Kendama
RYOTA MISHIMA X NIKKO COMPANY
Product size: H220 x W97 x D48mm
Box size: H290 x W200 x D210mm
Concept
"KENDAMA" was created as a collaborative project with NIKKO COMPANY. It attempts to redefine art from "something that is simply used" to "something that creates experiences," and is a work that pursues the true nature of art by making small everyday moments into irreplaceable ones.
How to Play
In Kendama, players spin a game board decorated with images of flowers, horses, and snakes, and pour sake into the corresponding dish. The three dishes are of different depths, and the person whose spinning top is pointing to must drink it all.
Design
The three motifs depicted represent different aspects of life. The flowers symbolize splendor, joy, love, and creativity. The horse represents passion, challenge, and the drive to move forward. The snake represents difficulties, failures, and painful experiences. However, these are not opposing concepts, but rather essential elements that make up life.
Furthermore, kendama is said to have originated in 16th-century Europe, particularly in places like Bilboquet, and after being introduced to Japan, it underwent its own unique development. Taking this multicultural background into account, the design is not limited to the decorative styles of any particular country, but aims for a universal appearance based on blue and white. It is not a mere quotation of tradition, but rather a form that embodies the flow of history.
NIKKO COMPANY
Nikko Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1908 (Meiji 41), this ceramics brand has long been a favorite among professionals in hotels, restaurants, and other establishments that demand high quality and durability. At its own factory in Ishikawa Prefecture, the company handles everything from raw materials to finished products. To ensure sustainable manufacturing for the next 100 years, the company aims to shift from linear mass production to a circular business model that recycles resources and reduces waste. As part of this effort, it has established a technology to recycle bone china into fertilizer, aiming to create a society where tableware is not discarded but circulated. The company is working in collaboration with restaurants, farmers, and consumers to realize a circular society that supports "food."
