In the heart of the superbly bamboo-renowned Shizuoka Prefecture, the legacy of Miyabi Andon is deeply entwined with the region's history. The origins of the local bamboo craft trace back to the 1620s, laying the foundational cultural fabric of the area. It is said that the Suruga bamboo craft emerged, when Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the three “Great Unifiers” of Japan, requested his falconers to craft cages for his falcons.
By the Edo period (1600-1868), these bamboo creations, especially the intricately woven bell cricket cage, had found favor among the elite samurai class. It did not take long for the craft to become indispensable companions on their travels along the Tokaido, Japan's historic eastern sea route. The cage became a symbol of Omotenashi, the hospitality spirit, with the higher classes using it to introduce nature’s sounds to their homes, from seasonal insects to birds. The seasonal word for insect cages is autumn in Japanese culture, and it used to be cherished as an expression of that time of year.
It was some time later, in 1840, that the craft as known today truly took shape, under the aegis of a skilled artisan who excelled in various traditional Japanese arts like tea ceremony and flower arrangement. This particular style, celebrated for its utilization of slender, rounded bamboo strips, carved a niche for itself, symbolizing the region's rich cultural heritage. This period marked a renaissance in the craftsmanship, blending time-honored techniques with innovative practices that would later garner international recognition at expositions from Vienna to Paris during the Meiji era (1868-1912).
Emerging from this rich historical weave, Miyabi Andon was founded in 1965, embodying the zenith of artisanal excellence. Inspired by the trailblazing efforts of Sangi Sugiyama, who embarked on his bamboo crafting journey in 1914, Miyabi Andon stands as a testament to the enduring allure and evolving legacy of Suruga bamboo craftsmanship, bridging the past with the present and carrying forward the art form's esteemed traditions into the modern era.
The stewardship of this venerable craft was embraced by Masatoshi Sugiyama, who, driven by a deep-seated desire to preserve the four-century-old Suruga bamboo craft, forsook a conventional career to apprentice under his grandfather, the second-generation master of Miyabi Andon.
“When people hear ‘traditional crafts’ they often think of them as formal and rigid, but they are originally meant to be enjoyed more casually and freely.”
Together with his siblings Takaide and Shigeyasu, Masatoshi embarked on a journey of preservation and innovation, intertwining the threads of ancestral wisdom with the needs of contemporary life. Their dedication to the craft transcends mere creation, embodying a philosophy where the essence of the artist is imbued in every piece, making each creation not just an object of utility, but a conduit of cultural heritage and personal expression.
In their hands, the traditional techniques are not just preserved but are reinterpreted, allowing for a dialogue between the craft and the modern aesthetic. Takaide, with a steadfast commitment to quality, and Shigeyasu, with his philosophical embrace of the wabi-sabi aesthetic, contribute to the rich mosaic of Miyabi Andon. Their collective efforts ensure that each piece not only showcases the meticulous skill of Suruga bamboo crafting but also carries the soul of its creator and the echoes of its storied past.
“We hope you will be drawn to them, pick them up, and incorporate them into your daily life. When you find joy in the creativity needed to overcome their unfamiliar inconveniences, you'll discover your own unique way of engaging with these objects.”
Miyabi Andon embodies the spirit of wabi-sabi, inviting you to discover the profound beauty in simplicity and the elegance that emerges with time. Wabi reflects an appreciation for the modest and understated, finding depth and richness in the unassuming. Sabi, celebrates the beauty that unfolds with age, the serene grace that comes with the passage of time. Miyabi Andon encourages a deep, meaningful connection with the objects we hold dear.
Miyabi Andon, under the guardianship of the Sugiyama lineage, thus stands as a testament to the enduring allure of Japanese craftsmanship, a bridge from the past to the present, inviting admirers to partake in the legacy of Suruga bamboo craft, a legacy that is as enduring as the bamboo from which it is born.