately realized that they were made by someone who takes design, materials, and strength seriously. His gaze and smile as he answered my interview with his beloved son, Nobu, matched perfectly with the words he spoke, and I could not help but agree with the energy of the works he creates.
The next exhibition of Masami Tou will be in December 2023. Whether you were able to see it this time or not, please look forward to it. Ah, I can't wait for next winter!
Interviewer and writer: Noserumi
[Exhibition Information]
Exhibition of Masami Tou
Saturday, October 22, 2022 – Sunday, October 30, 2022
