Behind the Scenes – SIXTH NIGHT

A while after graduating from university, I began studying metal engraving under a craftsman in Okachimachi. At the time, there was a prevailing sense that traditional techniques like wabori (traditional Japanese engraving) were outdated. It was a time when I often heard my teacher lament, saying things like, “These days, it’s all delicate work—no one asks for wabori anymore.”

But I didn’t find this discouraging. During my university years, I had created works using floral crest motifs, and I found it exciting to step away from classic symbols like cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums, and to create my own patterns by adding my own interpretations. I had already begun incorporating these kinds of ideas into my designs from the early days of muska.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I sensed that more and more people were drawn to the idea of holding onto things made with care—beautiful, thoughtfully crafted objects that could be worn and cherished over time, especially in difficult moments. At the same time, I witnessed skilled artisans being forced to shut down their studios, unable to adapt to the shift online.

In the midst of this, I had to pause my brand for health reasons, which gave me the chance to reflect more deeply on what lay ahead. What I arrived at was a renewed commitment: to root my work in Japan’s rich jewelry-making traditions and materials, and to help carry these techniques forward to the next generation.

That vision took form in the transition to SIXTH NIGHT. It marks both a new chapter and a clear resolution about the kind of craftsmanship I want to pursue going forward.

The fundamental inspiration behind my designs has remained unchanged. However, my approach to the act of creating has evolved. During the muska era, my focus was on offering jewelry that could act as a “small companion”—a kind of amulet that stayed close to its wearer. While I still value that intention, my attention has gradually shifted toward the pursuit of a more universal form of beauty. Within this change, I’ve come to feel more strongly than ever the importance of technique.

This turning point came during a stay at an Ayurvedic clinic in India, where I had gone for medical treatment. I was deeply moved by the doctor’s approach—carrying out care while inheriting knowledge passed down over generations—and I experienced healing myself. I felt a deep sense of mission in their work: to carry that knowledge forward. Jewelry, too, is only made possible when imagination and technique come together. Once a skill is lost, it cannot easily be recovered. That is why I’ve come to feel a strong responsibility to preserve these traditions and hand them down to the future.

The brand name, SIXTH NIGHT, is inspired by the sixth chapter of Ten Nights of Dreams by Natsume Sōseki. In the story, the sculptor Unkei carves a Nio guardian figure from a block of wood, as if the image had been sleeping within it all along. That passage resonated with my own way of working: uncovering the beauty already held within a material and gently bringing it forth. This is the foundation of my creative process. Ideas that surface in the course of everyday life are recorded in a sketchbook or turned over in my mind again and again as they take shape. I aim to create jewelry with a quiet sense of natural balance, carefully crafted in a rhythm that never feels forced.

The craftsman I collaborate with is a peer who trained under the same master during the same period. Built on a deep foundation of trust, our partnership spans every stage of the process—from design and shaping to stone setting and wabori. I begin by developing the engraving pattern, then test it on a copper plate to check the balance and overall impression. From there, the piece is brought to life through close collaboration with the craftsman.

I see wabori not simply as decoration, but as a form of expression that carries meaning and intention. One client, for example, selected an opal reminiscent of a beautiful evening sky and chose to have the base of the ring engraved with the World Tree—a mythical tree said to link past, present, and future, chosen for its symbolic depth. Another client requested a botanical motif drawn from their child’s name, with the heartfelt hope of one day passing the piece on to them.

Wabori brings a personal and meaningful dimension to jewelry. The feelings and stories it holds are, I believe, at the very core of what SIXTH NIGHT seeks to create.

A pivotal moment for me came when I brought my work to ARTS&SCIENCE. It was a place I had admired since my student days, always thinking, “One day, I want to be the kind of person who can create something worthy of being displayed here.” With that aspiration in mind, I presented the jewelry I had poured all my efforts into at the time. I still clearly remember thinking, “If this doesn’t work out, I’ll have to give up.”

That was twelve years ago. Since then, we’ve gradually shaped our own approach to jewelry, and now, we truly feel that it has become something uniquely ours. For an independent creator, there’s nothing more meaningful than encountering people who truly appreciate the work. Having the chance to debut our collection at A&S is still a pivotal moment for us, one that remains a constant source of inspiration. I continue to strive to create jewelry that speaks to those seeking something truly special.

No matter how advanced technology becomes, jewelry will always need the human touch. I believe that it’s this handcraft that lies at the heart of what makes jewelry so captivating. A gemstone, formed over tens of millions of years, travels through many hands and across borders before it finally becomes a single piece of jewelry. Then, through a mix of coincidence and fate, it reaches its owner, where it starts to tell its own story—woven into everyday life and passed down through generations.

I hope the jewelry of SIXTH NIGHT can become part of that ongoing journey.