140-year-old house! Find your favorite contemporary artist in this traditional Japanese house
Kanagawa Gallery Walk
File.2 studiofujino
( Yamamoto Shino/Gallery Watts)
This time we'll be taking a walk towards Jinbayama, which straddles Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture and Hachioji City in Tokyo.
It was more of a short drive than a stroll. I got off at Sagamiko Interchange on the Chuo Expressway and encountered many people enjoying mountain climbing on the way up the mountain. Apparently, Mt. Jinba has been selected as one of the "100 Views of Mt. Fuji in Kanto" and "50 Scenic Spots in Kanagawa."
The further we went, the thicker the layer of green became, and as we drove along with the windows wide open to enjoy the phytoncides, we came across a lovely, long, old house among the trees on the other side of the river.
"In the depths of the mountains!" Those who don't know about it will be surprised to find a modern gallery here.
We pass through a gate that was once used as a horse stable and arrive at Gallery Studio Fujino.
This is the gate seen from the gallery side. It seems that the stables were on the right.
The old wooden Japanese house brings back memories of my grandparents' house. When you open the sliding door, you'll find a cafe corner on the dirt floor.
Gallery Studio Fujino is run by art director Yuko Higashikawa and her husband Hitoshi Fujisaki, a woodworking furniture craftsman.
He has been living here for 10 years, but before that he lived in Milan for 7 years.
Higashikawa worked at the Italian design firm Cerri & Associati, where he worked on designing various brand image visualizations and exhibition designs, while Fujisaki was involved in the production of custom furniture and works by designers including master Enzo Mari.
"I worked as a freelance woodworker, but in Italy, the designers, craftsmen, and manufacturers are all independent and separate, so it was an easy environment to work in even as a freelancer. I was also able to work on artists' works, and decorating the interiors of private banks was an interesting job."
The two could have continued living in Italy, but Fujisaki laughs, "I couldn't really imagine ourselves living in Italy permanently."
It's such a shame.
When he returned to Japan, he was looking for a place in the suburbs because it was difficult to make furniture in Tokyo, and that's when he came across this property, but apparently at first there was a raccoon living in the attic.
It took two years to restore the 140-year-old house. It is so large that we are still making small improvements to it.
The cafe table and simple blue sofa are originals by Fujisaki. Next to it is a rattan chair by interior designer Isamu Kenmochi, which is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Framed art on the wall is made from used coffee filters! The modern space, which is hard to imagine from the outside, immediately captured my heart.
Once inside the store, you'll see artists' works, such as pottery and decorative items, displayed everywhere, and you'll be so excited that your eyes will start to wander.
Simple beauty. A coexistence of chuckle and coolness. Fine handiwork... the selection is typical of two people in the design world. Most of the furniture and fixtures were made by Fujisaki, and custom-made furniture is also available.
Further inside, there is a corner room that the over-60-year-old landlord was given as a study room when he was a child. It is an incredibly luxurious space with beautiful views. Higashikawa and his family have turned it into a contemporary art gallery space.
The works on display here have a dignified presence, including an object by young artist Shiho Hayashi that could be mistaken for stone, and an object by Guido de Zan, an artist Fujisaki worked with in Italy. Fujisaki has recently been enjoying making objects made of wood using tin, which exude a truly beautiful quality. Just placing one in your home is enough to transform the space. It's truly a beautiful piece, I thought.
It's so exciting to discover new artists whose style I like.
At first, the two only had their own studio and weren't particularly thinking about opening a gallery.
"But it looked a bit drab with just furniture, so I started putting in some ceramic works by my friends, and little by little the number of works by these artists increased. Then I thought, 'It would be a shame to have people come all the way from such a long distance and then just let them go home,' so I decided to open a cafe (laughs)."
At the cafe, you can enjoy Higashikawa's homemade cakes and paninis. The plates, which were originally made for a French event with antique details, have now become Fujisaki's signature piece.
A gallery deep in the mountains.
If you go down the garden, you will come across a river. Enjoy a relaxing forest bath and take your time to appreciate the works of contemporary artists.
When I come here, my senses seem to be sharpened.
Gallery Information
Gallery Studio Fujino
768 Sanogawa, Midori-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 252-0181
TEL:080-5695-2424
*Opening hours: 12:00-17:00
*Opening hours: Saturdays and Sundays only. Opening hours may change if there are events.
(Please note that the venue may be closed at times. info@studiofujino.com)
*Parking is nearby
"access"
▶︎Get off at Fujino Station on the JR Chuo Line. Take the Kanachu Bus bound for Wada to the last stop, then walk for 3 minutes.
