The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is delighted to introduce several works by the Ainu artist Kohei Fujito, which are on display in the Foundation’s Regency Room.

Mr Kohei Fujito, an emerging Ainu artist from the young generation based in Akan, Hokkaidō, presents a small selection of his artworks. Through his unique works, he desires to innovate within the spirit of tradition. Thus, he studies traditional Ainu patterns and designs and applies them to modern household goods and appliances, such as sunglasses, watches, and even mobile phone cases. Through this, he desires to create something new and unique while staying true to his innate sense of craft and heritage.

One particular example is a pair of glasses from Fujito’s Ita series. An ita is a classic Ainu item, a wooden tray carved with traditional designs. For these glasses, Fujito took the intricate patterns found on ita and adapted theses designs to form a delicate brass ‘lens’, to complement the carved and decorated wooden frame. These glasses are typical of his commitment to traditional design combined with innovation and practicality.

The glasses and other works can be seen in the display, which will be on until the 14th of February 2020. Attendance is free, but we would be grateful if you could book in advance of your visit by contacting us at: office@dajf.org.uk.

This display was organized in collaboration with Hokkaidō Prefecture in order to promote the NATIONAL AINU MUSEUM, which will open in April 2020 in Shiraoi, Japan.

About the contributors

Kohei Fujito is an Ainu artist, born in 1978 in Akan, Kushiro-city (Hokkaidō). He is a son of Takeki Fujito, who is highly respected both domestically and internationally as a woodcraftsman representing Hokkaidō and as an artist who passes on the traditional sculpting techniques of the Ainu. Fujito runs a local folkcraft shop “Kuma no Ie” (House of the Bear) in the hot spring town Akanko Onsen on Lake Akan. He is also in charge of the product design for the project “Utilization of Timber from Hokkaidō”, run by Kushiro city and various cities across Hokkaidō. Fujito was commissioned to create a symbolic monument for the International Festival of Indigenous People (Italy) in 2017 and his work Ikupasuy (an Ainu’s ritual tool) was added to their collection. Fujito’s works, including iphone case and Yama Katana (an Ainu mountain knife), are on display at National Museum of Japanese History and National Museum of Ethnology. In 2018, he took part in LEXUS NEW TAKUMI PROJECT as a representative from Hokkaidō, and he created sunglasses frames out of wood.