Osamu Saruyama

Osamu Saruyama – Japanese design from Tokyo

Osamu Saruyama is a designer and musician based in Tokyo, where he also runs a gallery shop in the Azabu Juban district. His studio, Guillemets Layout Studio, works with both graphics and product design.

Objects that last

In a world of plastic, disposables and fast fashion, Saruyama's objects stand out with a thoughtful, timeless aesthetic. He himself says that the joy of using something created with years of care and craftsmanship is greater than you expect. He works closely with Japanese craftsmen and manufacturers, and the range ranges from knives and cutlery to coasters and kitchen accessories – in brass, cast iron, stainless steel, teak and Japanese cherry wood.

Osamu Saruyama

Narito – small Japanese cheese knife in stainless steel and brass

€61,95 EUR

Sold out

Osamu Saruyama

Japanese trivet in cast iron and teak, in several sizes

From €95,95 EUR

Crafts By Japan

'KOGEI'

Since the 1950s, the Japanese government has sought to preserve traditional craft techniques by appointing special outstanding artisans as 'Kogei'

These artisans are obliged to pass on their skills to posterity, and their efforts are supported financially by the state.

A 'Kogei' must meet five requirements to be recognized:

The craft must be made for everyday use
The most important parts of the manufacturing process must be handmade
The craft must be created using traditional techniques
Raw materials must be used that are extracted and then used in a traditional way
The craft must be made in a specific region of Japan where the craft is traditionally associated

This means that in Japan there are a number of very skilled artisans/craftsmen who, based on the Japanese craft traditions, create beautiful and functional products of exceptionally high quality.

We have selected a number of these unique products and offer them exclusively here in the webshop.