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Ametsuchi Story
Launched Ametsuchi.. in 2018 together with elder sister Chie and Rie.
Born and raised in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture,
with a view of the Kikkawa family’s castle, Iwakuni Castle, from the nearby mountains and the clear Nishiki River flowing through the small castle town.
The Kintai Bridge, one of the three famous bridges spanning the river, was part of the daily route to schol.
Childhood days were spent playing outdoors, surrounded by nature,
growing up in harmony with the changing seasons of Japan.
Chie earnestly followed in the footsteps of their father, a tax accountant, striving to meet his expectations.
Leaving Iwakuni to attend university gradually released the sense of obligation to live up to those expectations, while the love and appreciation for the natural beauty of the hometown deepened over the years.
This connection to nature and the land has become the foundation
for the work and creations of Ametsuchi...
The turning point came when Chie’s health declined after giving birth.
The story of Ametsuchi.. began after Chie experienced health challenges following childbirth.
Wary of hospital medications, natural ways to restore the body were explored, leading to the discovery of aromatherapy.
When the second child reached kindergarten age, attendance at an aromatherapy school began, learning both theory and practice.
Initially focused on personal healing, the intention gradually shifted toward helping others.
After obtaining qualifications, a home-based aromatherapy salon opened, offering treatments and classes.
For events at the salon, a small pillow filled with herbs and brown rice was created, marking the first product that would later become part of Ametsuchi...
This pillow laid the foundation for the current sandbag product, Kingin Sunago, and the beginning of the brand’s history.
The journey to full product development was far from easy.
Countless trials experimented with natural fillings such as herbs, brown rice, and rice bran, alongside research on commercial products.
Many commercial products were made with synthetic fibers, colorful and soft, yet filled mostly with silica gel and other non-natural substances.
Using such products in microwaves or directly on the skin raised questions about safety.
At one exhibition, even when fillings leaked through the fabric, staff insisted there would be no complaints or problems, provoking reflection on the true meaning of craftsmanship.
The goal remained to create products using the most natural materials possible, spending days in self-reflection, experimentation, and trial and error.
One day, sitting on a hornblende stone bench in a hotel mist sauna, inspiration struck:
“A stone! A Japanese stone!”
Just as heat and energy from stones in hot stone baths heal the body, stones in a pillow could provide the same effect.
Unlike herbs or brown rice, stones resist mold and insects in Japan’s humid climate.
Thus began the search for suitable stones.
Ideas were also inspired by Yuriko Tojo’s sand therapy, where warmed sand soothes the body when trips to the sea aren’t possible.
Adding sand improved texture, but fine particles required tightly woven fabric.
Blackout curtain fabric attracted attention due to its dense weave and fire-resistant properties, making it suitable for safe use.
Prototypes showed that the sand stayed contained and the texture was pleasant.
Microwaving natural fillings proved inconsistent, sometimes causing scorching, leading to continued experimentation with various fire-resistant fabrics.
An important realization emerged: in insisting on using only natural materials, unnatural solutions had been forced.
The true goal became creating products that restore the connection between people and the Earth.
Recognizing that blackout and fire-resistant fabrics often involve chemicals, and that microwaving in various appliances posed risks, a decision was made to stop microwavable pillows entirely.
Starting from scratch, organic cotton gentle on both people and the Earth was chosen, and the compatibility of stones and sand was reexamined.
After two years of careful development, the current product, Kingin Sunago, was completed.
From the very first pillow to the finished product, seven years passed before the vision was fully realized.
Another Origin of Ametsuchi..
Here is the English translation of the provided French text:
Another pillar of Ametsuchi.. lies in the earth-dye (tsuchi-dye) products.
The journey began by trying to dye fabrics with soil collected personally, inspired by the desire, from the days as a therapist, to create fabrics for clients using as natural materials and dyes as possible.
The natural dyes used at that time led to the connection with the dye company that continues to support Ametsuchi.. today.
Initially, the idea of selling shibori-dyed products emerged, but seeing many similar colors in the market sparked the desire to create something different.
This led to the thought: What if soil itself could be used to make the dye?
Memories returned of the red soil in the mountains behind the grandmother’s house, along the Nishiki River in Iwakuni.
Shovel and bucket in hand, the soil was collected, dissolved in water, and used to dye the fabric.
Although the soil was red, the fabric surprisingly took on a beautiful lemon-yellow color.
Excitement quickly gave way to disappointment when the color washed out completely.
With no prior experience in dyeing, learning proceeded step by step through guidance from experienced dyers, developing the necessary method to achieve the desired result.
Frequent participation in workshops held by the dye company and close collaboration with their staff and artisans allowed for the soil collected from different regions to be processed for stable, consistent dyeing.
Creating tsuchi-dye products required immense effort and time, but thanks to these connections, it became possible to produce fabrics dyed with original colors exactly as envisioned.
Natural materials possess the power to restore balance.
Earth-dyed fabrics are said to carry energy and warmth distinct from other fabrics—energy believed to come from the Earth itself.
Today, with growing concern about electromagnetic waves, many appreciate methods such as warming the Kingin Sunago in a steamer.
Even without heating, placing the pillow over the eyes can relieve congestion, ease headaches, or restore a sense of calm and comfort (individual experiences vary).
The sand used contains about 97% quartz, similar to crystals, suggesting that the pillow may possess similar vibrational properties.
Quartz is known as a power stone for harmony and purification, and the pillow may function in a similar way.
These experiences revealed that natural materials work effectively on their own, without requiring heating.
The main intention became clear: to create products that restore the connection between people and the Earth.
What began as the desire to offer something personally cherished to soothe and relax others evolved into a realization: modern humans suffer from various imbalances due to a growing disconnection from the Earth.
Today, the products are offered with the hope of bringing comfort to both people and the Earth, fostering a harmonious relationship between the two.
Chie