Increasing the number of happy couples is the reason we make rings.
I met my wife 12 years ago and have been married for 10 years. During that time, we have been blessed with three children.
Some people say that marriage is just a piece of paper, but after 10 years, I feel like it's a miracle that I'm with my wife. She makes up for what I lack, and understands and supports my good points. We've had countless conflicts in our hectic days, but we often talk about how glad we are that we didn't put off our problems and instead faced them head on.
After many experiences and encounters, we moved to Yatsugatake to experience life more carefully and to further deepen our knowledge of ring making. We are where we are today because of meeting my wife. She gave me the answers to the vague questions I had about this society. That's why I want more people to get married. If you meet the person you love through your own values, that person will give you great strength.
The increase in the number of "happy couples" is the reason why we at Amakuni continue to make rings, and it is our wish.
Profile
Katsumasa Fukuoka
Katsumasa Fukuoka
First-class craftsman of precious metal accessories Born in 1983 in Nagoya City, currently living in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
2002 Graduated from Aichi Prefectural Asahioka High School, Art Department
2004 Graduated from KIDI PARSONS product design department
2006: Dropped out of Parsons School of Design Product Design Department
2007 amakuni established
2013: Learned the basics of metal engraving at Jewelry Craft Shudo
Knowing what is enough,
Being yourself
"Less is more," said Mies van der Rohe. There is a Zen proverb that goes, "I am content just being myself." I feel a deep connection with these two words. "Less is more" and "I am content just being myself." There is a difference in nuance, but I think the gist is the same. I think people and things that have been stripped of all unnecessary things and shine from within are cool. It is not easy to simplify something. Simplicity is the result of a huge amount of waste and trial and error. I myself have wasted a lot of things to get to where I am today, and I have hurt many people and wasted things up until now. It is not things that fill the human heart, but being true to oneself. I think that when people are filled with happiness and can be true to themselves, they feel happy. I began to think that I wanted to create tools that would bring about such awareness.
Information
The logo is composed of the sun, sky, and mountain (earth), and represents the character for heaven (amakuni).
When I first started making rings, I heard from my father that my ancestors were swordsmiths, and since then I have called myself Tengoku. Tengoku is said to have been the founder of Japanese swords during the Nara period. There are no documents left to prove whether he actually existed, and no surviving swords seem to bear his name. My father once told me that my great-grandfather in Kumamoto made wooden barrels used by swordsmiths, and that there were many swords sleeping in the attic. It makes sense to me why my children and I are good at making things, and why I am attracted to different metals.
The background of my personal works (which overlap with my wedding rings) is the intention to regress manufacturing methods and designs. I see the essence of humans in primitive things, so my way of life and the things I seek are gradually moving in that direction. I also want to cherish the fact that I create them, my way of life, and my thoughts can be felt, and they are one-of-a-kind items that cannot be realized through commercial manufacturing. I hope that people can feel that through my works.
Artwork
When I choose something, I think first of all about whether I can love it for a long time. It is also important to be able to enjoy the changes that occur. An object that takes on a personal color through use becomes an irreplaceable treasure. I don't need an object that loses its value the moment I get it. I want to choose an object that has unchanging value, no matter how much the times change.
I also hope that my works will be loved by people for a long time.
The ring is responsible for the prosperity of humanity
It is often said that wedding rings are just tools, but I believe that among the many tools created by humanity, they are unique and are responsible for the prosperity of humanity.
Amakuni does not just make rings.
We create rings that will inspire you to reexamine what is truly important.
I am looking forward to meeting more couples.
goldsmith amakuni