Chikara Kojima
Musician-Bamboo Artist / Craftsman
Founding member and vice-chairman
of Oita Future Bamboo Project
Member of the Oita Prefecture Design Association
History
Born: Tsukumi City, Oita Prefecture
Graduate of Oita Prefectural Junior College of Arts
Completed training at Oita Prefectural Bamboo Crafts and Culture Training Center
2020: Renovated personal atelier near Beppu Station to co-working space Synergiez Inc.
2021: Official launch and assumption as CEO of Synergiez Inc.
Profile
Performing as a musician ever since his youth for over 20 years. When socializing with the locals during his UK tour, they shared his admiration for the workmanship of Japan. This event reignited his interest in Japanese craftsmanship, entering into the world of bamboo crafts.
Although being the direct grandson of Oita Prefectural Tsukumi High school’s baseball team manager “Nihachirou Kojima”, he avoided the sports oriented world and decided to be involved in cultural activities in his school days.
Today, he is creating a rendezvous for craftsmen and contemporary creators,supporting daily DIY creation and stimulation. Being active as a hybrid artist, he performs and works with bamboo crafts in various fields.
Accomplishments
Representative of Oita’s “Chiku-Rin Kyoushin Project”, a creative bamboo musical instrument from Kitakyushu City. Creates bamboo stringed instruments and performs them himself.
Affiliated with Beppu Bamboo Products Cooperative Association. Studied under bamboo artist Jiro Yonezawa during his time as a student of the Bamboo Crafts Training Center.
Participant in Oita University’s accredited research team BURST (creating cellulose nanofiber from bamboo), and continues to collaborate with Oita Seleena Co.
Teaching bamboo crafts classes at ; Tsukumi City Community Center, Nishi-Ōita City Community Center, and at the Tsukumi Bamboo Circle.
Chikara’s Method
- Creating works is not limited to bamboo materials alone. Utilizing designs through traditional techniques of Oita prefecture’s very own Beppu bamboo craft, incorporating the shapes and motifs that are unique to bamboo.
- Creating a wide range of works, from merchandise to spaces through the combinations of different materials
- Actively using modern tools such as laser cutting machines and 3D printers while challenging the fusion of Oita Prefecture traditional techniques.
- Hosting large-scale events and productions both in Oita Prefecture and internationally, pushing the techniques and design of “Beppu Bamboo Crafts”.
Outreach Activities
- Proactively involved in lectures and courses at educational and cultural institutions.Organizing large workshops and participatory works of art for children and students to interact with bamboo.
- An external lecturer of his Alma mater, being the only educational institution specializing in bamboo crafts in Japan.
- Raising awareness and value of Japanese bamboo crafts overseas by participating and speaking at professional conferences and organizations.
Music Projects
- Specializes in performing Double bass (Contrabass), while operating as a set PA and mixing engineer.
- In addition to his regular performance, he has recently been performing with bamboo instruments which have been performed in projects such as; 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finale, Environment-related events in Oita Prefecture, and at the light-up event of Kokura Castle in Kitakyushu city.
2024
February:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Performing at the Wales MOU Ceremony in Oita Prefectural Art Museum OPAM.
Nihonbashi, Chūō Tokyo, Japan:
– Bamboo dyeing instructor at somenova, founded and owned by Katsuraya Fine Goods Miyako Dyeing.
March:
Myanmar (Burma):
– Participated as an expert advisor for the Myanmar Bamboo and Rattan Association.
April:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Performance at JR Oita Station for Oita-Fukuoka Destination Campaign.
May:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Stage performance by a bamboo string quartet at JR Oita Station.
– Spatial design supervisor of Iichiko Grand Theater entrance lobby during “Argerich Music Festival”.
June:
Myanmar (Burma):
-Technical instructor at the Bamboo Industry Training Center.
July:
Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan:
– Workshop instructor for bamboo accessories at the Bamboo Lab.
September:
Nihonbashi, Chūō Tokyo, Japan:
– Bamboo dyeing instructor at “somenova” by Katsuraya Fine Goods Miyako Dyeing.
October:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Supervising planning and production of “Takekai 2024” at Oita Prefectural Art Museum OPAM.
– Exhibited artworks at the JR Oita Station with other Oita local artists and managed the artist introduction booth.
– Director and production of courtyard decorations and illuminations for, “Beppu Bamboo Crafts x Halloween Exhibition” at Beppu Onsen Suginoi Hotel and Resort.
November:
Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan :
– Bamboo workshop instructor and exhibited bamboo works at Hakata Traditional Craft and Design Museum.
Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan:
– Joint performance with shakuhachi player Masaaki Aoyama and host of after talk at “Bamboo Festa”.
December:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
Design and exhibition at “Beppu Christmas Fantasia”.
2023
April:
Milan, Italy:
– Production and design consultant of collaborated exhibition with Samy Rio of France at Milan Design Week 2023.
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Created interior wall artwork for the newly built “Murasaki” model of the sunflower ferry.
July:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Installed bamboo display of Digital QR Code Check-in at Beppu Onsen Suginoi Hotel’s reception lobby.
– Production of bamboo dome “Yunomachi no Jikan”, for the hand bath hot spring in front of JR Beppu Station.
September:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Exhibited “Oita Bamboo Amabie (Mermaid) No.2 and No.3” at JR Beppu Station.
Ajimu, Usa City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Production of Flower Basket Offering for Tsumagaki Shrine.
October:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Performed at the public viewing of the Rugby World Cup at JR Oita Station.
– Supervising director and production of “Take-e” at Oita Prefectural Art Museum OPAM for “BAMBOO ART & LIGHTS 2023” exhibition.
November:
Hiji-machi, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Facilitator and guest speaker at the “Take Action Meeting in Harmonyland” at the Harmonyland Festival Stage.
Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Produced bamboo lights for the National Treasure Fukiji Temple.
2022
January:
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan:
– Demonstration of bamboo basket making at Gucci Shinjuku.
February:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Participated as an expert in the bamboo tourism creation tour.
July:
Sekiguchi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo, Japan:
– Produced stage prop “Ninai Chaya”,for living national treasure Mansai Nomura at Mansaku-no-Kai.
August:
Live appearance on NHK’s “Asa-Ichi”. Introducing Synergiez Inc. and Beppu bamboo crafts. Also performing handmade bamboo contrabass.
September:
Amsterdam, Holland:
– Guest speaker at “monoJAPAN”.
November:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Collaborated with a Chinese sculptor, Mr. Chen Zhuoyi in fusing bamboo art and sculptures.
December:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Created interior wall artwork on the remodeled “Kurenai” Sunflower ferry.
2021
February:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Supervising director of “Bamboo in Cosmos Hue” at Amu Plaza Oita Station Square.
April:
Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Production of 68th Great Shi-Kai-Nami Bamboo Flower Basket Offering for Asami Shrine, reserved only for the selected craftsmen.
November:
Paris, France:
– Presented bamboo works at “Beppu Bamboo Crafts Exhibition by Three Artisans” at maison de la culture du Japon à Paris.
2020
Autumn:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Creation and production of three “ Oita Bamboo Amabie (Mermaid)”.
– Tour host of the Oita Online Tour “Bamboo Tour”.
2019
Spring:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan:
– Set design and production of Oita Asahi Broadcasting Corporation studio.
Shinagawa-ku,Tokyo, Japan:
-Director of “Luminescence Bamboo Expanse” illumination event at Gotenyama Trust City Park.
2018
Winter:
Oita City, Oita Prefecture, Japan
– Production of Galleria Take-machi Arcade Bamboo weave centerpiece.