A Fulfilling Life with “Nichika” 

By Yumeno

The day is peaceful and sunny, with the soothing sound of the river flowing nearby. As visitors stroll along the river, the stores are bustling with activity. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a selection of beautiful bamboo crafts. In the back of one store, an eraser stamp carving class is in progress, with eager participants creating their unique pieces. Everyone is taking great care to carve their unique works of art. 

  Discover Nichika, a charming store in Kochi City dedicated to creating eco-friendly products made from bamboo. From spoons and chopsticks to stamps and other unique goods, they pride themselves on adding color and sustainability to our life. Join their monthly eraser stamp carving class or take a cooking class to learn new skills. Guests can also purchase locally made bamboo cutlery from a Kochi resident. 

  “I wanted a career that I could continue as I aged, something that piqued my curiosity and involved selling tools for daily life,” said Owner Nori Maeda. “We offer three essential services at Nichika – a workspace for residence, a gallery space, and a workspace for living.” 

  “Nichika has been in operation since 1985 under the name Table Gallery,” Maeda explained. “As we renamed the store, we understood our purpose better. We aim to build more meaningful connections with people born and raised in Kochi and actively involved in the region. We also want to share these connections with people worldwide. I value my connections with people. Some of them I have known for 20 years. I wanted to deepen my connections with these people and wanted to share the wonderful artists working in Kochi with the outside world. ” “We offer classes on eraser stamp carving, cooking, embroidery, and other daily life-related activities, in addition to selling various products. We even have a special exhibition where clothing is also sold.” 

  Asako Ozaki, an eraser stamp carving teacher at Nichika, shares how she got into the craft: “I started as a dental hygienist but had always had a passion for printmaking and drawing. After having a child, I was inspired to start making eraser stamps.” She is involved in three main areas: “exhibitions, label design (illustrations, etc.), and teaching classes.” 

  “Kochi Prefecture is a prefecture where people tend to express themselves, so I think there are a lot of artists who make things.” ”Eraser stamp carving has always been a favorite and enjoyable job,” she added. “It is interesting to watch students create something and find ideas that are different from mine. Simultaneously, when I see a plant, I interest to turn in to shape of my stamp,” she explained. She also shared that she interacted with a French eraser stamp carving artist. 

“I wish to add color to your everyday life and enjoy the seasons visually, just like flowers in your room,” said Asako Ozaki, who has taught eraser stamp carving in Nichika for three years. 

  Ippo Shimomoto, a bamboo craftsman, also shared his story of getting into his craft. He originally wanted to go to art college, but failed the entrance exam and was living part time. At that time, he met an American named Michael, who was working on a public relations magazine for the village and became friends with him. He helped with the production of the PR magazine. “While following various interviews, I had the opportunity to cover a workshop for building a charcoal kiln.” It was there that he first encountered charcoal making and decided that he wanted to make one himself. He started bamboo crafts 15 years ago and charcoal making 20 years ago. Initially, he gave his works as gifts to friends and acquaintances, but he started selling bamboo crafts in earnest around the age of 28 or 29. 

  Bamboo grows very fast, he says, and the endless availability of bamboo makes bamboo a great resource and an attractive material. It is important to balance a variety of factors, such as where to make it, design ability, how to sell it, how to deliver the product, and appropriate pricing. He wants to make products that are easy to use and have cool design features, so people will use them. He hopes to create such a cycle and be a part of it himself. Ultimately, he wants to create a cycle where the products return to the soil, reduce plastic, and make the buyer happy. 

 Most of the people who buy our products are women, and his products are supported by people who love to cook and want to add color and fun to their lives. He wanted to express himself through manufacturing, but he also believes that ease of use is the most important factor. His vision for the future is to maintain this balance and bring his products to even more people and foreign countries. 

 Maeda’s deep desire to establish a careful connection with the people of Kochi has created a remarkable space where everyday life and artistry intersect. With her boundless passion for eraser stamps, Asako Ozaki creates time for students to lose themselves in their artistic expression. Moreover, Ippo Shimomoto, a bamboo craftsman, brings joy to everyday life by weaving nature’s bounty into practical and enchanting creations. Together, they infuse color, warmth, and joy into the lives of those who seek beauty in simplicity. 

  “When you want to add color to your ordinary day-to-day life or to live a more careful life, please pass through the door of Nichika. A wonderful life awaits you on the other side,” encouraged the team at NICHIKA. 

Homepage 

https://comonichi.com/nichika-2/