Announcing: Toki no Kotohogi

For Those Special “Moments”

Let's talk a little bit about the Japanese word toki. You may know if it simply as "time," but it has a number of nuanced meanings. Some of those (the ones we find particularly applicable) are: 

とき（刻 / TOKI）Means: 
 
時間（Time）
瞬間（Moment）
刻む（Engrave）

We'll often refer to this as "moments" in English, but knowing the weight of the meanings that "toki" carries provides some context to what we're really referring to.

ことほぎ（言祝ぎ / KOTOHOGI）Means:

お祝（Celebrate）
幸運を祈る（Blessing）。

Since ancient times, Japan has held the belief that “words possess power” (kotodama). “Kotohogi” is the practice of speaking positive words in the hope that happiness will follow accordingly.
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Life is marked by memorable milestones—such as births, weddings, graduations, starting a new job, anniversaries, significant birthdays—that leave a lasting impression on our hearts.

These handcrafted keepsakes capture those irreplaceable “moments” in wood, preserving them for the future.
As one-of-a-kind gifts, they are often chosen to celebrate family members and loved ones.

Materials

We take pride in crafting our products using wood nurtured by Iwate’s abundant natural environment. While the types of wood we use vary by season, we primarily select and use Iwate-grown species such as Cercidiphyllum (katsura), horse chestnut (tochi), Japanese big-leaf magnolia (honoki), and red pine (akamatsu).

For finishing, we use natural oil-based paints produced in Iwate Prefecture. One of the raw materials in these paints—silica—is derived from rice husks. We apply a natural-toned finish tailored to each product while preserving the wood’s inherent texture.

Design
No two pieces of wood have exactly the same grain pattern.
For “Toki to Kotohogi,” we design each piece with care, balancing text, illustrations, and layout while bringing out the unique character of each piece of wood.

Whether it’s a cherished name, an anniversary, or simply a sentiment that you want to convey, we create a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects the feelings you’ve poured into a “moment.”

Though most of our clientele is in Japan, we also accommodate designs that incorporate English. With a native English-speaking designer on our team, we can propose natural and beautiful expressions—whether you want to convey a message accurately or simply incorporate English as part of the design. And of course, communication in English will be no problem at all.

We carefully craft each and every piece by hand, aiming to create an heirloom piece, able to passed down and cherished in commemoration of that “moment.”

We deeply value the story that wood has to tell

About Ordering

“Toki to Kotohogi” is not just a commemorative item chosen from a set selection; it is something we create together with you as we listen to your story.
Who is the gift for? What milestone are you celebrating? What sentiments do you wish to preserve?
Please start by sharing these details with us.
As we discuss your story, we will propose a one-of-a-kind design that perfectly captures that special “moment.”
Please feel free to contact us for any questions regarding your order.

→ Chat with us to realize your vision ←