MEMENTOS was founded in 2020 as a brand which designs and sells original brooches, which embody Japanese artisanship, materials, techniques, and skills.

 

The brand name, MEMENTOS, is derived from a Latin word, “memento,” whose various meanings include “to remember,” “not to forget,” and “anniversary gift.” This name was chosen based on my hope to connect Japanese artisanship and craftworks, which have miraculously lasted over time, with your own memories that you wish to treasure and preserve.

 

There are various elements which have enabled many Japanese craftworks to have been passed down over long periods, such as the craftspeople’s spirits, handed down from their predecessors, and the social environment, which allowed craftspeople to focus solely on their skills as a full time occupation. Considering these, it can be said that Japanese craftworks are miraculously resilient, and, at the same time, delicate and beautiful.

 

Collecting samples and documents is one of the ways to connect Japanese artisanship to the future. But I think another way of doing so is when a craftwork is remembered in people’s memories, or becomes worth being not forgotten.

 

I hope that MEMENTOS will create an opportunity for people who wear our brooches to grow a deep attachment to any Japanese craftworks, and to connect Japanese artisanship and existing craftworks to your own memories, even in the future.