In Japan, cow, deer, lamb, goat and horse leather have been used for general goods.
The oldest leather is a fur called "AKURIKAWA" which was gifted to the Imperial Court during Yamato period. In the late Heian period, leather accessories were very popular among Samurai warriors.
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| Nick Wooster |
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| blackmeans blackmeans is one such label that is rooted in Japanese obsession and genre remixing. This collective consisting of designers Yujiro Komatsu, Takatomo Ariga, Masatomo Ariga and Tomoko Moriya describe themselves as a “Hardcore craft team”. Their beginnings in punk aesthetic customisation were long entrenched since their school days but they banded together whilst working for Tokyo cult streetwear label 20471120 in the nineties. After individual stints at Undercover and experiments in hand-made clothing lines, they formed blackmeans in 2008, backed by a leather garment factory and it is only in the last two years that this incredible leather craft collective have slowly begun to emerge internationally with championing stockists such as Opening Ceremony. Source: www.stylebubble.co.uk |
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| Hiroki Tsukuda
Hiroki Tsukuda
is a contemporary artist based in Tokyo. Working as an artist is often
not an easy way to live, however, this is especially so in Japan, where
the category ‘art’ is handled in a very conservative manner. Hiroki’s
career started as a graphic designer after graduating from Musashino Art
University – around the time when we entered the millennium. He was one
of the millions of graphic designers out there back then. One day he
started to recognise the gap between how design work is processed, as
opposed to how he wished to work and create. By chance, he met his
gallerist today Nanzuka,
and gradually shifted his position to the unknown world: from the
graphic designer receiving orders from clients, to the artist who
challenges to create something from zero.
His method of creations vary from painting, sculpture, drawing and collages – they are the collection of interpretations of his surroundings. His work is inspired by technology and the limitless information flow and diverse situations experienced in his hometown of Tokyo. Interested in “taking a peek into the parallel universe that exists on the other side of this world”, Hiroki’s work engages in an analysis and distortion of modern society. On this visit, Hiroki discusses his childhood in Kagawa on a small island called, Shikoku – famous for its udon noodles – and reflects on how his worldview has altered and expanded since he was young. He also talks about why Tokyo will always be his base despite his love of travel. Source: www.freundevonfreunden.com |
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| Nick Wooster |
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Shin MurayamaShin Murayama
Mask-maker
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| Kosuke Tsumura Kosuke Tsumura was awarded “So-en” prize in 1982, and he is well known as fashion designer, who started his own fashion brand “FINAL HOME” from the Miyake Design Company. His creativity, based on the concept such as “defense”, “survival”, has never stopped just in the field of fashion design, but also it has been regarded widely in the various fields, beyond the border of expression. For example he took part in “The 21st exhibition of Japanese Contemporary Art” in Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in 1992, where he was awarded in the second prize, “VISION OF THE BODY: FASHION OR INVISIBLE CORSET” in Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in 1999, “Venetia Biennial Architecture Exhibition” in 2000, and “SAFE DESIGN TAKES ON RISK” in MOMA the Museum of Modern Art, NY in 2005. Tsumura’s multiple creativity, with both elements of Mode and Art, shows us the new possibility for the expression today. Source: www.azito-art.com |
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| Akiyoshi Mishima Akiyoshi Mishima is not your average one-dimensional character. Due to his long list of achievements as a visual artist, graphic designer, VJ, filmmaker and fashion designer, you could mistake him for being older than his years. Between 2001-2009 Akiyoshi was a member of the art group Enlightenment. During this time Akiyoshi’s work was exhibited in a range of significant art fairs in China and Tokyo, in addition to being curated into group exhibitions that include New York gallery, Deitch Projects’ show, “After the Reality” in 2006, and “Magical Art Life” at Tokyo Wonder Site, Tokyo in 2007. Represented by the contemporary art gallery NANZUKA in Tokyo, Mishima sets no limits to his methods and means of expression, working across multiple genres and disciplines in production. He has designed multiple CD album covers for artists such as N.E.R.D., as well as numerous music videos and live concert footages. Akiyoshi is the face behind the fashion brand FUGAHUM along with Asuka Yamamoto. Established in 2006, the concept behind FUGAHUM is based on an imaginary land on Earth by the same name that infuses and establishes the land’s history, culture and ideas into a huge fashion market. To say he is talented would be an understatement. Source: www.freundevonfreunden.com |
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| Fashion blogger Susie Bubble (right) was one of the many attendees at the Leather Japan Fall 2014 opening reception. (Source: Meniscus Magazine) |
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| Hender Scheme |
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| Hiroki Tsukuda |
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| Hajime Sorayama
Sorayama released his new book Master Works in early 2010, followed by
another erotica book, "Vibrant Vixens" in May 2013. He worked with movie
makers in Hollywood on fantasy science fiction projects, including a movie about Penthouse. During 2012 to 2013 Sorayama worked on 3 notable new projects with American fashion designer Marc Ecko. In 2013 to 2014 a tribute art book entitled "Star Wars Art Concept" found famous moviemaker George Lucas engaging Sorayama to create a spread of Twi'lek and droid fantasy Star Wars figures at about the time Lucas' firm LucasFilm was sold to Disney.
Sources: www.en.wikipedia.org, www.sorayama.net
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all photos for MENISCUS MAGAZINE by Yanek Che
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