Objects

Shimane is a Mingei Heaven

Shimane is a great place to dive into the world of mingei which are items under the vast umbrella of Japanese folk art or folk craft. The San’in area was an epicenter of the mingei movement with key players such as Yanagi Soetsu and Kawai Kanjiro using this region as one of their bases of operation. As such, there are a plethora of opportunities to encounter mingei through visiting kilns, studios, or even museums. In this article I want to introduce you all to another great way of experiencing mingei, which is through select shops! 

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The Select Shop for You

One of my favorite select shops in Shimane is Obects in Matsue City. Objects is located by a canal which leads into the city from Shinjiko Lake. Being on the waterfront, I highly recommend going here in the evening to catch the sunset with the purple, orange and red colors of the sky being reflected in the water. The building itself is grayish purple color with large swinging wood doors that give this whole building a unique vibe. Indoors, guests are welcomed by a wide selection of items ranging from wooden bowls, pottery, glassware and much more depending on what artist or craftsmen the owners are featuring. The interior is quite cozy with carpet flooring, wooden beams, cabinets, and tables. 

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What is a Select Shop

Before going further into why I like Objects, I want to give an explanation to what a select shops is and what they provide for the customers. A select shop is a Japanese word which usually is used for a store that carries a wide variety of brand items. The store itself is usually not selling items that they themselves have produced (although there are exceptions) but they collect products which fit their theme. Objects is a mingei select store, so we can expect a wide variety of mingei items made by different artists and craftsmen. If the store owner (almost like a director at an art museum) has a good relationship with the craft community, they can get pieces which may be hard to come by in a large quantity, or even put in orders for pieces that are not usually made. In other words, the better the storeowner, the more pieces you will find that are interesting or even iconic (yes you get both sides of the spectrum!). As such, it is a great way for people to get introduced to this world of mingei through different perspectives, handcrafts, and interest level. 

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What Makes Objects Special

Now with Objects there are a few things that I think allows this store to stand out from other select shops. First of all, the owner is extremely knowledgeable about the pieces he carries, right down to what kind of drive and motivation the maker has. He communicatees very frequently and closely with the crafts people he buys from and he relays all of that information to his customers as well. Rather than simply being a middleman, he is an active member of the artist circles and is deeply passionate about the how the word of mingei is unfolding today. He also invests in new artists of the area by having their works at his store as well. Not to mention, he is also the curator for the gift store at the Izumo Mingei Museum in Izumo. I really respect his way of doing business where he is not simply a seller, but a trusted member of the mingei community of Shimane.  

Another reason for my preference towards Objects is the owner’s openness and friendliness. I know this sounds really basic and one dimensional, but it’s necessary to mention. When you buy a piece of pottery or any other handcrafted items, they are going to be something you use for the rest of your life, and it is going to be a little pricier than an Ikea plate. In that way you want to be able to talk to the store owner if they have several of the same items or perhaps different styles of from the same maker. The reason being, sometimes you are not going to immediately going to find something you like on the shelf. These select shops are usually quite small so it can get a little awkward when you’re just browsing and don’t buy anything. During those times it’s really important to have a conversation with the owner. Asking them if they have a different pattern, a different style, or perhaps if they are going to be carrying something you prefer in the future. I find that with these select shops it’s important to have a relationship with the owner because they can really help you find something you are looking for. At Objects, that relationship is so easy to make, making the whole process not as awkward and actually very rewarding. 

So, if you have a chance to visit Objects, ask them questions, see if they have something in the back, try to have a relationship with them. It’s such an easy way to get involved in the mingei scene, and also the most fulfilling as well. I find that with buying plates or just looking at them, the more you know the better the purchase and the experience using what you acquired!  

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Location an Hours

Hours: 11am-6:00pm, Irregular holidays, please take a look at their website for when they are closed.

Parking available a coin parking close to the store

Website: http://objects.jp/index.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/objects_jp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/objects.jp