What was the process of joining Yom Co., Ltd.?

Yom has a gift brand called MARLMARL for birth gifts, and I have always loved its worldview and gave it as a gift to a friend. It's like I'll learn about MATO someday. It is also important that I really resonated with the philosophy, including the company's purpose to "be excited about raising children" and the vision of a society where children can freely design lifestyles.

First of all, please tell us about your job as a designer. What pace and how will you proceed with your work?

We are currently working on a project for next year's spring and summer. (Editor's note: at the time of filming, the end of July) So, we will solidify the planning content, fix the design, and create the specifications approximately 8 months in advance. We proceeded with the production process while checking the factory and specifications, and improved product accuracy... In the case of MATO, we make 6 or 7 types per season.

I think it would be quite a pattern if you include color variations in the seven types, but is it a system in which several designers allocate them to create them?

Oh no, I'm the only designer at MATO right now (laughs).
In the industry, I think that the 7th model per season is quite relaxed by each designer. So, I find it very appealing and rewarding to be able to create each product carefully, rather than being busy with time and thinking about how much it can help raise children, rather than thinking about how much they can help them with raising their children.

It's an incredible world... What kind of places do you get your ideas from?

After interviewing actual parents, we will consider the functions from the perspective of "Is there anything we can solve for problems with the parenting scene through the product?" and then design the design from there. For example, this bathrobe uses a quick-drying material that is absorbent and absorbent, used in sports towels and other products, in order to make it safe for mothers who need to prioritize caring for their children after a bath.

This actually comes with a bust band. Breastfeeding mothers can improve blood flow while bathing, and breast milk may be more likely to come out after taking a bath. I was having trouble at the time, but it was difficult to take care of my children while taking care of my breast milk after a bath. Many people wear breastfeeding bras or breastfeeding pads, but to avoid having to do that, we have attached elastic to adjust the underbust to allow for immediate movement simply by fastening the front hook.

This is a very considerate product based on your own experience. It would be a great postpartum gift for moms.

I would be happy if you could use it for such purposes. I think it's also a good push gift (editor's note: A gift that is mainly given by dad to mom, with the hope of giving birth).
We have in-house members try their best to improve the accuracy of our products by repeatedly making adjustments and keeping in touch with the sewing factory again and again before the product is completed. I am very grateful to the factory who worked with me to create products.

It's not just about creating a design and then finishing it, but about looking at the final output. What tools do you use to design?

Oh, it's handwritten!

Handwritten! ? Does that mean you're using a pen tablet?

Ah, no. Really with a pen on paper. I'm waking up what's in my mind. So the things on the desk are amazing... haha

amazing. Did you originally like drawing?

I agree. I learned drawing when I was a child, and I remember my teachers and parents praised me a lot. I think this experience was one of the reasons why I fell in love with manufacturing.
My parents were free to do it without denying that I had said I wanted to do it. He also went on to high school where he could make lacquerware (lol). When I said, "I want to study how to make clothes," he replied and supported me.

That's a wonderful educational policy. Is there anything you need to keep in mind when dealing with your children?

After all, I try not to deny it as much as possible. When a child says, "I want to do it," he says, "Okay, just give it a go." Now I'm playing the koto and violin, which I suddenly said I wanted to do for some reason. Perhaps because I said it myself, it's been continuing without even saying I'll stop.

Your child is now 12 years old, but I think that the relationship with your parents will also change as your contact with friends and society increases. Do you have any visions as a parent of "what you want to be"?

I am very grateful that I am currently working on what I love as a job. It's a lot of stimulation and it's very fun, but honestly, it's often difficult to work while raising children.
When it's tough, I don't mind it in front of my children and start complaining, "Oh, it's so harsh," and on the other day I took him to the MATO store at GINZA SIX and bragged about it, saying, "This is a mom made it," and I reveal everything like that.
So, what do you mean... It can be difficult, but I hope that children can see how they are doing their job with a fulfilling and serious experience while taking on child-rearing and working.
It may be a bit cruel, but if you see that way of life and have something you want to cherish and dreams you want to achieve, I hope you will grow into someone who can face and overcome even the difficulties.

This is a traditional project, so please show us some memorable items with your child.

When I was in the third grade, I suddenly got it on Mother's Day. I'd never received it before. I still can't get it after that, so I'm like, "Give me every year" (laughs).
I've heard that decorating things that children like rather than putting away what they make, so I've been displaying them for a long time.

Also, when it comes to memories with my children, there is the only habit I can boast about. I'm the type who doesn't even keep a growth record in my mother and child health handbook, but I only write letters for my children's birthdays. Just once a year to write a long, serious statement. I write about a variety of thoughts. Also, "You can do this this year." And they took it without giving it to me. There are currently 12 posts in 12 years' worth. I'm thinking of giving this to you at 20 years old.

That's incredibly good. He's definitely going to cry...

I was talking about it myself and it made me cry... ha ha
I don't know what you'll think of it though.

Finally, please tell us about the message you would like to share through your brand and what you would like to make a reality.

Raising children is full of difficult things, so there's no right answer. Whenever a child is young, I think it's really hard to be worried every time he is, and when he looks back at the age of 12, he sees how difficult it is, and it's a fleeting time that never comes back, including the difficulties that pass by in an instant. There are many possibilities because there is no correct answer to raising children, and I hope that we can value enjoying raising children more than being trapped in pursuit of the correct answer.
In the end, it is all conveyed to the children that parents enjoy raising their children while cherishing their identity, style and fashion. I hope everyone is like that.

Recently, I have been hearing and seeing negative opinions about raising children from young people who are familiar with them, as well as information on social media. I think it's true that there are times and difficulties can happen...but that's not only that, but children have enormous energy and provide a lot of happiness. I hope to pass on these wonderful aspects of raising children to the next generation.
MATO aims to create a society where children can freely design lifestyles while being close to raising children, so as a designer, I would like to continue creating products and opportunities that will make you excited about raising your children.