Cultural Enrichment Seminar "Life Skills Lab"

Welcome to the start of the course

I've been practising *hemslöjd* for 42 years. The original meaning of *hemslöjd* is "homemade". In Sweden, there's a history of promoting *hemslöjd* due to a sense of crisis that traditional handcrafts were being lost due to industrialisation brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays, handmade items are thought of as a time-consuming luxury, but this is only looking at the final product. Whether it's embroidery or cooking, when you make something yourself, the process of making it is enjoyable, and the sense of accomplishment when it's finished is also exceptional. It offers a luxurious amount of time that doesn't depend on the things that flood the market.

This time, the newly launched "Life Seminar" has been designed to return to the origins of Hemslöjd, incorporating courses related to clothing, food, shelter, and culture. We hope that these small-group courses, led by specialists in their respective fields, will serve as an opportunity to re-examine what is truly important in one's life and daily living. (2013)

Yamanashi Hemslöjd
President: Mikiko Yamanashi

Information about upcoming courses

The Wonders of English
Lecturer: Kazuyoshi Yamauchi

The English word "discover" originally meant "to remove a cover", and English itself has many strange things when you take the cover off.
Why aren’t the ‘k’ and ‘b’ in ‘know’ and ‘doubt’ pronounced? Why are ‘myself’ and ‘yourself’ possessive forms, whereas ‘himself’ and ‘themselves’ are objective forms?
Just thinking about it, when you look at English historically, you encounter all sorts of curiosities, such as those concerning pronunciation, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and usage. Through them, you can also gain insight into how English-speaking people feel and think. Would you like to join me on a journey to discover the wonders of English?

Instructor Profile
Teaches English Linguistics at Shizuoka University, Tokyo Metropolitan University (now Tokyo Metropolitan University), and Aoyama Gakuin University.

"Hammered silver accessories"

Instructor: Junko Kobayashi

To make it by pounding

This is a class on accessory making, where you can hammer silver, bend it with pliers, and engrave patterns with a chisel.
Furthermore, I aim for
We will carefully teach you the names and uses of the tools from the beginning for those who are new.
You can participate in a one-off workshop or as a bi-monthly lesson, so please feel free to contact us.

Instructor Profile

Junko Kobayashi
I am an artist based in Yatsugatake, Nagano Prefecture, whose creative activities range from jewellery to monumental sculptures.
Through a unique style that discovers forms born of necessity and chance through the dialogue between materials and craftsmanship, I create works that visualise the feelings and imagery evoked by the natural world, exploring the connection between nature and people.
1994 Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Crafts. Numerous solo and group exhibitions.
http://junkoyk.com

Nordic confectionery and bread making

Instructor: Takeshi Takahashi, Cafe YLVA

Department store basements and convenience stores are overflowing with confectionery from famous brands and mass-produced sweets. However, originally, sweets were made in each household to delight family and friends. In Northern Europe, home baking is still popular today, and in this course, we will make Scandinavian sweets using easily available ingredients and household utensils. We sincerely hope you will enjoy the pleasure of sweets being made by hand and the deliciousness of freshly baked goods.

Instructor Profile
Born in Musashino, Tokyo, he worked as a systems engineer for a computer manufacturer for 10 years after graduating from the Faculty of Engineering. Having decided to open a café, he trained in confectionery at a Western-style patisserie in Nagoya. He returned to Tokyo to work as the dessert chef at a restaurant. In June 2009, he opened TOQUIO, a hidden-gem café in Minami-Aoyama, serving delicious coffee and handmade sweets. He is currently working as the resident chef at Café YLVA on the second floor of the Yamanashi Hemslöjd House.

How to apply

Once you have decided on the course you wish to attend, please apply to the Yamanashi Hemslojd office using the methods below.

On the phone
Please apply by telephone to Yamanashi Hemslöjd Office on 03-3470-3119. (Office hours are Monday to Saturday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

By email
yhi.tokyo@gmail.com　までお申し込みください。お名前、メールアドレス、受講を希望される講座名をご記入ください。

Regarding course fee payment

1. After applying by any of the above methods, please pay directly at the secretary's desk by the first day of your course. (Payment on the first day of your course is also acceptable.)
2. Please note that any course fees paid are non-refundable, even in the event of absence.

Regarding cancellations and similar matters

1. We kindly ask that you refrain from cancelling after applying. If you must be absent, please inform us as soon as possible. In the case of unexplained absence, you may be required to pay the course fee.
2. In the event that a course cannot be held due to unavoidable circumstances such as the instructor's unavailability (due to unforeseen accidents or illness) or natural disasters, the course fee for the affected session(s) will be refunded. (If multiple course fees have been paid in a single transaction, we will calculate and refund the amount for the cancelled session(s)).
3. Please note that a course may be cancelled if the number of registered participants does not meet the minimum requirement. If a course you have registered for cannot be held, you will be contacted by the secretariat by the day before.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the secretary.

Yamanashi Hemslöjd "Kurashi no Zemi" Office
TEL. 03-3470-3119 (Reception hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00-17:00, until 16:00 on public holidays, closed Sundays)
yhi.tokyo@gmail.com

We do not accept returns or refunds for course fees due to customer reasons, regardless of the circumstances. Thank you for your understanding.