jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
‘oigen’ tea kettle by jasper morrison
image © designboom

the japan earthquake and tsunami on march 11th, 2011 brought to light the fact that true wealth in life does not lie in material affluence.
throughout history, it is the japanese who have been acknowledged for their simplicity and aesthetic values –  that is,
the beauty that lies in what is simple, space-efficient, multifunctional, and has multiple purposes. the craftsmanship and the enterprising spirit
found within this small east asian country not only opens up to new ideas, but also assimilates them and advances them. 
this is the reason why japan creative was developed. first to rediscover at a fundamental level in the modern world,
the distinguished aesthetics and tradition-oriented skills of the japanese; and secondly to create and present ideas and products
from a new perspective. the organization’s intention is to provide information to the public domestically and internationally
by working across a wide variety of fields, incorporating activities such as networking, holding exhibitions,
assisting in the commercialization of products, documenting, publishing, preserving works and publicity.

on the occasion of milan design week 2012, within museo minguzzi, japan creative presented ‘simple vision’,
a show expressing japan’s craftsmanship and the wisdom of past generations in a contemporary context through collaborations
with international designers as a means of getting individuals to rethink and redefine the role of design in our lives.

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
handle detail
image © designboom

mizusawa (oshu city, iwate) was one of the areas that was affected by the great earthquake. since the 7th century,
people in this region began producing ironware, and today many still make nambu ironware. japan creative’s manufacturer,
‘oigen foundry’, is known for their cast-ironware which has received popular acclaim from professional chefs.

one of the projects displayed as part of ‘simple vision’ was a series of cast-iron products conceived together with jasper morrison.
the british designer, known for his attention to detail and pragmatic design approach researched in detail oigen’s
‘conscientious craftsmanship placing the needs of customers first’. he then spent a lot of time working developing a series of
cast-iron products that are modern, universal and in harmony with our living space and daily lives. the collection of cookware
and tabletop objects derive their name from the region, and express a clarity of function and ergonomics in relation
to the traditional manufacturing techniques by which they have been made.

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
cast-iron cooking pot
image © designboom

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
sauce dish
image © designboom

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
cast-iron pan
image © designboom

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
cast-iron frying pan
image © designboom

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
the ‘oigen’ series by jasper morrison on show at japan creative’s ‘simple vision’ exhibition during milan design week 2012
image © designboom

jasper morrison: oigen for japan creative
process images
images courtesy of japan creative