6 Japanese brands made in Düsseldorf
Design, treats & Japanese lifestyle
Ceramics, jewelry, design and gin made in Düsseldorf. We would like to recommend six Japanese brands from Düsseldorf to you. The Dorf - The Market is taking place for the fourth time. Motto: A Day in the Park. And the park is called Hofgarten. Along Jägerhofallee to the Theatermuseum, 25 designers and protagonists from Düsseldorf's food and creative scene will be selling their products. Highlight: A special focus is on Japanese brands and design. We would like to recommend six Japanese brands made in Düsseldorf.
Yoshi Nama
Little Tokyo has its own gin, created by Yoshi Nama. On the one hand a brand, on the other a kind of alter ego of Max, founder of the brand. Yoshi is the illustrated character on the gin label. He is a Tanuki, a cross between a marten and a dog. But it is not just the story that is sophisticated, the gin is also made from selected components. The most important botanicals are juniper berry, yellow gentian, cranberry and blackthorn in combination with lemon and grapefruit peel. A Mikan Gin, Dragon Gin and a Matcha Vodka are now part of the range of the cute Tanuki called Yoshi Nama.
Suzusan
Hiroyuki Murase (see lead photo) has been running his design studio Suzusan in Düsseldorf since 2008. He started with two lines: Suzusan Luminaires and Suzusan Accessories, and now also has a fashion line. They all have one thing in common - the handcrafted, sculptural design. This is based on a 400-year-old Japanese textile finishing technique called shibori. And it works as follows: textile surfaces are first bound, stitched or folded and then dyed in a second step. This creates color gradients and structures. It is a similar principle to batik. For Hiroyuki Murase, this is a contemporary way of "not only preserving tradition, but also creating it."
Mittsu
Simple, unique & elegant - these are the three pillars of the Mittsu jewelry label. Mitsuyo Oppermann is the owner and designer of the brand and her focus is on natural stones. Amethyst, lapis lazuli, freshwater pearls and onyx are incorporated in large numbers into the filigree earrings. A certain asymmetry is characteristic of the pieces and lends them a cheerfulness that is also reflected in the playful colors. All pieces of jewelry are handmade. The materials are sourced from Japan and Germany.
Amesankoh
Tote bags, shirts and sweaters form the core of Amesankoh's products. But in a strange way, the products are not the focus, but seem to be a means to an end. If you take a closer look at the brand, you will notice that each product conveys a piece of Japanese culture. Starting with the name of the label. In Japan, Amesankoh expresses that despite hard times and even when it rains, you should not lose sight of your three rays of hope: Hope, dreams and goals. The T-shirt "Tsukimi-de-Ippai" is based on the Japanese card game Hanafuda and represents a lucky card combination that translates as "moon gazing with a cup of sake". If you want to know more, you'll probably have to buy a T-shirt made in Düsseldorf.
Jimu Kobayashi
Born and raised in Düsseldorf, ceramic artist Jimu Kobashi has set up his studio in Flingern. His works are understated and follow a minimalist approach. You can easily recognize them by the family crest that is branded into each ceramic. Some may have already eaten ramen from one of Jimu's bowls, as his family runs the Naniwa restaurant on the corner of Oststraße and Klosterstraße. Rooted & made in Düsseldorf.
Takumi Ogata
The illustrator and graphic designer Takumi Ogata moved to Germany in 2000 after studying oil painting in Japan. He has lived in Düsseldorf since 2007. Only recently, in June, he exhibited his work at the first Dezain Crush. He says of himself that he is always on the lookout for oddities. His illustrations are characterized by attention to detail and fine lines. His projects include clothing and poster designs.
More information about The Dorf - The Market at thedorf.de.
Photos: Press photos
