Think about what is simple? There's a difference between "no waste" and "nothing." It's difficult to say something is simple and free of waste. If you take it to the extreme, you will reach the ultimate, and I think it is something that we will continue to pursue forever. The uniquely Japanese aesthetic is "beauty of the stripped down." It feels like it's been engraved in our DNA since ancient times, but it's still difficult. Ease of production while considering consumption is necessary in terms of cost and stable supply, It is often the case that something that is merely for the convenience of the creator is called simple. That's what I call simple and nothing. I think the difference between a product that is simple and free of waste and a product that has nothing is the difference between the starting point of the thought and whether the passion is directed towards the consumer or the creator. That's why I always think about the user and pursue true simplicity. What comfort and functionality are required for a chair? Comfortable for long periods of sitting, durable for many years, and lightweight for easy handling. Our goal is to achieve these goals to the maximum extent possible and eliminate every millimeter and gram of waste. It is made up of the minimum number of components and parts, all with meaningful shapes and structures. We also reduce costs as much as possible by using highly productive structures and processing methods, and by using mass production lot sizes that match the product. I always try to achieve this when I create, but it's not easy. This time, I tried using cedar. Cedar is soft and not suitable for furniture, but it is light and warm. It also has a unique fragrance and calming properties. It is also endemic to Japan. However, the softness of cedar is a real problem when it comes to making chairs. A special structure is required. Planes and knives with a carved finish are also difficult to use. If you compare it to paper, it's like drawing paper and tissue paper when cutting with a cutter. By making the components into half-pipe, R-shaped, ribbed shapes, etc., we have devised a way to maintain strength while reducing thickness. These challenges were overcome through the use of cutting and finishing techniques that make full use of planes and knives. Weight is just over 4kg. About half the cost of walnut. I think it's quite light for a personal chair of this size. There is no doubt about the strength or comfort. But there's still more. There's still more to come. I have a vague idea of what is lacking, but I don't have the skills or experience to create it yet. There is another reason for using cedar this time. People are talking about using thinning materials, but frankly, it's ridiculous. Thinning timber is often simply waste material that has been thinned out to allow the main timber to grow. These are often convenient selling points for those who manufacture and sell them. The real value lies in the "main harvest timber" that has been carefully cultivated by people over generations for as long as 100 years. Therefore, it can only be made from primary felled timber that has few cracks or knots and a lot of red meat. I wanted to create something that couldn't be made even if I tried, because thinning wood is just sapwood (the bark part of the tree) and it doesn't have the strength. I'm searching for the essence, but this is difficult too. Because essence is not unchanging. Experience deepens thinking. With this comes a new realization of the essence. So sometimes what you believe can completely change. Still, I'm not worried because I believe that as long as I keep moving forward, I will gradually get closer to the essence of things. I think it's good to know that what's best today could be trash tomorrow. I think that is flexibility and an element of personal growth. I also want to be willing to change every day, as if I were being reborn. This is the most important thing in manufacturing and running a company. That being said, I want to create good things that will make people happy. My desire to treat people with respect and not be ungrateful remains unchanged. It is people who make me think this way. It is the people around me that bring me closer to the essence of my furniture making. That's why I think the people around me are my very value. What is simple? They are completely different between "No parts are wasted." and "With nothing." Simple avoiding any inefficient parts is very difficult. It would result in ultimate with tireless pursuant, and it would be one of the best approach. "Beauty of Shaving off" would be unique to Japan, thus, it might be inherited from ancestors through DNA, however, it is still difficult. It would be true to take care of tractability in manufacturing, which would directly impacts costs and stable supply, when considering consumers in our mind, however, we frequently observe crafts called simple which are made solely from the point of manufacturers. I would call them as "Simple with nothing." The difference between "no parts are wasted" and "with noting" would come from starting point of mindset and object of enthusiasm, ie, whether consumers or manufacturers. So, I always pursue genuine simple thinking about those who use furnitures. What are required for chairs from the point of comfortableness, functions. They would be comfortable under longer usage, longer term endurance, easy to move. Considering all above, I pursue to shave 1mm and/or 1g off. I continue to try manufacturing furniture with minimum volume and the smallest number of parts with meaningful shapes and structures. And, in order to reduce costs, highly productive structures and processing together with the best fit number of production lots. I always try to make furnitures seeking these kinds of aspects, however, it is difficult to achieve. This time, I choose cedar. Cedars are soft, thus, not suitable for wood for furnitures, however, light and warm. It has unique aroma which calms down tense. It is also a unique tree in Japan. However, it is not suitable as materials of chairs at all given its softness. And it requires unique structures. It is also difficult to scrape with planes and/or swords. The difference between cedars and other wood materials would be something like between drawing paper and tissue paper. I thought through of the shape of parts to be strong enough with half-pipe, R-shape, rib-shape without thickness. It is achieved through technique fully utilizing plans and swords. It weighs slightly above 4kg. It is about half compared to one made of walnut. It would be very light in this kind of personal chair. It would be about perfect in terms of strength and comfort in sitting. However, it would not still be enough. Further better would be possible. While I would have kind of sense what are missing, I cannot make it due to inadequate technique and experiences. I have another thought relevant to making chairs from cedar. Many talk about utilizing thinned wood, which seem to be nonsense. Thinned woods tend to be scraped just woods in order for main wood to grow. Some manufactures tend to use the word as sales pitch. Given 100 years of great cares through multiple generations, final cutting woods have value. So, it can be made of final cutting woods which would not have cracks and knots with larger portion of red-colored core materials. It cannot be made of less strong thinned woods with almost entirely occupied with white-colored peripheral material. I have been seeking for true nature, which is not easy. It always changes. I have gained more insight through experiences. Then, I have noticed new essences. So, occasionally what had been beloved may be completely changed. Actually, I do not care about every changing nature of essences because the further stepping forward, the closer to true nature. I need to understand that today's best may be tomorrow's rubbish. It would be flexibility and element of growth. I would like to be open to something new as if I re-born everyday. It would be the most important in manufacturing and running companies. Anyway, I would like to make valuable works which make people happy. I continue to think highly of taking care of others without ingratitude. Other people make me feel so. I have always been inspired by surrounded people with seeking true nature. So, surrounded people themselves are value of me.
