Shop様方堂Shop Samakatado
© Shop Samakatado / Origata Design Institute
Shop Samakatado’ is a shop managed by the Origata Design Institute, which specialises in the modern re-interpretation of ‘origata’, or traditional packaging used in gift-giving gestures of courtesy since the samurai era「Shop様方堂」は折形デザイン研究所が、日本に古くから伝わる武家社会の礼法である“折形”という伝統的な包みを現代の生活様式の中で再解釈し、新たにデザインしたオリジナルの折形や、企業とコラボレートした贈り物のアイテムを揃える、週に３日だけオープンするショップ。南青山の住宅街の中にあり、少し奥まった場所にある古い民家はあまりに自然にそこにあり、多くの人は気づかず通り過ぎるだろう。おばあちゃんの家のような佇まいと優しい裸電球の灯りが懐かしい空間だ。
2009年の年末、十和田市現代美術館で折形の背景にある、人がなぜ包みたくなるのか、なぜ結びたくなるのかを贈与という視点から研究してきた折形デザイン研究所の活動を展示。それをまとめた「新・包結図説」を出版したことは記憶に新しい。そんな活動を深く知りたい人におすすめな場所だ。お店ではこれまで出版してきた活動の記録としての書籍や、暮らしにかかわる書籍、美濃の職人とコラボレートした和紙で進物を包むための折形のハウツーと和紙のキット「折形半紙」やオリジナルの紙幣包み、熨斗袋、お祝いの席にお酒に浮かべたり、おまんじゅうにのせたりして華やかさを添える「寿ぎの金箔」や、紙１枚を折りの性質を利用して箱をつくる「内ろっかく」などの商品が購入できる。
折形にはひとつひとつ意味があり、“におい”と呼ばれる襲（かさね）の色使いや、折り始めたら刃物は入れてはいけないこと、吉と凶の包みなどのルールがあり、そのような折形の美、折形の精神というものについて折形の教室も開催している。半年をベースに基礎コースと応用コースが設けられていて、実際の折形の基本や折形の歴史、季節ごとの折形などについて少人数で学べるそうだ。
折り紙は正方形の紙から具象的なものを折り上げたりする日本の伝統文化であり、近年では宇宙折り紙ともいうような宇宙構造工学にも応用され、いかに形あるものをコンパクトにたたみ、宇宙で効率的に再現できるかという分野でも注目を浴びている。折りの造形の奥深さや可能性は、今なお、さまざまな表現により脈々と受け継がれていることを感じさせてくれるが、折形デザイン研究所は私たちの暮らしにかつての折形が伝えていた、人に何かを贈るということの本質をそっと教えてくれる。そして、「Shop様方堂」ではそんなアイテムが訪れた者を出迎えてくれるだろう。
Shop様方堂
住所：東京都港区南青山4-17-1
営業時間：13:00〜19:00（木金土曜のみ営業）
TEL：03-5413-6877
http://www.origata.com/shop-samakatado/
Text: mina. Coming up with original origata designs for current lifestyle needs and collaborating with businesses to prepare gift items, this innovative player in the industry has only been open for three days. It might be easy to miss, since it’s tucked away deep within the residential area in Minami-Aoyama, in a random, old private house surrounded by leafy greenery. But with its warm lighting, it’s a nostalgic space, reminiscent of a grandma’s house.
At the end of 2009, an exhibit at the Towada Arts Center showcased the research activities of the Origata Design Institute, uncovering the origins of ‘origata’ and exploring the reasons behind why people want to wrap or bind things in a careful consideration of presentation. The results of that research produced an illustrated book called ‘Neo・Packaging’. It’s a great place to go for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of that specific activity. You can buy a variety of goods at the shop, ranging from books documenting the institute’s research activities, lifestyle books, a how-to kit called ‘Origata Hanshi’ which comes with Japanese wrapping paper and teaches you how to package your gifts the Japanese way, with instructions by Mino artisans. They also sell gift bags, and ‘congratulatory’, gaudy gold flakes for use in champagne at celebrations, or for decorative display on Japanese steamed buns. You can also purchase uchi-rokkaku, a hexagonal-shaped gift box that is a creative construction using only a single piece of paper, cleverly folded.
There are several layers of meanings to origata. Some rules include layering of colors, having not to insert cutlery when you fold, and distinguishing between kichi wrapping (a way of wrapping that will bring prosperity) and kyo wrapping (wrapping that will bring bad luck). Exploring this very beauty and spirit of origata is possible with the opening of an ‘origata classroom’ within the shop. For half a year, you can choose to take up basic courses and practical application courses that explore the essential nature of origata, its history, and the different ways of folding according to the seasons, in a learning environment with a small number of people. Origami is a traditional Japanese cultural practice that makes something concrete from folding a square piece of paper. Recently it has been applied to space and structural engineering. People in this profession focus intensely on finding solutions to compact and fold structures in freely designed shapes which can be retracted easily from space.
Even now, the profundity and range of possibilities present in origami continue to pop up and make their presence felt in various ways. The Origata Design Institute quietly teaches us about how origami influences our lives, and the quintessence of gift exchange. Therefore, it seems fitting that ‘Shop Samakatado’ welcomes visitors who are interested in everything that’s been mentioned.
Shop Samakatado
Address: 4-17-1 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 13:00-19:00 (Thursday – Saturday)
Tel: 03-5413-6877
http://www.origata.com/shop-samakatado/
Text: mina
Translation: Mariko Takei
Translation: Bonnie OeniShop様方堂
地址：東京都港区南青山4-17-1
开放时间：13:00-19:00（周四周五周六开放）
电话：03-5413-6877
http://www.origata.com/shop-samakatado/
