Interview

Colorful, translucent Shippou accessories have captured the attention and imagination of young Japanese women. Out of the 12 ateliers that produce Tokyo Shippou, Hiroshi Hatakeyama’s was the first to apply the tradition to accessory-making—an idea he stumbled upon when brainstorming for new product ideas encapsulating the Hatakeyama Shippou Seisakusho aesthetic, which is characterized by the widest　selection of colors available available for use. His accessories allow light to filter through like stained glass—made possible by Hatakeyama’s speciality, totai-shippou (plique-à-jour), a method mastered by few artists around the world. Instead of applying the enamel to the surface of the metal, a filigree wire framework with no backing is inlayed with enamel, which is held in place by surface tension. More recently, Hatakeyama collaborated with young designers to make the “Tokyo Cabochon” ring, which received a Good Design Award in 2013. The round polished rings’ bold designs are masterfully handcrafted. “I want to keep trying new things to pass on an appreciation for the shippou tradition to the next generation,” says Hatakeyama. No doubt he’s just getting started.