NENDO-MICHI of JIN KATAGIRI ~NIPPON local the soul of clay vol.17~

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NENDO-MICHI of JIN KATAGIRI ~NIPPON local the soul of clay vol.17~

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2022.02.01

In 2021, the “JIN KATAGIRI SOSAKU DAI-HYAKKA” was held.
I was happy to be able to show all of the works that we have created for the series of THAT IS GOOD as a local work corner.
Katagiri’s works are full of charm that you can actually see and experience. I was moved to see so many people laughing and taking their time to enjoy them.
I am very happy to be able to introduce a variety of works this year.
For the first time this year, I would like to introduce a local work from Okinawa Prefecture from his past works. Why did he choose a work about Okinawa Prefecture? ! Well, the reason is in his writing, Mr. Katagiri!

Okinawa Prefecture 「iPhone 7-Hoshikin Kamemushi」

Photos：Naoto Otsubo/Kodansha Ltd.

This is a bug-shaped iPhone case I made for the TV series ” 99.9% – Criminal Lawyer Season 2″. I was asked by Teruyuki Kagawa, my co-star in the show, “For the iPhone case for season 2, use a bug! Or rather, a mantis!” But I immediately rejected the idea of a mantis as its body was too long and slender for an iPhone case.
Furthermore, if there was any insect related to Okinawa, the venue of the Giri exhibition, and also related to the iPhone 7, which was the latest model at the time… the only insect I could think of would be the Nanahoshi Kin Kamemushi! That’s when it hit me! Or rather I just wanted to make one.

This is a beautiful, iridescent stink bug that is known to be edible in some parts of Okinawa. It’s so smooth that it’s easier to make into an iPhone case than other bugs!

However, since insects have six legs and two antennae, I am worried that it will break if I use it on a regular basis. But I can’t think of anything else to do, and for now I fit a commercial soft case to the iPhone 7 and put epoxy putty on top of the styrofoam base to save putty. The surface texture is then prepared with Gray Sculpey, and the hexagonal carapace part is soon completed. For the legs, aluminum wire is used as the core and attached a little thicker than it actually is. The eyeballs are made of 8mm beads, and the antennae are made of “Jiyu Jizai” (wire covered with colorful vinyl). I managed to complete the stink bug.

What was more difficult was how to split it. I used a saw to cut off the border between the chest and the belly, and sandwiched the top and bottom to make them fit together (this was a difficult task from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 11, which had curved sides). Rather than sculpting the insect itself, I struggled to secure the clearance between the body and the case.

For the paint job, I bought a special high-grade metallic color called Majola Color to recreate the metallic yellow or metallic green appearance of the Nanohoshikin Kamemushi depending on the angle, but I ended up changing to the method of flopping glitter on the surface. It’s hard to make insects look metallic. As for the eyeballs, black dots would be too plain, so I used paint to reproduce human eyeballs like a painting.

I asked Mr. Izawa, who I always ask to do the replication for me, to use “plastic cast” for the main body and “rubber cast”, a slightly softer material, to replicate the legs and pull them out for the drama.

After I managed to get it done in time, I made a version for myself with the pattern turned into a Nishiki Kinkamemushi. The iPhone 7 joke is nowhere to be found anymore, but I usually used this one (for about a year and a half). I noticed that the legs and antennae were broken, one of the eyeballs was missing, and there were many other problems as I expected. I was reminded of how difficult it is to make an insect-shaped iPhone case.

When I took it with me on a trip to Miyako Island during spring break, I was surprised to see a real Nanahoshi Kinkamemushi perched on the leg of my iPhone case. It was so small!

Taking a walk in Tokyo Dome City

Jin Katagiri
Born November 27, 1973 / Born in Saitama Prefecture / Graduated from Tama Art University
Active in the stage, movies, radio, etc., mainly in TV dramas series. Major appearances in recent years include “99.9% -Criminal Lawyer-” (TBS), “Your Turn to Kill” (NTV), and “NHK Morning drama series Yell” (NHK).
In addition to acting, he also creates clay, and from 2016 to 2018 he held a national tour at the “Jin Katagiri Absurdity Clay Art Exhibit Giri Ten.” In 2019, he is holding his first overseas solo exhibition in Taiwan.

Nanahoshi Kin Kamemushi (Calliphara nobilis)
size: 17〜20mm
Species Distribution : Amami Island, Kikai Island, Okinoerabu Island, Yoron Island, Okinawa
Island, Daito Islands, Miyako Island, Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Yonaguni Island

About Okinawa Prefecture

Photo : Muruku Hama beach, Hamahiga island

Okinawa Prefecture is located between Kyushu and Taiwan, and consists of about 160 islands scattered over a vast sea area extending 1,000 km from east to west and 400 km from north to south. It belongs to the subtropical zone and is blessed with a mild climate all year round. The blue sea, white sand, and rich nature make it a popular tourist destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. The islands once flourished as the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and the unique culture, customs, and local cuisine make you feel as if you are visiting a foreign land.

Shisa

Many people probably buy “Shisa” figurines as souvenirs when they visit Okinawa.
It’s a legendary animal guardian deity that has been handed down in Okinawa since ancient times, and the word “Shishi (lion)” is called “Shisa” in Okinawa and “Shishi” in the Yaeyama region. The origin of the lion is said to be from the ancient Orient, and it is said to have been introduced from China around the 13th to 15th century. They are placed at the gates, entrances, and on the roofs of houses as good luck charms to ward off evil spirits and disasters and to bring good fortune. If you look closely, you will see two types of Shisa, one with its mouth open and one with its mouth closed. There are some theories, but it is said that the males open their mouths to invite in good fortune, and the females close their mouths to keep misfortune out of their homes.

Giant Shisa Slide at Kamamamine Park, Miyako Island!
Photo provided：ばんない堂

Created for the exhibition JIN KATAGIRI SOSAKU DAI-HYAKKA 「Park Enma」
Doesn’t the face on the back look somehow like a Shisa?

Okinawan Gourmet

Of all the Okinawan delicacies I enjoyed during the Giri Exhibition at the AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom store, the most memorable was the “Bueno Chicken”. As I was walking in front of the store, the whole chicken was spinning around. If you are ever in Okinawa (I hear you can order it online now) Please do! Please try it.

afterword

The movie “99,9” is now in theaters! Have you seen it yet? I can’t help but smile when I find Katagiri-san’s work in the movie. There were also various works that were born from the series THAT IS GOOD~!
“SEASON 1″ started with the KareiPhone 6 Plus, and “SEASON 2″ featured the “iPhone 7-Hoshikin Kamemushi” introduced here. And now! What a great success for the “MoiPhone,” which was introduced as a local product of Miyazaki Prefecture! The poster of paralegal Tatsuya Akashi holding the MoiPhone was cute. I heard that Katagiri-san’s face looks like the MoiPhone or not. I’m really looking forward to seeing what new products will be created this year.

THAT IS GOOD editorial department, Fujita