Japan 2023Wakuni Shoten
The tobacco store located in Aoba shopping street on the ‘shuttered street’ (deserted shopping street) in Higashi-Murayama, Tokyo has been renovated into a cafe as the base for the local community by using the three-dimensional external wall units made of verdigris copper plates.
700 verdigris copper plates with pentagon geometries are the embodiment of the engineering technology of Tomokazu Uchino, the local metalwork craftsman, which are made from the recycled materials used in Hayatani shrine in Hiroshima.
The color of the nature-made copper plates keeps changing depending on how the sun hits at different times and seasons.
The freeness and lightness of many ‘Kanban architecture’ (signboard architecture) built after the Great Kanto earthquake have been rebitrthed to the shuttered street by the delicate technique of handling metal plates that Japan with rainy season takes pride to the world.
Furniture and fixtures made with care by the metalwork craftsman are installed interior. Here’s the place that showcase the ability of Japanese craftmanship remainig in the local areas and indulged in it.
