The Story of Vessels on a Journey: How Maison Toji Was Born
Hello, I'm Toji, the owner of Maison Toji.
To you, who has started a new life, spent more time in the kitchen, and suddenly started thinking, "I want to choose what suits the new me."
Today, please let me tell you a little about how this small pottery shop in Musashi-Koyama came to be.
Italian Food on Tamba Ware. The "Free Table" I Saw That Day
My origin lies in my experience working part-time at a cafe in Takarazuka during my university years. There, we served colorful Italian and French dishes on "Tamba ware," which has a rustic and powerful texture. Fresh pasta and sauces stood out on traditional Japanese tableware, accompanied by main dishes. It seemed like an unexpected combination at first, but when customers expressed their delight, saying, "This dish is somehow so lovely," I became convinced.
Tableware is not just a "container." It has the power to enhance food, create a pleasant harmony on the table, and gently soothe the hearts of those seated.
At the same time, I also became aware of a sad reality. During moving or estate clear-outs, beautiful pieces of tableware that were still perfectly usable, and which someone must have cherished, were being discarded in large quantities, losing their purpose. "I don't want this beautiful cycle to stop."
That feeling became the seed of Maison Toji.
The Origin of the Name "Toji"
The name "Toji" actually has a rather amusing origin. It happened when I was presenting my business model in graduate school (MBA) while working full-time. Some senior colleagues, with a loving (?) dad joke, told me, "Your name sounds just like 'Tōji' (陶磁, ceramics), so why don't you just use it as the name?"
At the time, I was hesitant to use my own name for the shop, but I thought it sounded uniquely Japanese and didn't exist in English, so I made it the shop's name. I entrusted this name with a big dream: "Someday, I want to become synonymous with ceramics."
And "Maison" means "house" in French. It reflects my desire for a space where people can relax and choose tableware as if visiting a friend's home. There's also another secret ambition embedded in this name: to one day expand into Paris, the city of art, and share beautiful Japanese tableware with the world.
What the "Stork" That Carries Happiness Connects
Maison Toji has a cherished symbol: the "stork."
It is the prefectural bird of my hometown, Hyogo, and is loved in Europe as the "bird that brings happiness." Like a stork that delivers new life, I want to carry tableware cherished by someone to its next user, creating a chain of happiness (Meguri).
Both vintage tableware that was once someone's treasure and contemporary pieces created with passion by current artisans. I aim for a scene where both stand side-by-side on your table, like gifts brought by a stork.
During My Hardworking Days, It Was "A Single Mug" That Saved Me
You might feel that "being particular about tableware" is a bit too formal and perhaps not for you just yet. But the truth is, I myself once spent my days chasing after work, feeling like my heart was fraying.
At such times, I would pick up my favorite mug. The exquisite weight, the soft feel of the clay, the gentleness of it touching my lips. As the warm coffee went down my throat, my mood forcibly shifted, and I could let out a sigh, feeling myself return to a state of calm.
For us living in a busy modern world, arranging tableware means slowing down the pace of life just a little. And I realized that it is, in itself, about "treating oneself with care."
"Ceramics Connect People"
A story carried by storks.
May it add a gentle light to your new life.