Live with natural things that are not artificial. All lamps that I produce are created "from the gourd up" using materials grown straight from the earth. These gourd lamps are one-of-a-kind, created by the blessings of nature.
About Gourds
Gourds are fascinating plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, originating from the African continent, with a history deeply intertwined with human civilization for thousands of years. Since ancient times, they have been treasured worldwide and widely used for practical purposes as containers, vessels, musical instruments, and decorative art pieces. Their versatility and natural beauty have made them an indispensable presence across all cultural spheres, from Africa to Asia, the Americas to Europe.
In Japan, gourds hold a special place within cultural heritage. For centuries, they have been revered as symbols of good fortune, representing luck, prosperity, and longevity. The distinctive shape of the gourd—with its narrow waist and rounded form—has been incorporated into traditional Shinto ritual implements, family crests, and architectural decorations. Even today, gourd motifs can be found throughout Japanese art, from kimono patterns to temple ornaments, demonstrating the enduring cultural significance of this remarkable plant.
TheGourd
April
Here in Hokkaido, gourd planting begins in April when snow still remains. To accommodate the short northern summer, we first germinate the seeds indoors. Newly sprouted gourds are extremely sensitive to cold, so we carefully nurture them indoors with the utmost attention. During this time, we construct greenhouses in the field, and by early May, we transplant them inside the greenhouses.
Six Months of Growing Gourds
June
In June, the greenhouse becomes enveloped in midsummer-like heat, and the gourds accelerate their growth even further, as if converting that heat into energy. The sight of them vigorously extending their vines, spreading their leaves, and growing upward and upward as if competing toward the sky is magnificent.
Only after the vines reach the top of the trellis are they finally ready to bloom. This is when all the months of care and observation are rewarded.
If growth proceeds smoothly, the long-awaited flowers begin to bloom in mid-June. The moment when small white flowers open always makes my heart leap, no matter how many times I experience it. These delicate flowers that begin blooming in the evening and reach full bloom at night—these flowers will eventually become fruit and be reborn as our lamps. Watching over each flower and feeling nature's mystical cycle firsthand marks the beginning of a special season.
May
In May, the cold subsides and warmer days gradually increase. During this period when spring sunlight finally begins to shine on Hokkaido's land after a long winter, the gourds planted in the greenhouse begin to grow rapidly, as if they had been eagerly waiting for this moment.
The vines extending day by day, leaves opening one after another, and their vigorous spreading present a moment to witness the tremendous life force of plants. Every morning when I visit the greenhouse, seeing them grow more than the day before, I cannot help but feel the wonder of nature's workings. The growth rate during this period is remarkable, sometimes becoming dramatically larger in just a few days.
August
After mid-August, preparations for harvest finally begin.
When the wind that signals the end of summer begins to blow and the gourds reach their growth peak, we begin the process of gradually reducing water while they remain attached to the vines. This is an important step to ensure smooth drying after harvest.
We gradually reduce the watering frequency, encouraging the gourds themselves to naturally stop storing water. Then, the surface color gradually changes from dark green to yellowish, and the fruit becomes lighter. This is the signal for harvest.
July
In July, Hokkaido enters full summer. Lush green leaves flourish, and the greenhouse overflows with vitality.
Successfully pollinated flowers become small fruit and grow larger day by day at an astonishing speed. Fruit that initially fit in the palm of a hand grow large enough to require both hands to hold in just a few weeks. They become so heavy that without support, they would fall from the vines under their own weight. The task of carefully placing nets around each fruit and hanging them for support is labor-intensive, but being able to watch the steadily growing fruit up close is an incredibly happy time.
Observing the gourds' shapes changing daily, thinking "this one will become an interesting shape" or "this balance is beautiful," and caring for them while imagining the future lamps—this is the most enjoyable and exciting period of gourd cultivation. It's a blissful summer time when I look forward to visiting the field every day.
September
Gourds are vulnerable to wind and can be damaged by strong winds or, in the worst case, fall off. Every time a typhoon approaches, I'm tempted to "harvest them quickly," but impatience is forbidden. Harvesting too early means the shell won't be thick enough and will crack after drying. To avoid wasting gourds cultivated over many months, I must patiently wait while monitoring the weather. While keeping a close eye on typhoon information, I reinforce the greenhouse and weather the storm with a prayerful heart. This period is the most tense in the entire cultivation process.
October
When the cold autumn wind begins to blow, the gourds that have safely survived the typhoons finally reach harvest time from mid-September to early October as the cold intensifies.
The moment I carefully cut each one with scissors and separate them from the vines, the six months of effort and affection are conveyed to my hands as a solid weight. Through this long growth cycle, each gourd has developed its own unique character. No two are exactly alike in shape, size, texture, color, or the beauty of their curves. Under Hokkaido's autumn sky where the leaves are beginning to turn, the forms that nature has carefully crafted over many months are truly one-of-a-kind existences.
Immediately after harvest, we remove the seeds and contents and perform an alkali treatment. Neglecting this step can cause mold or decay.
Gourds that have completed natural drying and are fully dried are surprisingly light yet hard and sturdy, transformed into the perfect canvas for embracing light. When tapped, they resonate with a hollow sound, as if saying, "Now I can finally become a lamp."
Gourd Lamp Creation
The time spent holding a dried gourd in my hands and gazing at it carefully. What pattern would suit it? As if in dialogue with the gourd, I envision an image for each one. Respecting the form created by nature and thinking of a design that maximizes its individuality—this moment is the most exciting time as a craftsperson.
Even with the same pattern, if the gourd's shape is different, an entirely different expression emerges. The individuality each gourd possesses resonates with the pattern carved into it, completing a truly one-of-a-kind work.
The final process is smoking to give the gourd a deep color and beautiful luster.
In front of the wood-burning kiln, carefully observing the color of the rising smoke, the intensity of the fire, temperature changes—all while imagining the final color. If the smoke is too strong, it becomes too dark; if too weak, no color develops. Achieving the ideal color requires years of experience and intuition.
This work takes a full day, sometimes longer, during which I cannot leave the kiln. Keeping the fire alive and maintaining consistent smoke—it's truly constant work. Occasionally checking the gourd's condition, thinking "a bit more" or "it's about time," I determine the optimal timing.
The smoked gourd beautifully transforms from amber to deep brown, and the surface develops a natural luster. This deep coloring further enhances the contrast of light and shadow when the lamp is lit. Seven months after planting the seeds, a single lamp is finally complete.
The carving work is the most nerve-wracking process, requiring delicacy and concentration.
Because gourds are natural materials, their thickness and hardness are not uniform. Even within a single gourd, the shell thickness varies by location, with some areas harder and others softer. Relying only on the subtle sensation of the blade tip transmitted to my hands and changes in resistance, I carefully proceed with the carving.
If I apply even slightly too much force, a hole will form; if too little, the carving won't be clean. Regulating my breathing and concentrating all my nerves on the sensation in my hands, I carefully carve stroke by stroke. Sometimes taking hours, sometimes days, to complete a single lamp.
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Creating gourd lamps is very time-consuming work. From planting seeds to completion takes over half a year. Throughout that time, I continuously face the gourds and create while in dialogue with them.
Planting seeds, growing, drying, designing, carving, and polishing. Over many months, a single gourd lamp is born.
"What pattern would suit this gourd?" "What kind of light would bring joy?"
While thinking about such things, I carefully carve hole by hole.
No two gourds have the same shape. No two patterns can be made the same.
That's why every lamp is one-of-a-kind. The lamp that reaches your hands is a special existence, the only one in the world.
It's a gourd lamp filled with the craftsperson's thoughts, one-of-a-kind in the world.
