Kenji Sato exhibition sales

2025. 10. 4 (Sat) - 10. 5 (Sun)

As I was thinking that it was almost closing time, I happened to look outside the store and saw fireworks going off over a building in the distance. This year, I hadn't made any plans to go see any, so it was a pleasant surprise. I got excited and started talking to people passing by, saying, "Oh, it's fireworks!" On the way home that day, it was cooler than usual, which somehow seemed like a sign of the end of summer, and I remember feeling a little sad.

To me, that was the signal that summer was coming to an end. I thought, "Today is the day I'll feel like it's autumn!" and went outside the next morning, but by the time I got home, I'd used three towels. For me, the real start of autumn may be a little while away.

However, the seasons are changing, and soon the trees and plants will begin to change color. The summer events have already passed, so some of you may be wondering what else is out there.

We have an exciting gift for all of you. This time, we would like to inform you about the following event.

We will be holding an exhibition and sale of wooden carved bears by Kenji Sato for three days from Saturday, October 4th to Sunday, October 5th .

The bear carving is made by Kenji Sato.

He first encountered the wooden carved bears through his older brother, who worked in the woodcarving industry. He has been active as a bear carver for 54 years, more than half a century, in the history of bear carving that spans about 100 years. He began making these wooden carvings in his twenties , and his bears are created by carving wood using a hammer and chisel without any preliminary sketches or drawings. He says that he can see how natural the bear's shape is when carving a particular piece of wood.

Initially, he worked as a salesman in his brother's workshop. The craftsmen around him never taught him their techniques verbally, but rather he learned them by observing how they used chisels and their hands. His experience up to that point proved useful when he started carving bears himself. While working in sales, I came across wooden carved bears of various styles at wholesalers and souvenir shops around the country.

Each and every thing he has seen and touched has accumulated and led to the present, naturally influencing the works he carves.

These works are affectionately known as "Ken-chan Bear" among those involved and fans.

They are made using a technique called "surface carving," which involves creating surfaces made up of chisel marks, and are characterized by a style that makes use of the wood's natural texture and grain , without carving out the fur or fine details .

"Expression doesn't just mean the bear's face, but also things like its legs sticking out a little, or the fur clumping behind its neck. It includes things like that," says Sato.

Even without carving the fur, you can tell by the sagging of the belly and the placement of the center of gravity. Even without carving the eyes, you can tell by the distance between the eyebrows and nose. One of the charms of Sato's work is that you can tell what expression the animal is making and what posture it is in.

It's unique and even somewhat cute, but at the same time you can sense the history and awe that went into the carving, which is perhaps why it's so appealing.

Sato creates a world filled with warmth.

All of our staff are looking forward to meeting you all, along with the various expressions of the "Ken-chan Bears."

【 INFORMATION 】

Kenji Sato exhibition sales

＊ DATE 2025. 10.4 ( Sat ) - 10.5 ( Sun ) / 12:00 ~ 19:00

＊ LOCATION Nine Tailor shop

1-18-14 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0042 1F