Daisuke Masuda, Japan

“I want to spread the appeal of Sashimono around the world”

Syuro is the name of a little store in Taitō, a Design Village in Tokyo, runnes by Masuko Unayama since 2008. The store offers daily necessities that appeal to all five senses by selecting products with culture, art and tradition.

Masuko were raised by her father, a jewelry designer. At a time when mass-produced jewelry was taking over Japan's markets, Masuko's father developed the basic design for today's bookmark. After he passed away, Masuko did redesign them out of wood, like oak or walnut. This product therefore stands for memories, transience and eternal change in life. The traditional techniques use human warmth, raw materials helping us to feel close to nature. All of this are deep anchored values that are inherent in the Japanese philosophy called Wabi-Sabi.

Mr. Daisuke Masuda works in his workshop in Tokyo with an old traditional technique called Sashimono, which means joinery and goes back to the Heian Period from 794 -1192. Without use of a single nail, the sashimono joinery technique creates furniture and items for daily life. The smooth “sanded” finish comes from using planers that leave a warmth similar to the human skin.

Masuda wants to spread the appeal of Sashimono around the world. That´s why he also makes objects such as our bookmarks to bring Sashimono into contemporary life, giving others the opportunity to experience a moment of encounter. But besides that, he is also honored to craft for the traditional and famous Kabuki theatre which exist since 1603. Kabuki was by the way added to the UNESCO list of masterpieces and non-material cultural heritage of humanity in 2005.

All of this stories, the spirit from Masukos father, the hand-made character and the passion of Mr. Masuda can be found and seen in our bookmarks, made out of walnut or oak from the japanese forests.

Sustainable can also be translated with memorable or long-lasting. To recognize this emotional connection and the true value in craftsmanship and materials like wood still remains a deeply sustainable idea.

Like all mori products, the bookmarks shall work as a symbol -  a symbol for deceleration and a personal reminder to take a break and value the single moment.

For us, reading a good and “real” book out of paper and taking that time is simply a morimoment.