Forever love with couple’s rings

This shop is ideal for any who are in search of rings for couples or weddings. Rings on fingers are eye-catching items.

The “Sou” is an interesting silver ring combined with Yaku cedar (a designated as a World Natual Heritage monument). The wood came from cedar trees over 1,000 years-old. Each has unique colors and pattens just as each tree is unique.

The couple’s rings are symbolize the hope that the couple share long life together like Yaku cedars, which live over 1,000 years.The wood patterns on each ring form one pattern when you put them together.


Silver and tree. It is Mr. Takeshi Ozagashikawa (Okinawa Kobashiwa) from Okinawa Prefecture who produces jewelry combining two different materials. Mr. Kohashigawa who was originally interested in architecture entered the university in Kagoshima with the department of architecture. However, while learning about architecture it says that he began to be interested in the building, that is space and furniture. Since I did not have classes to learn about furniture at university, I studied by self study. After graduation, I practiced for 6 years under the traditional Japanese artist who produced furniture in Kagoshima prefecture.

Go Kobashigawa combines two different kinds of material to create designs on rings. He is from Okinawa but studied architecture in college in Kagoshima prefecture. There, he became interested in space and furniture in buildings as well as the buildings themselves. He self-studied furniture-making and then studied undera a traditional Japanese wood craftsman for six years in Kagoshima.

Funiture made from Yaku cedar can be very high priced. A small table can cost over 40,000 dollars. Kobashigawa started thinking to of ways to use the scraps from larger pieces of the expensive wood. 
 

He always enjoyed wearing silver accessories, and one day he thought it might be a good idea to combine silver and the wood chips to make one accessory. He studied books, television and  the internet and began making his own accessories. He Also learned engraving techniques from a dental technician. He found that quite a few dental technicians become  jewelry artists because of the similar techniques and equipment are required  for both jobs. 
 

Kobashigawa returned to Okinawa and started his shop GRAIN in Yaese Town when he was 28 years old and now designs, creates and sells his original items.

 

Bumpy parts of Yaku cedar are used in his items. These parts contain oil and the wood gets shiny as time passes. He uses other local woods such as Ryukyu pine, gajumaru and soushiju. Rings don’t need to be taken off in water as each is covered with waterproof wood wax.



Ryukyu pine is the second hardest wood in pine family. The ring seems nice and dense. Ryukyu pine has nice wood patterns and changes a deep caramel color as it ages. You will enjoy the process of color change.

Other than jewelry, key cases made with Ryukyu pine or from cow leather are make great combinations of patterns. Why not try one as a gift?



Bags with Ryukyu pine handles are his latest items. The body is made with paulownia wood which is extremely light. This item is very popular with female customers.



There are many nice and unique items at GRAIN. Online shopping is available, but I would recommend that you look, touch and feel the wooden materials for yourself so you can enjoy different perspectives on wood.

GRAIN（グレイン）
Address: 703-1-2F Gishi, Yaese Town

Tel: 050-3578-1743

Hours: 13:00 -18:00

*Appointments may be made on closed days

Closed: Monday, Tuesday, 2nd and 4th Sunday, and holidays 

 URL: http://www.ryukyu-grain.jp/
 

Okinawa CLIP photo writer: Sachiko