“Hari Kuyo” 2013

March 8, 2013

February 8th was “Hari Kuyo”, a memorial service for broken needles,
that originates from the Edo Era (1603~1867).
Women who use needles in their profession participate in this ceremony
to pay their respects to broken needles from the previous year.
They insert the broken needles into tofu, and take them to shrines,
to thank the needles for a year of work.

Well, due to the unreliable Italian postal system, our needles did not arrive in Japan on time!
Since “Hari Kuyo” does not exist in Italy, the inmates were very keen to participate
in the annual ceremony,
and had collected not only broken and bent needles,
but a damaged metal bobbin, and even a seam ripper that had broken off from over-use.

Although the actual items from Italy could not be blessed at “Hari Kuyo”,
President Watanabe and company staff Ms Yoshida were kind enough to go
to Awashima Shrine on a snowy day,and take some needles from Kokura Creation,
along with a photo of the broken sewing tools from prison.

Thank you both for ensuring that the Italian needles were given a proper memorial service
on February 8th !

Giovanna & Kyoko
Milano, March 2013

With special thanks to:
The Society of San Vincenzo De Paoli
Dr. Davide Pisapia, Director of Casa Circondariale di Vigevano

March 2013

March 7, 2013

We received very favorable comments from visitors to the SHIMA-SHIMA booth at Maison & Objet 2013 in Paris.
People complimented us about the design of the products and high level of sewing technique.
There were even inquiries for orders, which was very encouraging.

Shown below are various products that were exhibited in Paris.

Next month we will be participating in the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan,
sharing a space with Kokura Creation, Tanaka Industries
and the Swedish prison project “IoU Design”.

Please come to see us here from April 9～ April 14 :

Cascina Cuccagna
Via Cuccagna 2
20135 Milano

Giovanna & Kyoko
Milano, March 2013

With special thanks to:
The Society of San Vincenzo De Paoli
Dr. Davide Pisapia, Director of Casa Circondariale di Vigevano