How to put "change" into words: for seasons, memories, and space

How to put "change" into words - for seasons, memories, and space

"Change" is not just a change.
It is a quiet miracle that comes only to those who notice it.

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1. The outline of the word "Utsuroi"

The Japanese word "utsuroi" does not have a clear definition.
It can sometimes be translated as "change" or "transition," but the English terms "transition" and "ephemeral change" somehow fall short.
"Utsuroi" is quieter, more ambiguous, and more poetic.

For example, a morning in early spring.
The moment I noticed that the light coming through the shoji screen was a little whiter than yesterday.
Or an autumn evening.
When you suddenly notice that the shadows are getting longer and the wind is a little colder.
It's not something that can be taught to you by someone else, but something that you pick up on with your own intuition.

"Change" includes the presence of things invisible to the naked eye, the silent change in seasonal temperature, the angle of light, the smell of the wind, and even the fluctuations of the heart.
That is why we sense poetry in these subtle changes.

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2. Using words to capture "transition"

At WABISUKE, we place great importance on how to put "change" into words in our daily color calendar, product introductions, and space design.
It is not just a description, but a sharing of sensations and a reweaving of memories.

・Wrapped in metaphor: "The signs of spring peek through the gaps in the sliding doors."
"The sun sits gently on the alcove"
By not directly stating the changes, but instead expressing them through scenes and actions, the reader can visualize the landscape.

・Choose a verb calmly. Rather than "change," use "untakeru," "nijimu," or "hoyoyokumiru."
Choose words that leave space for sound and rhythm.
The very sound of the words becomes a boat that carries change.

・As time passes "I feel like the cherry blossoms I saw in this same place around this time last year were whiter."
By overlapping memories and the present, changes emerge.
Layering time gives depth to the words.

・Speaking through colors: "Pale pink fades into white"
The changing of seasons and emotions are expressed through the change of color.
WABISUKE's color calendar is also an attempt to record change through words and colors.

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3. "Change" that resides in space

We hope that WABISUKE's Kyoto space will also be a vessel that embraces change.

For example, a plaster wall changes appearance between morning and evening.
Wooden floors become moist and dark on rainy days.
How to change noren curtains with the seasons and how to choose incense.
All of these are devices that allow us to "feel" change.

Architecture may seem like a fixed thing, but it is actually very fluid.
The same space can take on completely different expressions depending on the way the light enters, the reverberation of the sound, and the weight of the air.
Design that accepts and enhances these changes is at the core of WABISUKE's space creation.

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4. The "Change" that resides in products

Our fabric items also change appearance the more they are used.

For example, a natural tote bag will gradually turn amber in color due to the sun and the oils from your hands.
Or, wooden cutlery becomes more comfortable in the hands of the user.
It's not "deterioration" but "development."
By embracing change, things begin to take on personality.

It's not the beauty of new items, but the beauty that grows over time.
It changes quietly as it resonates with the lifestyle of the person who uses it.
That's why we use the word "classic" to imply the accumulation of time.

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5. Putting it into words leaves a lasting impression

Changes will disappear if you leave them alone.
That's why we put it into words.

A line from a color calendar, a section introducing a product, a description of a space.
By incorporating a sense of change into the space,
I hope it will resonate quietly with readers and visitors.

By putting it into words, changes become memories.
And that memory will create another change within someone.
And so an invisible baton is passed on.

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[In place of conclusion]

Putting change into words is like weaving together memories.
I hope that WABISUKE's blog will also be a vessel that captures the changes of everyday life.

I suddenly stopped at the change of seasons,
When you feel like something has changed,
Try to put that feeling into words.
There is surely a poem of your own there.