It’s been a while since I last updated the Designer’s Journal.
With the new year underway and the atelier back in full operation, the familiar bustle of creative life has returned.
Writing this blog makes it feel real—yes, we’re truly back.
To everyone who supported us during our hiatus—thank you deeply for your kind words and encouragement.
Over the past year, I was fortunate to rest not just my body, but also my mind.
After years of constantly engaging both hands and head, I took time to regain my health, read books, go for walks, and enjoy slower days.
Turning 40 last year marked a personal milestone, and the break also gave me space to reflect on the future.
Slowing down made me realize just how much can come into view when we allow ourselves to pause.
As my health improved and I began to think forward again, a quiet voice within me said: I still want to create jewelry.
A while ago, I announced the brand name change to Sixth Night.
In truth, it took a long time to arrive at that decision.
The idea first began forming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Customer preferences were changing—more one-of-a-kind designs, more intricate pieces using traditional Japanese engraving techniques.
As our engraving became more refined and the designs more complex, our focus naturally deepened on the traditional jewelry techniques we’ve inherited in Japan.
Also, shifting from a solo operation at the brand’s founding to now collaborating with craftspeople I met during my training years, my perspective has gradually expanded, as have the questions I ask.
We’ve always aimed to create enduring pieces using fine materials and careful craftsmanship. But behind this approach lies a deeper foundation: the jewelry-making techniques passed down from previous generations.
I learned stone setting and Japanese engraving from a craftsman of my father’s generation.
My teacher was a master of his art—his dragons seemed to soar through the sky, and his flowers bloomed vividly from the metal.
Last year, I came across a post on social media titled “18k Jewelry You Can Buy for 10,000 Yen.”
Knowing how many tears from craftspeople lie behind such pricing, I couldn’t help but post a reaction on Threads. To my surprise, it resonated not only with others in the industry but also with many customers.
As mass-produced accessories flood the market, the issues surrounding fair wages and skill preservation have only become more serious.
If I’m to return to this long-standing tradition of jewelry making—what kind of pieces do I want to create?
That was the question I spent the past year thinking deeply about.
As mentioned in earlier announcements, the name “Sixth Night” is drawn from the sixth story in Natsume Sōseki’s *Ten Nights of Dreams*, featuring the sculptor Unkei.
In the story, Unkei brings forth the form already hidden within the wood, using only his chisel and mallet.
It’s a metaphor we’ve long held close in our creative process—to uncover the beauty already within the material.
The founding vision of muska—to be a small companion to its wearer—remains unchanged.
But now, my intention also includes this: to create jewelry that is loved for years and passed down across generations.
And one day, I hope that the skills we’ve inherited can be passed forward again to others in turn.
