Toshihiro Mori (森 俊宏) / Mountain
Self-Introduction
The world of woodworking is so vast and deep that even after spending nearly a quarter of a century immersed in it, I sometimes feel as though I’m still only standing at the entrance. That’s how vast and deep it is.
Just before turning 30, I left my corporate job and entered the world of woodworking. At the workshop where I trained, there were two senior apprentices, both younger than me. In the beginning, I felt a certain pressure from having started later, so I focused all my energy on woodworking, letting go of everything else. Skills don’t come quickly. So I tried to absorb as much knowledge as I could by reading every book on woodworking I could find. I also brought home scraps from the workshop and spent time cutting, splitting, shaving, boiling, biting, rubbing, hammering in nails and screws, applying paint and finishes, and gluing things together. To be honest, that’s still how I spend my days.
A tree that has lived for hundreds of years began as a tiny seed. It may have stood by a mountain stream where trout swim, on a windswept ridge overlooking the mountains, or as part of a vast forest. These trees, for various reasons, are eventually cut down and become lumber. The Japanese character for lumber is written with the kanji for ‘wood’ (木) and ‘talent’ (才). The artisan reads the wood and works with it to bring out its “talent”—making it easier to use, more durable, and more beautiful—and then shapes it by hand. That shape is the woodworker’s work. And the work is passed into someone’s hands, bringing warmth and beauty to their daily life. I believe that this entire process is what we call “culture.” I’d be happy if I could serve as a bridge in that cultural flow.
Origin of the Name "Mountain"
When asked, I usually say, “I was born and raised in a prefecture without mountains, so I’ve always longed for them. And since Mount Nasu is here, I chose the word ‘Mountain’.”
The truth is… “Mountain” comes from the name of an American blues-rock band. When I first visited this land in Nasu, I happened to be playing their song “For Yasgur’s Farm” in the car. That rock number, with a gentle, rustic tone, resonated with the landscape of Nasu in a subtle way, and that’s how I decided to name the studio “Mountain.” I don’t talk about it much, though—unless you know the band or the song, the story won’t mean much. The song was created by a band featuring a giant guitarist who loved Gibson single coils and a renowned producer of Cream. “Yasgur’s Farm” refers to the farm owned by Max Yasgur, where Woodstock ’69 was held.
Favorite Things
Woodworking, wood, trees, nature, fishing, making things, autumn sunlight, spring naps, sweets, delicious food, the moon, the stars, rock, blues, guitars, Alfa Romeo, reciprocating engines, Marc Chagall, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Atsushi Nakajima, Nasu, Macaroni Hōrensō, my wife and kids, and more.
Biography
| 1970 | Born in Chiba Prefecture. |
| 1994 | Graduated from Tokyo University of Science. Joined a company in Tokyo and worked mainly in architectural design. |
| 1999 | Left the company. While working part-time at a fish market, visited various craft studios to observe their work. |
| 2000 | Entered an architecture and furniture workshop in Shizuoka to learn woodworking. |
| 2001 | Enrolled in a vocational training school in Saitama to learn the fundamentals. Began preparing for independence while still a student. |
| 2002 | Graduated from the training school and joined a nearby furniture workshop. Started taking concrete steps toward independence. |
| 2004 | Established “オーダーメイド家具工作 Mountain” (Custom-Made Furniture Workshop Mountain) in the Nasu Highlands. |
| 2024 | Renamed the studio to “ウッドクラフトMountain” (Woodcraft Mountain). |
Awards
| 2008 | Gold Prize, 5th “All Japan Wooden Crafts Competition” |
| 2010 | Craft Competition Award, 6th “All Japan Wooden Crafts Competition” |
| 2010 | Selected for the “CRAFT COMPETITION IN TAKAOKA 2010” |
Introduction from the Shop Owner
Some time after I moved here, I learned that there was a woodworker who had relocated in the same year as I did—and was even the same age. I think I first read about him in a magazine.
At the time, I was in the busiest period of my life as a company employee. I had no time to make friends locally, and spent my days commuting to and from Tokyo by bullet train.
I believe it was around 2014, ten years after my move, that I finally visited his workshop for the first time.
That was when I met Toshihiro Mori-san.
We hit it off right away. Most of all, we both love fly fishing. Even now, we manage to find time in our busy schedules to go fishing deep into the mountains together.
Meeting Mori-san and seeing the wooden products he makes brought back memories of my love for woodworking that I had put aside long ago. That wooden product is the cup in the photo. When I first started thinking about selling wooden products, this was the first cup I wanted to sell. I am still fascinated by its beauty and durability.
At my home, we’ve been using Mori-san’s wooden items for many years—tableware, small containers, a clock, a wooden carrying box, a desk and chair, and more.
Mori-san, who graduated from a science and engineering university and began his career in architectural design, is a woodworker with a passion for pursuing things to the fullest, and his attention to detail and level of perfection are truly remarkable.
When I was thinking of opening a woodcraft shop, I first consulted with Mori-san. It was when we went fishing together in Minami-Aizu, and he gave me an unexpectedly quick response and the support I needed. Since then, I’ve often visited his workshop for advice—though, somehow, half of those conversations always turn into discussions about fly fishing (laughs).
Since then, Mori-san has also been my teacher in trees and woodworking.
