Tools that Live Beyond their Maker: The Philosophy of MINE
Higashiyoshino. A river runs right in front of the workshop, and from its windows one can look out over the surrounding scenery. Here, custom-made furniture is crafted, beginning by carefully transforming each client’s vision into detailed drawings, which then gets brought to life.
In the production of ‘Somewhere’, he had worked through numerous prototypes. The tabletop is made of linoleum—a material scarcely distributed in Japan at the time—making the process of learning to work with it a challenge. He had previously crafted bentwood pieces on a smaller scale, but bending wood as large as two meters was a first, requiring repeated trial and error.
When people picture a craftsman, they often imagine someone shut away in a quiet workshop. Yet, stepping into his workshop reveals something different: his free-spirited way of living is reflected in the very space itself. He has chosen a path in which work and daily living flow seamlessly together. Though he modestly insists he is “still only halfway there,” the workshop already serves as a reflection of his way of life.
He speaks of his work with striking simplicity: “Once a piece leaves my hands, I want the owner to do whatever they like with it.” Whether it is cherished daily or quietly set aside, he believes that choice belongs entirely to the owner. Though he is sometimes called an “artist” and his creations labeled as “works of art,” he rejects those titles. What he creates are not works of art, but tools. As such, if they break or wear down, it is up to the user to decide whether to repair or discard them. Still, he adds, “If someone wishes to have it repaired, I’ll be there to help.” Taken at face value, his words may seem detached. In reality, they reveal a deep respect—for both the object itself, and for the people who welcome it into their lives.
Even a piece he once made as “his own” changes the moment it passes into another’s hands, taking on new roles and meanings. Guided by that dual awareness, Nakamine continues to make tools at his workshop, fittingly named ‘MINE’.
