Company Name
Kibori brooch
Type of industry
Manufacturing of wood carving arts
Main products
Wood carving arts
Post code
990-2453
Company address
(Butsudan Otsuki) 2-28 2-chome Wakamiya Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Representative
Kazue ASHINO
Person in charge
Kazue ASHINO
T E L
+81-(0)23-646-6360
F A X
+81-(0)23-646-6360
Main selling channels
https://ashinokazue.jimdo.com/ Domestic retail shops and EC site
Available language
Japanese
After studying at Tohoku University of Art and Design and pursuing other careers, Kazue Ashino joined Otsuki, a maker of butsudan (household Buddhist altars), one of the traditional crafts for which Yamagata is known. She began producing wood sculpture in styles traditional to Yamagata butsudan for the firm in March 2008 after receiving the go-ahead by the company president.
Her Kibori range of brooches were first made in 2015, when her company entered the Yamagata Excellent Design competition with works Ashino produced in partnership with a member of Yamagata Mirai no Takumi-kai, a group of younger artisans working to preserve Yamagata City's traditional crafts. Although the entry did not win a prize, her company was designated as an incentive company and offered a place in a product development and marketing course run by Yamagata Research Institute of Technology in 2016, which led to the brooches being developed as products. The brooches were publicly unveiled in November 2016 at the IFFT Interior Lifestyle Living exhibit held at Tokyo Big Sight. They were selected for the Yamagata Excellent Design Award in 2017, and received a commendation at the 2018 Wood Design Award. Her new series, Kissho, is the outcome of further training at the Yamagata Research Institute of Technology. It was unveiled at the 2018 IFFT Interior Lifestyle Living exhibition.
As a Yamagata butsudan sculptor, Ashino's work centers on producing sculptures for Yamagata butsudan, as well as re-varnishing, repairing, and cleaning butsudan. While butsudan sculptures are produced for butsudan manufacturers, producing the Kibori brooches has given her the chance to communicate directly with private customers. She looks forward to using such interactions to promote Yamagata butsudan and raise its status as a nationally-designated traditional craft, a fact that is not yet widely known even in Yamagata.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch kumo 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY6,600 (excluding tax)
Cloud motifs commonly appear in ranma and many other butsudan parts, and are often combined with other motifs such as the dragon, phoenix, and crane. Kumo 1 is very time-consuming to produce. Each Kibori brooch is made from 8 mm-thick linden wood. After drawing and cutting out the design with a fretsaw, the piece is hand-sculpted using only knives, and without using sandpaper. The sculpted brooch is then surface-finished with urethane resin to strengthen the wood and protect it against dirt. The brooch pin is attached with epoxy adhesive and then screwed on.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch kumo 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY6,600 (excluding tax)
Kumo 2 represents a large drifting cloud. Linden wood is widely used to produce Yamagata butsudan sculpture. The wood is pale when newly sculpted, and lightweight. Brooches made from this wood look good pinned to knitwear and other soft, lightweight fabrics.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch kumo 3
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Kumo 3 represents a gyoku-un, a type of cloud.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch kumo 4
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Kumo 4 represents a gyoku-un, a type of cloud.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch kumo 5
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Kumo 5 represents a drifting cloud.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch tori 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
This piece represents a bush warbler bird, often combined with plum blossoms in traditional Japanese iconography.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch tori 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27 mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Tori 2 represents a plover bird, often combined with wave motifs in traditional Japanese iconography.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch tori 3
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Tori 3 represents a plover bird.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch tori 4
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Tori 4 represents a plover bird.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch tori 5
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box (82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Tori 5 represents a plover bird in flight. They are often combined with wave motifs in traditional Japanese iconography.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" ume 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY3,600 (excluding tax)
Ume 1 represents a plum blossom motif, often combined with bush warbler birds in traditional Japanese iconography.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" ume 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY3,600 (excluding tax)
Ume 2 represents a traditional plum blossom motif known as nejiri-ume.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" take 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY3,600 (excluding tax)
Take 1 represents bamboo grass, often combined with sparrows in traditional Japanese iconography.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" take 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82 × 56 × 27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY3,600 (excluding tax)
Take 2 represents bamboo grass. Bamboo, pine, and plum make up a popular combination believed to bring good luck.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" matsu 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY4,600 (excluding tax)
Matsu 1 represents pine needles.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" matsu 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY4,600 (excluding tax)
Matsu 2 represents pine seeds and pine needles.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" usagi 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY4,600 (excluding tax)
Usagi 1 represents rabbit and wave motifs. The Kissho series focuses on cute, lucky designs.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" usagi 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY4,600 (excluding tax)
Usagi 2 represents a rabbit.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" nami 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Nami 1 can be combined with rabbit designs and with plover bird and wave designs.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" nami 2
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY5,600 (excluding tax)
Nami 2 represents waves. The openwork design involves three openings made by using a fretsaw.
Brand name
kibori brooch
Product name
kibori brooch "kissho" sakura 1
Generic name
Brooch
Materials
Shinanoki (Japanese Linden), Urethane, Pin, Screws, Epoxy Adhesives
Person in Charge
Kazue ASHINO
Production area
Yamagata Yamagata Japan
Size
Gift box(82×56×27mm)
Weight
abt.3g
Domestic retail price
JPY4,600 (excluding tax)
Sakura 1 represents a double-layer cherry blossom.
kibori brooch kumo 1
kibori brooch kumo 2
kibori brooch kumo 3
kibori brooch kumo 4
kibori brooch kumo 5
kibori brooch tori 1
kibori brooch tori 2
kibori brooch tori 3
kibori brooch tori 4
kibori brooch tori 5
kibori brooch "kissho" ume 1
kibori brooch "kissho" ume 2
kibori brooch "kissho" take 1
kibori brooch "kissho" take 2
kibori brooch "kissho" matsu 1
kibori brooch "kissho" matsu 2
kibori brooch "kissho" usagi 1
kibori brooch "kissho" usagi 2
kibori brooch "kissho" nami 1
kibori brooch "kissho" nami 2
kibori brooch "kissho" sakura 1
