[English Script is below.]

🎧 Podcast/YouTube配信 第3回 🎙
「素材の物語：なぜ今、天然素材が再注目されているのか？」を公開しました。
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私たちの暮らしに欠かせない「素材」。
そのひとつひとつには、歴史と文化、そして人との深いつながりがあります。
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今、世界中の建築やアートの現場で天然素材が見直されている背景、
そしてヘンプという素材の可能性について、制作の現場からお話ししています。
⁠
素材を選ぶということは、「どんな未来をつくりたいか」を選ぶことでもあるのかもしれません。
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📺 YouTube & 🎙Podcastで配信中！プロフィールのリンクからぜひお聴きください。

#天然素材 #素材の物語 #ヘンプアート #サステナブルデザイン #アートと空間 #自然素材 #ヒロミキム #hemp #sustainablematerials #artandspace

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[English Script]

🎙 Episode 3: The Story of Materials — Why Are Natural Materials Being Rediscovered Today?

Hello, I’m HIROMI KIM.
Welcome to my podcast, where I explore stories related to art, materials, and space through the lens of design and culture.
Today’s topic is:
"The Story of Materials: Why Are Natural Materials Being Rediscovered Today?"
I’ll share my thoughts based on my own practice, research, and the latest trends in the art and architecture world.

I was first drawn to natural materials—especially hemp—about 10 years ago.
It was a time when I began to feel a deep concern about the imbalance between our environment and social systems.
During my search, I encountered materials that have accompanied humanity since ancient times—materials that return to the earth:
hemp, washi paper, soil, wood, stone, fabric…
I began to realize that these weren’t just "materials," but carried memory, history, and culture within them.

So, why is there a global resurgence of interest in natural materials?
A major reason is the growing awareness of sustainability.
Modern society has long relied on industrial products, petroleum-based materials, and efficiency-driven systems.
But this has come with consequences: environmental destruction, health concerns, and emotional disconnection.
Natural materials offer an alternative.
For example, breathable materials naturally regulate humidity and temperature in a space.
They create a sense of comfort and security that synthetic materials often can’t replicate.
Also, natural materials are deeply connected to local cultures and landscapes.
So choosing a material is also about choosing a set of values—how we want to live and interact with the world.

The appeal of natural materials isn’t just about their texture or function.
Each material holds a story—one built over time.
Hemp, for instance, has been used for over 10,000 years in clothing, food, shelter, and even spiritual rituals.
It’s not only a practical material—it has played a cultural and symbolic role throughout history.
To me, materials are a kind of media of memory and culture, connecting us to the past while shaping the future.

What did you think?
Today we explored the theme:
"The Story of Materials: Why Are Natural Materials Being Rediscovered Today?"
Choosing a material isn’t just about design—it’s about shaping the spaces and societies we want to create.
I encourage you to listen to what the materials around you are saying.
In the next episode, I’ll talk about:
“Art and the Urban Environment: Creating Silence in the City.”
Please subscribe or follow if you haven’t yet.
Thank you for listening, and I’m HIROMI KIM. See you next time.

The English script is below.

はじめまして！ポッドキャスト配信スタートしました！

アート＆デザイン、建築、サスティナブルデザインなどについてわかりやすく解説していきます！

初回は、「なぜ今ヘンプなのか？」です。

天然素材ヘンプの歴史と、今世界で際注目されている理由を、アーティスト・デザイナーの視点から語っています。

数千年の歴史を持つこの素材の魅力をぜひこの機会に知ってください。

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[日本語スクリプト]

こんにちは。デザイナー・アーティストのヒロミキムです。

このチャンネルでは、アート建築サステナブル素材について専門家の視点からわかりやすくお届けしていきます。

今日のテーマは「なぜ今ヘンプなのか？」

数千年にわたり、人類と共に歩んできた天然素材、ヘンプ。

今世界中で再び注目されているのはなぜでしょうか ？

ヘンプとは大麻草の茎から取れる繊維で衣類やロープ紙など古くから様々な用途に使われてきました。

日本では神社のしめ縄やお守り神事の衣装などに使われ、神聖な意味を持つ特別な存在でした。しかし、戦後の規制によって日常生活からは姿を決してしまいました。そんなヘンプが今、未来のサステナブル素材として世界的に再注目されています。

注目されている理由は、主に 3つあります。

1つ目は環境負担の低さ。ヘンプは綿と比べて、水の使用量が約 4分の 1農薬や化学肥料も不要です。

2つ目は再生力とスピード。 90日から 120日で収穫できるほど成長が早く、土壌豊かにする力もあります。

3つ目は多用途性。医療や紙バイオプラスティック、建材、食料まで産業利用の幅がとても広いのです。

私自身もこの 10年以上ヘンプを使った作品を制作してきました。

ヘンプはただのエコ素材ではなく私のテーマである「目に見えないものを見えるようにす」という表現とも深くつながっています。

次回は空間を整えるアートについてお話しします。

視覚だけでなく、音環境まで整えるアートの可能性を私の作品の実例を交えてご紹介します。

ぜひチャンネル登録やフォローをお願いいたします。ご視聴いただきありがとうございました。

それでは今日はこの辺で。

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[English Script]

Hello. I'm Hiromi Kim, a designer and artist.

In this channel, I will be providing easy-to-understand information on art, architecture, and sustainable materials from an expert's perspective.

Today's theme is why hemp now? Hemp is a natural material that has been with humanity for thousands of years.

Why is it attracting attention again around the world now? Hemp is a fiber obtained from the stem of the cannabis plant and has been used for various purposes since ancient times, such as clothing and rope paper.

In Japan, it was used for Shimenawa (sacred ropes) at shrines, amulets, and costumes for Shinto rituals, and was a special material with a sacred meaning. However, due to postwar regulations, it disappeared from everyday life. Now, hemp is attracting attention again around the world as a sustainable material of the future.

There are three main reasons why it is attracting attention.

The first is its low environmental impact. Compared to cotton, hemp uses about a quarter of the water and does not require pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

The second is its regenerative power and speed. It grows so quickly that it can be harvested in 90 to 120 days, and it also has the power to enrich the soil.

The third is versatility. It has a wide range of industrial uses, from medicine and paper bioplastics to building materials and food.

I myself have been creating works using hemp for over 10 years.

Hemp is not just an eco-friendly material, but is deeply connected to my theme of making the invisible visible.

Next time, I will talk about art that organizes spaces.

I will introduce the possibilities of art that organizes not only the visual but also the sound environment, with examples of my works.

Please subscribe to and follow my channel. Thank you for watching.

That's all for today.