The manufacturing institute "FUJILABO", which is based in Hirosaki, celebrated its second anniversary on March 14.

"FUJI LABO" was launched by Keisuke Fujiwara, a designer from Miyagi and Ayumu Fujiwara from Hirosaki, with the concept of "making designs and arts more everyday." Exhibits at events, develop collaborative works, and regularly hold workshops.

Keisuke was interested in Tsugaru-nuri tableware at his grandmother's house, and in 2010 trained Tsugaru-nuri in Hirosaki. In April of the following year, he moved to Hirosaki, where he worked on commercial designs such as business cards and logos while working on Tsugaru Nuri's works. Keisuke, who was drawn to a technique called Kara-nuri, says, "The mysterious technique in which the same pattern cannot be made because there is a lot of uncertainty in the patterns that can be made."

Keisuke is the creator of the iPhone case, etc., based on the idea of "space paint," which he thought of himself based on Tsugaru paint. "If you're digital, you can make many same things, but there is only one analog work such as Tsugaru-nuri. Maybe you're balancing yourself."

After graduating from high school, Ayu went on to a design vocational school in Sendai. Although he got a job in Sendai, he experienced childbirth and made a U-turn to Hirosaki. Although he devoted himself to childcare and moved away from design, when the request and hand-painted map of the venue for the event was appreciated by the visitors and the organizers, he started drawing again. It is said that it led to the launch of FUJILABO.

At FUJILABO, Keisuke is in charge of Tsugaru Nuri's work, and Ayu is in charge of the original character goods called "Mitsume". It develops products such as aprons and bags in collaboration with local artists and sells them on its website.

Looking back two years, Ayu-san said, “I had a workshop at a nursery school, and I decided that the contents could be created by the children's free ideas rather than making things using ready-made products. I myself go to a nursery school "I was happy to include the feeling of discomfort as a parent in the workshop, and the nursery teacher responded, "I couldn't think of it."

Keisuke has been planning an event called "lay_out" since last year so that music, food, fashion, etc. can be transmitted as one design work. From now on, there will be more places to enjoy art and design in Hirosaki. I want to make it."