Spreading art in a corner of the countryside!

A stroll through the Kanagawa Gallery
File.1 Jike Studio
( Shino Yamamoto / Galerie Watts)

It's become a lovely season that makes you want to take a leisurely stroll.
It was a cloudy but calm day. "Yes, let's go there," I thought, and headed to Jike-cho in Aoba Ward, Yokohama City. It's also known as Jike Furusato Village, a green space preservation area where fireflies can still be seen.
After getting off the bus and walking for a while through the rural landscape, you'll see a building that has a Totoro-esque atmosphere.
Jike Studio is actually a very modern gallery and cafe.

There's a JIKE STUDIO bus stop sign at the entrance. (No buses stop here. But maybe the Catbus would.)

Here, a variety of exhibitions are held, including art, fashion, crafts, and sometimes even rakugo (traditional Japanese storytelling).
When I peeked inside, I saw colorful, strangely constructed knitwear floating in the simple space.
Walking through the knitted fabrics, you feel as if you're enveloped in a rhythmic sound.

The artist whose exhibition was being held was Yoko Takeshita, who lives in Oita. A graduate of the oil painting department at Tokyo University of the Arts, she creates unique knitwear, viewing it as an installation where "her paintings come to life walking around the city."

She is self-taught when it comes to knitting, and says that the fond memories of knitting with her mother in her childhood are what keeps her hands moving.
She also values an improvisational style of weaving together colors and materials that resonate with her at any given time. Combined with collages of her own drawings on textiles, it's truly wearable art.

At first glance, it may seem difficult to pull off, but once you put it on, you'll be amazed. It's surprisingly easy to wear. What's more, it gives you a sense of freedom and liberation. You can rotate the skirt 360 degrees and decide which way to wear it depending on your mood that day. You can also change the look of your outfit by turning the top front to back or upside down.

Whether you're a first-timer or a repeat customer of Takeshita's knitwear, and regardless of your age, it's inspiring to watch everyone sharing new sensations as they try on each piece. It's like the doors to your own hidden creativity are opening one after another—once you experience this kind of fun, you might just get hooked!
Although they were clothes, what unfolded before my eyes was a "moving painting," exactly the installation the artist intended.
The "Yoko Takeshita World Exhibition," which explores the profound meaning of "wearing" clothing, is being held until May 6th.

After enjoying ourselves for a while, we had lunch at a cafe. The fresh greenery looked beautiful even under the gloomy sky, and it felt wonderful!

The menu for the day included appetizers such as a colorful bean and orange salad and squid and celery marinated in ginger, beef and sansho pepper croquettes, and sautéed Spanish mackerel and spring vegetables. It also came with homemade bread, dessert, and a drink, making it a very substantial meal.

The pesticide-free vegetables they grow themselves have a robust flavor that reflects the love they put into them. The sansho pepper croquettes are said to be a revival of the recipe made by gallerist Hiromi Sakagami's mother.

Furthermore, the shop also features works by artists associated with Jike Studio, as well as selected merchandise, offering enjoyable elements everywhere. Time flies by in no time.

My stomach and heart were completely full, and just as I was about to leave, Mr. Sakagami said, "I'm just about to go to the field to pick vegetables, so let's go together."

Sunny lettuce, chrysanthemum greens, and arugula are growing vigorously right next to the gallery. Tomatoes are also expected to be in full bloom soon.

"Compared to others, my methods are self-taught and a bit embarrassing..." she said with a shy smile as she shared some fresh vegetables with us.

"Cherish both the time that flows by and the time that does not flow by."
It was a day in which I was fully immersed in this phrase, which is apparently the theme of Jike Studio.