Bonfire Master Masaya Ino.
He, who has continued to burn wood more than anyone else, is hosting a pop-up store called “Yakuma” featuring wooden carved bears.
“They say the theme of this activity is not just ”burning“ but also ”preserving.”
The following is a post Mr. Ino shared on Instagram.
It was thanks to a wooden bear sculpture that I learned about Yakumo Town in Hokkaido.
Thanks to the wooden bear, I was able to go to Yakushima.
Thanks to the wooden bear, I've been meeting new people.
Thanks to the wooden bear, I wanted to preserve the tree.
Thanks to the wooden bear, my heart has been enriched.
That wooden bear left my wallet a little lighter.
I hope these wooden bear sculptures will inspire you to visit Yakumo Town and Yakushima Island.
We're opening a pop-up store featuring wooden carved bears.
We'll be holding the event in Aichi Prefecture, which is known for its woodcarved bears.
It will be held at “analog / tool,” a select shop in Toyokawa City run by an owner who loves wooden carved bears.
This is the first collaboration between Yakusugi cedar and Yakumo Town in the woodcarving bear industry.
Come explore the world of wooden bears!
Mr. Ino says he quickly became hooked on woodcarving after casually picking up a wooden bear at a souvenir shop in Hokkaido.
The collection features works carved one by one by Hideo Oguma, who runs “Kumato-kobo” in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido—a place often referred to as the mecca of wooden bear carvings—using rare Yakusugi cedar sourced from the “Arimizu Lumber Mill” in Yakushima Town.
Yakushima and Yakumo Town in Hokkaido. This one-of-a-kind wooden bear was born from the intersection of traditions passed down in these two places. It goes without saying that a wooden bear is a product meant to be touched by hand.
It seems there will also be a workshop where you can make your very own, one-of-a-kind wooden bear. Please see below for details.
Yakuma — Preserving Trees. Preserving Culture. And Visiting. —
Dates: July 4 (Sat) – 26 (Sun)
Location: analog / tool
Address: 1-3-2, Shinsakuramachi-dori, Toyokawa-shi, Aichi, Japan
Phone: 0533-56-2818
Hours: 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays
Official Site
@analog_tool
workshop
Our special instructor is Hideo Oguma from “Kumotomo Kobo,” who created this piece in Yakumo Town, Hokkaido—a place often referred to as the “holy land of bear carving.” Why not try carving your very own one-of-a-kind wooden bear using a small knife and a carving chisel? Even beginners can feel at ease, as you’ll receive careful, step-by-step instruction.
Dates: July 25 and 26 (maximum of 10 people per day)
Event Time: 2:00 p.m.–
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Price: ￥5,000 (tax included)
Number of participants: First 10 people
Recommended Age: 5th grade and up (If only elementary school students are participating, please have a parent or guardian accompany them.)
To register: 090-8904-6433 (Kumayuu Kobo)
@yuyukoubou_yakumo
*Due to the nature of the equipment we provide, please indicate your dominant hand when registering.
