Living in Affluence of Everyday Life

"Hare" and "Ke"

 

There are two worldviews in Japan: "Hare" and "Ke".

"Hare" refers to extraordinary times & spaces and turning points, such as rituals, festivals, and annual events, while "Ke" refers to ordinary times & spaces, daily life, and repeated daily living.

 

This is a concept identified by Kunio Yanagida, a folklorist in the Showa period.

Yanagida argued that the rare appearance of "Hare" in the midst of a series of "Ke" brings excitement, punctuation to life, and rhythm to life.

 

Behind this cycle of "Hare" and "Ke", there was the basic lifestyle of the Japanese people based on rice cultivation.

People used to pray for the smooth production of rice, and prepare special foods ,such as Sekihan (steamed rice with red beans), Osechi (traditional New Year’s dish), and Mochi (rice cakes) on special occasions, such as Obon (Japanese Halloween), New Year's, and festivals, to show their gratitude for a good harvest.

They took the time and effort to make special food to offer to the spirits, and by eating it together, they communed with the spirits.

Then they drank Sake and wore their finest clothes.

This cycle created the world view of "Hare" and "Ke".

 

In this way, the happiness brought by "Hare" is gorgeous and easy to understand.

However, this does not mean that "Ke" is simple and sad.

We have tried to create a sense of affluence in "Ke," or daily life.

 

 

Reviewing Affluence of Life

 

For example, being particular about the fabric of the bedding.

Or being particular about the ingredients of the things we eat every day.

Choosing the right cooking tools.

I also believe that choosing a scenic road as our commuting route is surely the same.

Not only on special occasions, but also in our daily choices, we become a little particular.

This commitment to the everyday has nurtured the affluence of our lives.

 

And now that the world has changed so much, we spend more time than ever before confronting the life that we used to take for granted in the midst of our less glamorous days.

 

 

Love Your Daily Tools

 

Musashi Hamono handles Japanese knives, a traditional Japanese craft.

All of our knives are hand-made by craftsmen, and we are particular about the quality of their sharpness and durability.

Furthermore, they are designed to be easy to sharpen so that they can be used for a long time with care.

 

Many people may not be familiar with caring for kitchen knives.

However, the feeling of familiarity and love for a tool is something that is nurtured through time spent with it.

We believe that the sense of familiarity acquired through this process over time creates space in the mind for the desire to make delicious food and to eat healthy, which leads to the affluence of food.

 

When you enter the kitchen, your daily cooking time will be richer with familiar tools that are both pleasant to look at and comfortable to use.

Incorporating traditional crafts into daily life.

We believe that we are not only getting functionality, but also affluence of life itself.