CONCEPT
Because it is an instrument
Calling for the coexistence with nature
We want to stay by the natural cycle
“The Echo-logical Taiko” is a proposal for a recycling society that enriches both the arts and environment, through the production of sustainable musical instruments that connects nature and people. Since ancient times, Taiko (Japanese drum) has been played at festivals and performing arts to call for the coexistence with Mother Nature. The Echo-logical Taiko aims for a craftsmanship that stays by the natural cycle, by reconsidering the true self which we tend to forget in this modern consuming society.
The forest trees, the craftsmanship, and the performing arts: depending on whether we turn consciousness to them or not, they become richer or poorer. The Echo-logical Taiko wishes to contribute to a future where abundant nature and culture grow luxuriantly, not only through the instrument production, but also from the forest where the material grows until the stage where it is performed as a musical instrument.
PRODUCTS
The Echo-logical Taiko × Tokyo Chainsaws
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“The Echo-logical Taiko”
Hane Byoushi Daiko
(high tone Oke Daiko) -
“The Echo-logical Taiko”
Hane Byoushi Daiko,
Grey color raised wood
Hinohara model -
“The Echo-logical Taiko”
Ji Byoushi Daiko (low tone Oke Daiko),
Grey color raised wood
Hinohara model
As the first round, we developed an Oke Daiko (stave-body drum) using Tokyo’s cedar wood with Tokyo Chainsaws Co., Ltd. located in Hinohara Village. Surprising as it may seem, 40% of Tokyo’s total area is covered by forests, but with the wood prices dropping to 25% of their peak, the number of forestry workers decreased to 10% as well. The planted forest of Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress (Hinoki), Sawara cypress afforested post-World War II is now 60 years old, but in reality it is not used to the fullest.
From the perspective of utilizing the existing material, the Echo-logical Taiko intentionally uses a flat-grained timber that is not usually chosen for the purpose: this provides the beautiful expressions of the wood grains. Also, the Uzukuri finish (brushed and polished grain surface) that emphasizes the texture of the grains is an exclusive feature of the Echo-logical Taiko.
The expansion of the Echo-logical Taiko will allow Hinohara Village’s cedar trees to luxuriantly turn 100 years old, and will contribute to the increase of their value as a material, the improvement of the industry efficiency as well as the diversification of the afforestation.
Tokyo Chainsaws Co., Ltd. was established in 2006 in Hinohara Village, Tokyo. Around 30 employees practice forestry in various approaches from timber production, processing and sales, to the utilization of the forest environment. By making full use of the entire tree that they fell with no waste, they provide added value to the wood and aim to implement a “small and strong forestry”.
Acquisition of the first FSC® certificate for Japanese Taiko
Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten is the first company that obtained the FSC certificate for its Taiko, and is releasing a part of its Echo-logical Taiko lineup as FSC-certified Taiko. FSC certification is a structure that meets the environmental, social and economic benefits and brings products deriving from responsibly managed forest to consumers in a visible way, and therefore returns economic profits to producers.
EVENT
Date January 19-23, 2023
Maison & Objet Paris, January 2023 edition exhibit
In January 2023, Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten exhibited as part of The Edo Tokyo Kirari Project at one of the world’s top interior design trade fair, Maison & Objet, taken place in Paris, France.
At this exhibition, we collaborated with a French product designer Pierre CHARRIÉ to produce a stool under the concept of a repurposed product of Taiko bodies that could not become Taiko because of cracks, irreparable knots or wormholes that occurred during the manufacturing process. Some Taiko are made of large trees that could be several hundred years old. Even if they could not become Taiko for various reasons, we have the responsibility to bring them back to life as something else. We do not consider it as an end, but rather a beginning of an opportunity to become anything else than Taiko.
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SponsorSAFI (Maison & Objet Japan General Agent: DE A I Co., Ltd)
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DateJanuary 19-23, 2023 *5 days
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Venue
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CategoriesGeneral interior items, gift, home goods, tableware, home fabrics, furniture, etc.
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Official website
THE CURVE
Bringing to the world
The Curves that did not become Taiko
While the “Echo-logical Taiko” focuses on the utilization of planted forest trees that lost their value as a material and ended up being left alone, there are other timbers that lost their roles. For instance, there are a great deal of timber offcuts that could not become Taiko because of cracks and that are disposed during the manufacturing process: in order to utilize them, we launched a project called “The Curve”.
About the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project
Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten was selected as a model business for the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project which refines “Tokyo’s treasures” such as traditional techniques or old shops’ products of Edo Tokyo (Edo: former name of Tokyo), and showcases to the world their value and appeal. Through the “Echo-logical Taiko” project, we bring forward the implementation of a virtuous recycling society, by making the most of the forest resources and the craftsmanship.
To the Edo Tokyo Kirari’s website
