An Unconventional Career and a Return to Craft as a 'Livelihood'

The history of Marumasa Orimono Workshop dates back to the chaotic post-war period. It began when Oshiro's grandparents married and started a yunoshi (steam finishing for textiles) business. His grandmother, who had moved to the area upon marriage, was already familiar with weaving from the time she was in fourth grade. At first, as part of the local division of labor, they took on contract work like winding warp threads for other workshops. Eventually, she started weaving herself. An order from a shop dealing in dance costumes was the catalyst that set them on the path to becoming a full-fledged weaving workshop.

Oshiro’s parents, the second generation, continued to protect the workshop while also dedicating their efforts to union activities and mentoring the next generation of artisans. But when Oshiro announced he wanted to take over the family business, the response was less than enthusiastic.

"When I came back from Tokyo at 29 and said I wanted to take over, my parents told me, 'Don't do it.' It was right after the Lehman Brothers collapse, and the entire industry was in a slump. The truth is, we couldn't make a living on the business alone. For about five years, I had to work a part-time job in the early morning before coming to the workshop in the afternoon."

So why did Oshiro, who had been at the forefront of fashion working in an Omotesando apparel shop, return to the world of traditional crafts? The answer lies in the memory of his grandmother, a figure he had looked up to since he was a child.