[Otera Kohachiro Shoten's Mini Eto Series]

As the concept of “Yo-no-Bi” (Beauty in Utility) suggests, there is a belief that true beauty resides in the tools used in our daily lives. At our showroom, we often find ourselves talking with customers while holding items in our hands, imagining how they might be used or what scenes they would suit, and discussing how their beauty will be refined through continued use.

With tableware, for instance, plating food can draw out the beauty of the negative space that was previously unseen. With cooking tools, value is created in the very process of how their character changes as they are broken in. This accumulation of continued use feels like “nurturing” the object, bringing it closer to its final, completed form.

However, not all crafts follow this path. The animals in Otera Kohachiro Shoten's Mini Eto Series—inspired by the signs of the Japanese zodiac—settle into a space and develop a deep, seasoned patina just by being there. They are the “idols” of our showroom, catching every customer's eye and naturally becoming the center of conversation. Their small, charming forms have a way of capturing our hearts.

In the world of craft, there are things like vessels and tools that grow as they are used every day, and then there are things that provide meaning simply by existing—objects that make you want to steal a glance at them as you go about your life. Perhaps the beauty and depth of a life well-lived are felt through both.

The animals of the Mini Eto Series combine the casting techniques cultivated over 400 years of history in Takaoka City with soft, heartwarming silhouettes, imbuing these small forms with a definite presence. We invite you to hold these pieces in your palm and feel the heritage and character they carry.

Otera Kohachiro Shoten's Mini Eto Series
https://www.shokunin.com/en/otera/eto.html
Wakamatsu Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/wakamatsu.html