Niwaki Field Report launch in Daikanyama by Jake Hobson, Niwaki Founder
You may know us as the friendly, cloud topiary loving bunch of miscreants that we are, hiding out down in Dorset, gallivanting around the country in our Keswick Green 130 Defenders, popping up every once in a while at random events and locations around the world. Or you might think of us as that nice shop on Chiltern Street in Marylebone, or even Columbia Road. Or perhaps you’re one of our many happy website customers, who we put so much work in for as we strive to make the online experience as much fun as ‘IRL’.
Whoever you are though you’re here now, wallowing deep in Christmas, and you perhaps didn’t know that our sister company over in Tokyo, Niwaki Japan, recently launched our newly published Niwaki Field Report at a two day event hosted by W. in Daikanyama. So in a gesture of inclusivity, and so you can remain ‘in the loop’ here’s what you missed:
Where: W.’s Gallery Space Rodin, Daikanyama
What: 2 day event with a bit of a knees up on the second evening to celebrate the Niwaki Field Report No.1
Who: Will, Yuri, Jake, the team from W. and a wonderfully quirky bunch of gardeners, journalists, designers, shopkeepers and general dudes from the Kanto area.
Plants: by Tsubaki (vying for star of the show along with catering, below.)
Catering: Cheese and biscuits.
We’re glad to say that our Field Report went down a storm, the articles on the Tokachi Millennium Forest in Hokkaido, Dai Sugi cultivation and a back streets tour of Kyoto, as well as Tokyo Lee’s fascinating photographs, offering glimpses of Japan that perhaps most locals may not have noticed before. There were plenty of conversations about Edition #2, which is well underway as you read this.
Niwaki tools on display are always a talking point in Japan. Explaining the use of a Kenzan to young urban Japanese media-types is remarkably rewarding for us - and educating for them. Just as in the UK and US, everyone’s vaguely aware of these spiky little urchins, hidden away beneath the sink, without really knowing what they’re for or the impact they can make to flower arranging.
Also attracting attention was our range of workwear, and it was nice to see that along with all the gardening tools, ‘made in Japan’ commands huge pride and respect. Sharp eyed viewers may even spot the odd prototype - but don’t hold your breath…
We’ve been friends with Tsubaki for some time, inspired by their stunning botanical arrangements, garden design and shop fits, notably for brands like New Balance, Loewe and Kenzo. Ikuko Yamashita and Keishi Miyahara along with their installation team, dressed all in black, go about their business with very little fuss, a quiet concentration and military precision. You’d think they were ninjas if they had throwing stars instead of secateurs on their tool belts.
Deciduous trees from their mountainside nursery in Yamanashi - Acer palmatum, Lindera obtsusiloba (the blunt-nosed spice bush, no less) set the scene - tall, spindly and crooked (sounds a bit like me) grown in a way our nurseries could never reproduce, to reflect natural woodland understory. Underplanted with Ardisia crenata and other unidentified leafy things, all set in a lush carpet of moss, meticulously planted with the help of tweezers and tiny shuro palm hand brooms.
Jake, Will and Yuri.
Rocks planted with young Cryptomeria japonica (sugi) Chamaecyparis obtusa (hinoki) and mossy ferns sit on the polished concrete floor, like rocky outcrops in Japanese coastal waters, ripe for exploration, while pine bonsai and other small small pots are dotted among the Niwaki tools, setting the scene and softening the vibe. All that, along with a glass of wine, some West Country cheddar and great company made for quite a night.
Have a relaxing break, and see you on other side, wherever that may be!
Recommended listening to enjoy this article: Masayoshi Takanaka’s album ‘Seychelles’. Probably best played on vinyl in a smokey old coffee shop somewhere in Tokyo, but sounding pretty good on my WiFi speakers where it’s been on a near-constant loop recently. Bordering on cheesy schmaltz, and absolutely perfect for Christmas.
