Ryu:
Looking back, it feels like both ten years have passed — and yet, only ten years. Ryui itself is now in its seventeenth year, so the Nishi-Ogikubo store opened in our seventh. In the early years, we were still balancing jewelry-making with other work, so it was around two or three years after we began focusing solely on jewelry that we opened the shop. At that time, our custom orders were gradually increasing, but we also felt the challenge of not having a dedicated place where we could meet customers and show them our pieces. In that sense, opening a store felt like a natural step forward.

Yui:
It’s true — back then, we used to meet clients for bridal rings at hotel lounges or cafés, carrying our ring samples with us. For fashion jewelry, we created pieces for the stores that carried our work, and once or twice a year, we held collection exhibitions by renting a gallery space.

Ryu:
We also tried participating in group exhibitions and such. At one of our very first shows, there were days when only a few people came — including Akira Minagawa of minä perhonen, who was the first to offer to carry our work, and a couple of acquaintances. [laughs]

Yui:
Yes, it really brings back memories. As we kept going that way, we were fortunate that the number of bridal ring orders gradually increased. Carrying and transporting so many samples each time became quite a task, and that’s when we started saying, “It would be nice to have a shop of our own, even a small one.”

Ryu:
And we thought it would be nice to create a calm space where people could take their time to look at the pieces.

Yui:
When we decided to open a shop, we looked at various locations, including ones in central Tokyo — places like Daikanyama and Aoyama.

Ryu:
Since our home was much farther west from the city center, we also considered places like Kichijoji as realistic options.

Yui:
At that time, I was actually pregnant with our first son. I remember feeling that once the baby was born, I wouldn’t have enough time to devote to creating the shop, so we decided to move forward quickly.

Ryu:
Yes, we walked around looking for properties while you had a big belly. But none of the places felt quite right, and while we were feeling a bit stuck, we happened to have a meeting with Akira Minagawa. When we mentioned that we were planning to open a store, he said, “How about Nishi-Ogikubo?” He told us that the area had many small, independently owned shops with strong character, and that it was calmer than Kichijoji — a place that might suit us well.

Yui:
We had actually hardly ever been to Nishi-Ogikubo before, but we decided to go and take a look — and on that very day, we found our current location. Even though it’s just a short walk from the station, it’s on a quiet back street, and we both felt it had a calm atmosphere.

Ryu:
The size and scale of the space were also just what we had imagined.

Yui:
Yes, everything seemed to fall into place so smoothly. Since we were originally thinking of the shop primarily as a place for bridal ring consultations, we wanted a calm, tucked-away space where visitors could feel relaxed and unhurried. This spot, with its quiet and secluded atmosphere, felt like the perfect fit.

Ryu:
We wanted to keep the space clean and uncluttered. At first, we looked for ready-made items such as glass display cases and tables, but in the end, almost everything was custom-made. I hadn’t imagined at the beginning that we would end up having so many things made specially for us.

Yui:
For the store design, we asked Momoko Kudo of MMA Inc., a friend of mine from university. She has a wonderful sense of style, and I felt that her aesthetic and sensibility were very close to ours. I was confident that she would understand our vision and express it faithfully. As expected, the first design plan she presented was so well thought out that it hardly needed any adjustments. I still remember how excited we felt when we saw the drawing for the hexagonal showcase at the center of the store — the one that serves as a symbolic display for the bridal rings.

Ryu:
The showcase along the wall was created based on her design, with some ideas added from my side — such as using a brass plate as both a stopper and a cover for the drawer handle holes, and angling the legs so that the space at the bottom wouldn’t feel too tight. The wooden blocks on the wall used for hanging necklaces were made by our friend, furniture artist Atsushi Okabayashi of Hyakka. I wanted them to be freely rearrangeable with magnets, so I made the prototype myself, then asked him to produce the final pieces. Afterward, I finished them with a coat of wiped Fuki-urushi (traditional Japanese lacquer technique). The ring trays were also his work. The payment tray we’ve been using since the shop first opened was a gift from Okabayashi to celebrate the opening.

Yui:
The sign displayed outside the shop was also made by our friend, metal artist Atsushi Ozawa of Oza Metal Studio. Looking back, it really feels like we had the help of all our friends. [laughs] Since both of us graduated from an art university, we’ve been fortunate to have many friends engaged in beautiful forms of craftsmanship, and they offered us a great deal of support.

Ryu:
The ring stands we use in the shop were originally store-bought, but I eventually felt they looked a bit too polished. One day, while walking through a nearby forest, I picked up some branches, carved them myself, and made new ones.

Yui:
Yes, we’ve actually made quite a few of the fixtures ourselves over the years.

Ryu:
This owl has been one of my favorites, displayed in the Nishi-Ogikubo shop since the day we opened.

Yui:
Owls are said to bring happiness. It has quietly become something like a guardian spirit of the shop. We found it more than fifteen years ago, during a trip to Finland. I didn’t know anything about it when I bought it, but later, when I showed it to a friendly shopkeeper at an antique store in Helsinki, he said, “You found a good one!” He told me it was a piece by Finnish artist Kaarina Aho, made in the 1960s. It’s part of a series created as an owl family, in various sizes — from large to small. Ever since then, I’ve looked for more whenever I visit Finland, but they’ve become very hard to find now. Back then, I saw a few, and I sometimes think I should have brought more home.

Ryu:
I love its expression, and also the form, the texture, and the solid weight it has.

Yui:
This small pair of bird figurines was also found at a flea market in Finland. I don’t know who the artist is, but I was drawn to the way the two birds sit so closely together, gazing at each other. Their faces are so near that they look as if they’re whispering secrets to one another — it’s so adorable.

Yui:
The floral arrangements in the shop were done by Cotito, a florist based here in Nishi-Ogikubo. Ryu requested something “not just pretty in the usual sense, but more like a sculptural arrangement using branches,” and they created something truly unique and striking — we really love it. The owner’s wife also makes lovely flower-shaped cookies, and both the staff and I often stop by to buy them personally.

Ryu:
Before studying crafts at Tokyo University of the Arts, I actually spent some time at Tama Art University, majoring in interior design. I’ve always been interested in architecture and interiors. Since it’s something we both enjoy, creating the shop was a lot of fun for us.

Yui:
Yes, it was. But within such a limited space, finding the right balance between design and practicality was definitely a challenge.

Yui:
Looking back, over these ten years we’ve never once thought about doing a major renovation. Thanks to our staff, who have always worked hard to keep the shop in beautiful condition, regular maintenance has been enough — we’ve never really needed a large-scale remodel. For example, the Ryui logo on the exterior wall and the brass parts of the door are carefully polished with a cloth and a bit of abrasive as part of the daily cleaning routine. Normally, brass would turn dark quickly without proper care, but even after ten years, they still shine brilliantly — something I’m a little proud of. [laughs] I’m truly grateful to our staff; it’s their steady, everyday effort that has kept the shop as it is without needing big changes.

Ryu:
The shop was originally opened mainly as a place to introduce our bridal rings, but in recent years, more people have been visiting to see our fashion jewelry as well. Naturally, we’ve started to feel that it would be nice to have a bit more space for people to browse comfortably. That said, I really like how this small space allows for careful attention to every detail. We’ve always believed in making things with care, using them with affection, and cherishing them over time. I think that same feeling extends to the shop itself — which is why we’ve never felt the urge to keep renewing or changing it.

Yui:
The brand has now passed its seventeenth year, and I feel that both what we create and how we approach our work have gradually evolved. The shop began as a place centered around bridal rings, but now more and more people come looking for one-of-a-kind pieces featuring natural stones. As our customers have changed little by little, we too have naturally shifted our pace. Rather than making big changes, I hope we can continue to move forward while valuing the atmosphere and spirit of each moment.
This place is our origin — a small but carefully tended space, filled with attention and sincerity. We hope it will always remain a shop where visitors can feel joy and carry that feeling home with them.

Ryu:
Yes, exactly. A shop is a place where we share the things we’ve created with the feeling of “Isn’t this lovely?” and where customers can respond, “Yes, it is.”

Yui:
That’s right — a shared sense of values, conveyed through jewelry itself.

Ryu:
That’s right. In the end, what matters is how much joy and enjoyment we ourselves can find in what we do. Whether it’s a fountain pen or a drinking glass — if the feeling of “I really like this” is there, that alone makes me happy. I think it’s important to keep a wide perspective, to stay attentive to every detail, and to ask ourselves how much we’ve truly made something our own. That probably applies to anything, and to anyone. When you approach something with a sense of excitement — “Alright, let’s give this a try!” — it’s completely different from doing it out of obligation, thinking “I suppose I have to.” The energy that comes from it changes entirely.

Yui:
Maybe that’s why we end up making the fixtures ourselves, too. We enjoy the process, and perhaps that feeling comes through to others. It’s not just about showing the finished pieces themselves.

Ryu:
Yes, I want to keep enjoying many things. Even just within jewelry, there are still so many things I want to try. Maybe this life will end with me making jewelry.

Yui:
I’m not so sure about that. [laughs]

Ryu:
You’re right — there are still so many things I want to do. It’s never-ending.