Home Visit Diary: Fun and Ingenious Children's Rooms
| Name | M-san |
| Your product | Movable shelves, family bookshelf, and several other items |
| Residence | Muroto City, Kochi Prefecture |
| Family Composition | Family of four |
| Work | Civil servant |
A children's room where they can play freely and with wooden furniture
Muroto City, where M lives, is located in the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture, and has a single road that stretches along the 50-kilometer coastline. The climate is warm throughout the year. Coral fishing and fixed-net fishing are popular in the sea. With mountains to the north and the sea to the south, children can grow up freely in an environment where they can enjoy nature to the fullest, playing in the river and fishing, and surfing and diving in the sea. Among them, the Muroto Abandoned School Aquarium is a fun tourist spot in Muroto City that uses an elementary school and where you can see sea turtles.
I recently met Mr. M's family at the woodworking class we held in August. This is my first time visiting their home, so I'm looking forward to seeing how they use it.
departure
It's about an hour and a half by car from Kami City, where the Nakayoshi Library is located. You drive along the coastal road overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's a pleasant straight road. The sea is also beautiful.
arrival
Mr. M's house is a renovated 70-year-old house, and when you go up through the quaint entrance, you'll find a hall. Yes. There's a hall. It's rare to see a newly built house with a hall these days, but this hall has a great atmosphere♪ There are bookshelves neatly lined up at the front, and a room for a piano.
I was planning to take photos of the furniture and toys at Nakayoshi Library, but I was drawn to the historic building. So I changed my plans and will introduce the house to you.
Piano is being practiced 
Bookshelf 
70 year old brass doorknob 
The wind blows through and it's cool even in summer.
The piano was being practiced, but it seems that they can practice to their heart's content without worrying about the neighbors. I really envy the spacious hall. At the entrance, there was a [Key Box] the innovative decorative type that was made in a woodworking class the other day. It looks great on them!!
Once inside the room, you'll find a sofa, a TV stand, and a play space for children.
Oh! The Nakayoshi Library's "Family Bookshelf" is also in use ♪
Family introduction
The family consists of a couple and two girls. They have two daughters, "Yuiko-chan" who is 6 years old and will be in elementary school next year, and "Riko-chan" who is 4 years old. "She's not shy at all," as the mother said, and they greeted us cheerfully.
Here we go!! Since we've met a few times before, the photoshoot went smoothly♪ "Look, look," he said, showing us his favorite things that he usually plays with (^^♪
Because it is a single-story house, the rooms are spread out horizontally. The living room and dining room where the family gathers are in the center of the house, and each room is gently separated by a single door. You can see the family playing while in the kitchen, and when you open all the doors, the living room, dining room, and kitchen are connected in a straight line, creating an open space.
Please tell us what made you start using Nakayoshi Library products.
It all started when I received a baby cradle doll as a birth gift for my first child (Yuiko-chan). I've always loved wood, so I learned about Nakayoshi Library at that time, and little by little, I started to make furniture and We have a wide selection of miscellaneous goods.
Looking around the room, you can see a variety of our products lined up. There are also some one-of-a-kind items. Do you often check out our website?
Yes. I often read blogs and e-mail newsletters. Also, my parents' home is in Kochi City, so I have bought limited edition products at woodworking events. Barber sets, Okamochi bags, The cherry blossom branch tray is no longer on sale, but it is still very easy to use.
I'm happy. There are toys here that are rare even for us, so I can really feel the history.
By the way, it's a nice house. It seems that they renovated a private house and live in it. There are many rooms, and even the door knobs have a melancholic feel to them, which makes for a great atmosphere.
We moved here four years ago. We were originally living in an apartment, but we had two children and it became too small. We wanted to create an environment where our children could play freely, so we were looking for a house and happened to find this house. The house is 70 years old, so we replaced the sashes and other functional parts with new ones, but we kept the good aspects of Japanese architecture and used them as they were. We think the checkered flooring and plaster walls are valuable.
The ceiling is made of cedar boards, the pillars are made of cypress, and the walls are finished with plaster. The garden is spacious, so Yuiko and Riko can play to their heart's content.
My husband and I both like interior design, so we have no problem living in a slightly old house, and I think this environment suits our children. We no longer have to worry about the neighbors hearing our children's voices. Yes, the two of us are having a great time (^^♪
How does the furniture in your Nakayoshi Library help you in your daily life?
In my home, we use a "slightly large picture book stand" and a "movable shelf." I think that both are furniture that is just the right height to match the child's line of sight. The movable shelf has an outer board. It's not straight, but curves towards the top, which makes it easier for the children to see what's inside and they can also tidy up by themselves.
The same goes for the picture book stand. The best thing about it is that the titles of the picture books are easy to see. I take the small table in front of the TV and sofa and play house or draw pictures. They use it together, sitting on the floor and playing together. It's small enough that they can carry it around, so they move it around and change the direction, and they use it in creative ways.
This movable shelf and the slightly larger picture book stand make a great space (about 4 tatami mats).
It's a cute, wooden space that looks fun.
Let's start playing house
During the interview, they treated us to pizza made in the play kitchen. The setting was a four-person family. Just having a table in the wooden play kitchen expands the range of play.
Even during break time...
They made me some coffee during the session, so it was time for a break♪
Build a booth and start playing house again 
The toys are at eye level.
Next to her, they are playing a different game. She is somehow controlling it with a picture book. She is using what she has to think up new ways to play and expanding on them. When Yuiko is there, Riko is not to be outdone, and she imitates her by coming up with various ways to imitate her. The two of them look like they are really having fun playing together. Seeing them like that... I asked this question.
Is there anything that you value when raising children?
I refrain from playing games on mobile apps or TV games, and value my children's communication (conversation, etc.). I buy my children toys (not limited to wooden ones) on birthdays, etc. The number of toys keeps increasing (laughs).
There are a lot of toys, but it's not messy at all, so it doesn't feel like there are that many.
When they play, the children create their own play areas.
Small booths have been created using furniture and toy boxes to separate the space.
When we think about what we value in life, our family places importance on creating an environment. For example, creating a comfortable space with furniture from Nakayoshi, and a home where we can raise our children freely. Or it could be a place where you can feel the abundance of nature.
I believe that such experiences are particularly important during childhood.
Lastly, why do you continue to use Nakayoshi Library products?
I like wood, and being around it makes me feel calm. The scent of wood fills the room, and even just having one piece of furniture in a drab room can really tighten it up and give it a nice, lived-in feel.
The fine texture that cannot be found in furniture made from plywood can be seen even from a distance, and Nakayoshi's furniture has a warmth to it as it is carefully made one by one by craftsmen.
Also, furniture made from real wood has a strong presence.
And best of all, Nakayoshi's furniture is made using safe and natural materials and paints, so you can trust it.
Children sometimes scratch furniture with their toys, but I think they will gradually get used to it, just like in this house.
I would like to give Yuiko, who will be starting elementary school next year, a cypress desk.
After the visit.
In my house, we still use furniture from the Nakayoshi Library from 30 years ago. There were sticker marks and graffiti marks on it, so I peeled them off, polished them up, washed them with water, and cleaned them. However, there are still marks that remain, and I think they have a certain charm to them, so I'm leaving them.
After using hinoki furniture for nearly 30 years, the color has gone beyond amber to brown. Being surrounded by furniture with that atmosphere makes the house look relaxed and calm. This is because the color is nice. Wood does not retain static electricity, so dust does not accumulate on the surface. I don't know how many more years I will use it, but I think it will be useful in my home for a while yet.
I'm sure that in the same way, even as Yuiko and Riko grow up, the furniture will continue to be used, with its uses gradually changing. As a maker, nothing makes me happier. I thought that the majority of a maker's work was delivering the furniture to the customer, but knowing what happens after delivery makes me realize how important it is to care for the furniture so that it can be used for a lifetime.
Thank you so much for your precious visit, Mr.
Interview date: Saturday, August 31, 2019 Article/photo [Nakayoshi Library Hamada]
Related Items
Movable shelves
Family Bookshelf
A slightly larger picture book stand
A little table