On August 7 (Sat.) and 8 (Sun.), there will be a workshop at Hara Museum ARC by “Ossu! Shugeibu.”
The leader of the workshop is “Bucho” (i.e. club leader) of the “Ossu! Shugeibu,” which literally means Ossu! (as in Judo) handicraft club (club as an extracurricular activity held at school). Unlike what you would expect from someone in the handicraft field, “Bucho” is a tall, masculine, long-haired man in vivid-color clothes.
In 2008, Bucho held a workshop at the Hara Museum in Tokyo. Bucho is also a fashion designer, who not only designs clothes but also makes fun products and items. His work emits a loose, easy-going ambience. In a recent interview with the Hara Museum, he compared his work with sushi. Sushi chef does not measure amount of rice or fish to make sushi. “That’s wonderful, isn’t it? So I thought about making something which does not require a fixed pattern.”
Also, Bucho mentioned that this “Shugeibu” is not just about men doing handicraft, but more about the “Mottainai” spirit. He said, “I did not want to waste any cloth, so I tried to make something out of the left-over cloth, and this is how the “Kao pass” (see below for the image) was born. It’s ecological, so once we were featured in a LOHAS magazine.”
It does not matter if you are not good at handicraft. Don’t worry about your clumsiness. Everyone is welcomed! Come and join us at the “Ossu! Shugeibu” workshop at ARC!
Note: ARC is also a fantastic place to come in summer where you can enjoy highland clear air!
Below are some of the shots from the past workshops and activities:
“Robogurumi” workshop at Ebiben (Ebisu, Tokyo)
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/ossu-syugeibu/e/d6cd0c49cd699be01a22c8f8ed90705b
And …
Luxemburg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ossu_shugeibu/sets/72157623836593322/
New York
http://www.flickr.com/photos/galleryhanahou/sets/72157622419340977/
And
“Ikitugian” (Bucho-san is also a tea master!）
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/ikitugian/
Ossu! Shugeibu
Formed in December 2003 by male members with no knowledge of sewing. Always full of energy, they (mostly in their forties) are continuously developing innovative sewing techniques and have produced a number of legendary works. Currently, the group includes female members and members from different countries. The core membership consists of seven good-looking men.
Official website http://blog.goo.ne.jp/ossu-syugeibu
Below are some of the representative works by Bucho:
1. Kao Pass (face pass), recognized by the MoMA as well!
2. Love Dove card case by the fashion unit Ultra Tama, for which Ishizawa designs clothes and products. Mrs. Hatoyama also has one. 
Workshop details:
Ossu! Shugeibu Robogurumi BUKATSU Workshop@Hara Museum ARC
Dates: August 7 (Sat.), 8 (Sun.) at 10:30 am (until 1:00 am) and 2:00 pm (until 4:30 pm) *twice a day
Place: Hara Museum ARC
Fee: 2,500 yen (workshop fee) + museum admission [general (over 12) 1,000 yen/children (over 3) 500 yen/ no museum admission free required for museum members].
*Participants can enjoy viewing exhibitions at ARC on the day of the workshop.
* Your robogurumi is yours to take home. Materials will be provided. If you want to use your favorite cloth material, feel free to bring some from home.
*Reservations: Required. Please send us the names of the participants and contact telephone number in an e-mail or by telephone. Registration will be closed when the number of participants reaches its limit.
For further inquiries and reservations, please contact:
Hara Museum ARC “Ossu! Shugeibu Robogurumi BUKATSU Workshop”
Tel: 0279-24-6585
arc@haramuseum.or.jp
The neighboring Ikaho Green Bokujo ranch also offers a line of summer activities!
http://www.greenbokujo.co.jp/