--Mr. Mihara, your work is characterized by a craftsman-like approach to manufacturing. What do you keep in mind during the actual manufacturing process?

The underlying principle is that I want to create something that has never been seen or felt before. I simply love people who make things. Factory workers, material suppliers, and so on. Each of these people creates things with their own intentions. When you combine their strengths, the resulting product, as an object, shines brightly.


—What are you conscious of when you are Japanese and when you manufacture things in Japan?

For those involved in local manufacturing industries in rural areas, the current situation is incredibly difficult for those involved in manufacturing in Japan. I believe it's crucial to consider what we, as Japanese people, should do and what we should create. I don't think there's any point in simply using the phrase "Made in Japan" as a selling point, so I'm always thinking about what "Made in Japan" truly means.

In Japan, manufacturing is often called a declining industry, but as someone directly involved, I don't see it that way at all. I believe there will continue to be plenty of things we can do in the future, and there are many new ways of thinking and technologies that weren't possible back then that we can now do. Japanese people love to work hard, we're diligent, after all. I hate the guilt that comes from taking the easy way out, so I tend to go for the thorny path... In a way, I might be a masochist (laughs).

However, putting in more effort and using more difficult techniques is a very important part of manufacturing, and we have to properly convey that story to our customers. Also, we want our customers to feel a sense of security and trust in the products we make and sell, and we don't want to betray that trust. I think that these kinds of connections are part of the reason why we manufacture in Japan. And of course, the fact that we can easily communicate the language and immerse ourselves in manufacturing is another reason (laughs).

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