More Than Beautiful Objects

As I was reading the Journal Alex created for Storied Objects, I found myself thinking about something.

One of the greatest gifts of starting okappa has been the people I've met along the way.

Alex is certainly one of them.

Alex is the owner of Storied Objects, a shop that celebrates the work of artists and makers across North America. We actually met through Instagram after I saw her traveling through Kyoto, my hometown. I already knew how beautiful Kyoto is, but seeing it through Alex's eyes made me notice it differently. She has a wonderful ability to find quiet beauty in places and objects that many people would simply walk past.

The more we've gotten to know each other, the more I've admired not only her knowledge of craft and artists, but also the way she listens. We often spend hours talking about makers and the small details that make everyday objects so special. Growing up in Kyoto, I became accustomed to a style of communication where much is understood without being said directly. Somehow, Alex always seems to understand what I'm feeling, even before I've found exactly the right words.

When she suggested featuring okappa in the Storied Objects Journal, I felt incredibly honored.

She spent an afternoon at our home with a 35mm film camera that once belonged to her mother. Over tea and a home-cooked lunch, she quietly photographed our home and the objects we live with every day. Later, her thoughtful questions invited me to reflect on okappa in a way I rarely do.

When the Journal was published, I was struck not only by the photographs, but also by how thoughtfully Alex had woven everything together. It didn't feel like a typical interview. It felt like an honest portrait of this little world I've been building through okappa.

Looking back, I think the same thoughtfulness Alex brings to conversations is reflected throughout Storied Objects. It's something you can feel in the artists she chooses to work with, the stories she tells, and the quiet beauty she shares.

I'm deeply grateful to Alex—not only for this feature, but also for the friendship we've built along the way.

If you haven't had a chance to read the Journal, I hope you'll enjoy seeing the world of okappa through her eyes.

Sometimes, the most meaningful things to come from this little shop aren't the objects themselves, but the people they bring into my life.

Photos by Alex of Storied Objects.