Masahiro Hiraoka – tōlan
27 Jul (Sat) – 4 Aug (Sun)
*Closed 30 July (Tue) during the days
Opening hours during the exhibition
27 Jul (Sat) – 31 Jul (Wed) 12pm-7pm
1 (Thu)-4 (Sun) Aug 12pm-5pm
Masahiro Hiraoka is a wood cutter in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
He produces cutlery and cooking utensils made of wood from Tohoku region mainly , such as itaya maple and yamazakura.
Before starting this business, he worked as an engineer for a machine manufacturer.
He then moved from working with precise machines to the world of handwork.
The materials he works with are different, but his meticulous work has something in common.
The title of this year’s exhibition is tōlan.
The original word for “tool”,means a tool to be held in the hand and used.
When I saw the new works; renge(soup spoon),
We were impressed by of Hiraoka’s craftsmanship with an awareness of the gesture of holding and gripping in the hand. Therefore, I decided on the theme.
In this exhibition, the standard of his works e.g cutlery, chopsticks and cooking utensils such as spatulas are also introduced.
Masahiro Hiraoka
Graduated from university with a degree in mechanics and started working for a machine manufacturer in Shizuoka.
2005 Entered Iwate Prefectural Ninohe Technical College Started working with wood
2007 Opened “Hiraoka Craft Workshop” in Hachimantai, Iwate Pref. Self-taught cutlery maker.
In addition to his own work, he also produces wooden chopsticks and wooden spoon bases for Appinuri Shikkikobo; the Appi-nuri lacquering atelier.
Masahiro Hiraoka – tōlan
27 Jul (Sat) – 4 Aug (Sun)
*Closed 30 July (Tue) during the days
Opening hours during the exhibition
27 Jul (Sat) – 31 Jul (Wed) 12pm-7pm
1 (Thu)-4 (Sun) Aug 12pm-5pm
online showcase of the exhibition will start 1st week of Aug.
