Hello.This is Aoi from MACHICOCO staff.
Christmas is approaching. This year, due to the effects of the coronavirus, I've been going out less, and there have been fewer opportunities to feel the "Ahhh, it's Christmas ♡♡" atmosphere in the city. When I'm bored, I spend my time at home killing zombies. Oh, in a game, of course. Well, that's to be expected, isn't it?
"Anyway! Just when I was thinking, 'It's already the end of the year and I haven't really felt the change of seasons...', a company that we'll be working with on this project showed me something wonderful."
A Christmas tree and a Kagami Mochi (rice cake offering)... They're miniature but surprisingly heavy, and when I pick them up and look at them, staff member Chika and I keep saying, "They're so cute, so cute!"
I've already joined the Machikoko exhibition booth!
We didn't set out to create this exhibition booth, but as people brought various interesting items, we started arranging them, and before we knew it, it had become a wonderful booth.
A small factory's "just made it"
The level is so high, it's absolutely amazing.
The craftsmen sometimes say, "I just made this for fun," but we staff members are always amazed, thinking, "Wow, you can make something this wonderful just by trying it out!" From a technical standpoint, it might seem "nothing special" to the craftsmen, but the value of something isn't just about that, is it? We're touched when we see the playful spirit and worldview of the craftsman who made it.
Here's a glimpse of some of the exhibits.
Acrylic ring
This acrylic ring was made by an acrylic processing shop in Higashi-Osaka that can even make patterned acrylic sheets. It's really cute! Even the university students were saying "It's so cute!" and immediately taking pictures to show their friends. By the way, it's also a COVID-19 prevention item. You can press buttons with it.
Passing Frame
A pentagonal spinning top. The pentagon symbolizes "passing an exam." Because it's tapered, it fits snugly when you put it on and "won't fall off." Since it's a spinning top, it spins around ▶︎ "improves mental agility." It has a great message too! It fits in a pencil case so I want to keep it as a good luck charm, and I'd love to give it as a gift to any acquaintance who has an exam coming up.
Conversations start from the exhibition booth.
I was previously told, "Even in a factory that doesn't have anything to say, 'We make this,' if you have even one sample product that says, 'We can make something like this,' it can really broaden the conversation." Thinking, "Immediately commercialize and sell it!" is a high hurdle, but it's good to make something just as a starting point for explanation, regardless of whether it will sell or not.
Whatever you make, it might lead to an unexpected story! If there are any craftspeople out there who have made something themselves, I'd love to see it!Please feel free to visit our exhibition booth anytime!
By the way, next to the exhibition booth is the Machiko Store, which sells wonderful products made in local factories. I'll introduce the products there in more detail another time.
▼Machiko Store EC Site
So, tomorrow's blog post will be by Chika-chan. She says she's "having trouble coming up with something to write about," but I bet she has tons of ideas! She probably just has too many, which is the problem (pressure).
Machikoko's blog is updated every day except Sundays. Please come and check out Machikoko's website during your lunch break!☺️
