English is below.

麻の歴史と精神性 麻は、日本の伝統文化や神事において神聖視され、古代から人々の精神性に深く関わってきました。特に、麻は清浄な植物とされ、悪を祓う力があると信じられていました。

では、なぜ、いろいろな種類の麻がある中でヘンプだけが精神性と深く結びついていたのでしょうか？

今回は、そのなぜを深く掘り下げていきます。

(English script)

1. Introduction

Hello, and welcome to my Podccast.
Today, I’d like to share with you the story of hemp—a plant that has been deeply connected to Japanese spiritual culture since ancient times.

In Japan, hemp has never been just a fiber or a crop.
It has been revered as a sacred plant, appearing in myths, rituals, and even in ceremonies of the Imperial household.
For centuries, hemp was believed to have the power to purify, to ward off evil, and to restore clarity.

2. Myths and Ancient Texts

In Japan’s oldest chronicles, the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), hemp is described as an essential part of sacred rituals performed by the gods.
It was believed that through hemp, impurities could be removed, and balance could be restored.

Some traditions say that when the god Izanagi returned from the land of the dead and performed a ritual purification, hemp symbolized renewal and cleansing.
We also find references in the Fudoki (ancient regional records) and even in the Manyoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry, where hemp is praised as a sacred and pure plant.

3. Why Hemp Was Seen as “Pure”

Why was hemp considered such a “pure” plant?

One reason lies in its vitality.
Hemp grows quickly, strongly, and straight—ancient people saw this as a symbol of life’s pure and untamed force.

Another reason is its versatility.
Its fibers became clothing, ropes, and ritual tools such as gohei or sacred paper wands used in Shinto shrines.
Its seeds provided food and nourishment.
Because hemp was so essential in every aspect of daily life, it came to embody blessing and purity.

Even today, Shinto priests use hemp fibers in purification rituals.
When they wave a wand wrapped with hemp, it is not only a symbolic act of banishing impurity, but also a way of releasing the hidden fears and anxieties within the human heart.

4. Connection to the Imperial Tradition

Hemp was also deeply connected to the Imperial family of Japan.
In the enthronement ceremony known as the Daijosai—the first great ritual after a new emperor ascends the throne—hemp cloth called aratatae is offered to the gods.

This hemp cloth represents the most sacred and pure offering, symbolizing the emperor’s prayer for peace and prosperity in a new era.
In this way, hemp served not only as a material, but as a spiritual support at the very heart of Japan’s national identity.

5. Conclusion

So we see, hemp was more than a useful plant.
It was a mirror of Japanese spirituality: a force that could ward off evil, restore purity, and sustain the spirit.

From daily life to the highest rituals of the nation, hemp has carried a quiet yet powerful role in shaping the way people connected with nature, with each other, and with the divine.

Thank you for joining me.

English is below.

サステナブルは“基本”となった今、
求められているのは「意味のある美しさ」と「目覚めた感性」。
本エピソードでは、素材としての「麻」に込められたレジスタンス（抵抗）と、
その先にある“再生”の可能性について語ります。

大量生産の時代を越えて、私たちは何を選び、何とつながって生きていくのか──
素材が静かに語りかけてくるメッセージに耳を澄ませてください。

Sustainability is now expected.
What’s needed next is meaningful beauty, and an awakened sensibility.
This episode explores hemp as resistance — a quiet yet powerful force guiding us toward spiritual and cultural reconnection.
Beyond being eco-friendly, hemp invites us to reimagine how we live, feel, and create.

(English script)-----

Hello, this is HIROMI KIM.
In this podcast, I explore the relationship between art, materials, and space from the perspective of an artist.
The theme of Episode 10 is: "Hemp as Resistance."

Why speak about hemp now?
Because we are standing at the threshold of a new era — one where we must face the question of value.

🔥 When “sustainable” becomes the baseline
Recently, a well-known American entrepreneur said this:

“From now on, environmental responsibility will be a given. But without refined aesthetics, a premium sensibility,
and even a touch of the sensual, you will not move people’s hearts.”

Sustainability, on its own, is not enough.
It must be wrapped in beauty.
We have entered an era where recycled materials and eco-packaging alone can no longer define the value of a brand.

🧵 Hemp has it all
Hemp is exactly the material we need today:
Its kindness in returning to the earth, its overwhelming vitality,
its functional beauty in breathability and durability.

But it’s more than that.
It holds a beauty that carries spirit —
an energy that speaks to both the physical and the soulful.

Hemp is not just a fiber.
It is a form of resistance —
a quiet yet powerful “NO” to mass production and overconsumption,
to lifeless spaces,
to the forgotten senses of the body.

🌱 Materials ask us questions
A material is not simply something to be used.
It is a question — one that shakes our senses, our memories, and our inner voice.

“What do you truly value in life?”
“What intention exists in this space?”
“Is it connected to life itself?”

Every time I touch hemp, I feel these questions rising within me.

🔔 To work with hemp, we must first awaken
Here lies the challenge:
Many of us have not yet awakened.

What’s needed is not a surface-level trend,
but a deep shift in consciousness.
To truly work with the spirit of hemp,
we need the sensitivity — and the responsibility — to face it fully.

As someone who creates in art, space, and design,
I want to receive hemp not just as a “material,” but as a message.

💫 Toward the next era — a quiet revolution led by materials
In the next era, meaningful beauty will be the measure of value.
Not just environmental care,
but the integration of mind and body,
culture and nature —
this is what will create new richness.

Hemp can be that bridge.
In fact, it always has been.

That is why I feel:
Hemp is resistance.
And it is renewal.

A quiet revolution, beginning with a material.
Now is the time to listen to its voice.

🧘‍♀️
If today’s episode has brought you even a small “realization” or “question”
as you think about art, design, or space-making,
I would be truly happy.

In the next episode, we will continue this journey into “materials and spirit.”
Please follow or subscribe so you don’t miss it.

Thank you for listening until the end.
This was HIROMI KIM.

English is below.

古来より、麻は日本人の暮らしと精神文化に深く根づいてきました。
神事や儀式、衣服や寝具、生と死をめぐるすべての場面に、静かに存在していた素材。

しかし戦後、その神聖な意味や役割は急速に失われていきました。
そして私たちは、「清め」「つながり」「祈り」といった大切な感覚を、素材とともに忘れてしまったのかもしれません。

今、麻と向き合うことで思い出せる“根”の感覚。
このエピソードでは、麻を通じて、喪失された精神性と再び出会う旅にご案内します。

For centuries, hemp was woven into the spiritual and everyday life of Japan —
from sacred rituals to daily garments, from birth to death.

But in modern times, we lost more than a material.
We lost the spirituality, purity, and connection it represented.

In this episode, I invite you on a journey —
to remember what hemp once meant, and what it can awaken in us today.

[English script]

Hello, this is HIROMI KIM.
In this podcast, I explore the relationship between art, materials, and space — from the perspective of an artist.

The theme of Episode 9 is hemp, and the spirituality we've forgotten.

In the past, hemp in Japan was not just a plant.
It was a symbol of purification and connection — a sacred material woven into the very center of daily and spiritual life.

In Shinto shrines, hemp was used in sacred ropes (shimenawa), bell cords, priest garments, and ritual wands.
This is because hemp was believed to hold the power to cleanse impurities and purify spaces.
Even today at Ise Grand Shrine, bundles of hemp — called Ōnusa — are still used in sacred purification rituals.

From the moment a baby is born, to a bride’s ceremonial kimono, to the cloth that wraps a body in death —
hemp has been with us throughout the journey of life.
It was also a part of everyday life: used in summer clothing, bedding, mosquito nets, and farming wear —
valued for its strength, breathability, and lightness.

In other words, hemp was deeply rooted in the wisdom of living in harmony with nature.

But after the war, with major shifts in societal values,
this spirituality that once dwelled in hemp began to fade from memory.
The reasons are many — political pressures, economic changes, imported ideologies.
Over time, hemp’s sacredness and cultural meaning were diminished, even feared.
At times, it was treated as something forbidden — something to be avoided altogether.

This, to me, is a profound loss.
Not just the loss of a material, but the loss of our original sense of prayer and connection.
Most people may not even realize what’s missing —
but I believe this has created a deep emptiness in the Japanese spirit.

As an artist, I now find myself returning to hemp —
reaching for its memory, not out of nostalgia,
but because I believe it holds something vital for the future.

In this era of disconnection — from nature, from others, even from ourselves —
I believe hemp’s quiet strength of purification, connection, and renewal
offers us a path forward.

Hemp gently asks us:
“What are you truly connected to?”

Now, more than ever, I want to listen to that voice.

Some say that plants emit their own energy —
and that sensitive people can even “speak” with them.
They say you can feel kami-ki — divine energy — when entering sacred spaces.
But many of us have lost that sensitivity.

This planet is a realm of plants.
We are alive because of them.
And yet, we’ve forgotten to listen.

There’s still much more I want to share about hemp.
Because I believe it’s time for us to remember.
To awaken.

In the next episode, we’ll dive into:
“Hemp as Resistance — Awakening the Inner Voice Through Material.”
Please subscribe, and stay tuned.

I hope this episode has offered some inspiration —
for those involved in creating spaces, in the arts, or anyone searching for a new form of expression.
If you enjoyed it, I’d be so grateful for your subscription or a follow.

Thank you for listening all the way to the end.
This was HIROMI KIM.

English is below.

第8回のテーマは、
「なぜアートは空間に必要なのか──欧米での習慣とアートの潜在的ポテンシャル」。

欧米の暮らしでは当たり前のようにアートが空間に溶け込んでいますが、そこにはどんな文化的背景や意味があるのでしょうか？
また、アートはただの装飾ではなく、人の心や空間の“質”にどんな影響を与えるのでしょうか？

このエピソードでは、アートが空間に果たす役割や、心理的な作用、素材としての可能性、そしていくつかの実例を交えてお話しします。
空間づくりやアートに関心のある方に、ヒントやインスピレーションをお届けできれば嬉しいです。

---

Episode 8: "Why Art Is Essential in Spaces — Western Customs and the Untapped Potential of Art"

***

Script (for reading)

Hello, I’m Hiromi Kim.
In this podcast, I explore stories related to art, materials, and spatial design, diving deep into a single theme each episode from the perspective of design and culture.

Today’s theme is:
"Why Art Is Essential in Spaces — Western Customs and the Untapped Potential of Art."

Have you ever visited someone’s home and found yourself captivated by the artwork displayed on their walls?
In many Western homes, art isn’t just part of the interior decor — it’s a form of self-expression embedded in daily life.

For instance, in Europe, since the Renaissance, displaying paintings and sculptures at home has symbolized one’s cultural sophistication and social standing.
Even today, many households have “gallery walls,” combining photographs and artworks to reflect personal values and life stories.
Art is not merely decoration; it’s like a language that speaks through the space.

So, why is art considered necessary in a space?

First, there’s a psychological aspect.
Colors, shapes, and composition influence not only our visual senses but also our emotions and thoughts.
For example, artworks that use natural materials or organic lines have been scientifically shown to reduce stress and enhance calm and focus.

Moreover, art elevates the quality of a space.
Even a single piece on a plain wall can add a sense of narrative to the room.
This is why art is increasingly used in hotels and offices — to express a brand’s values or philosophy.

Another important aspect is that art facilitates human connection.
“It’s an interesting piece,” or “Where did you find it?” —
Art can spark natural conversations and act as a bridge between people, offering both emotional resonance and a point of dialogue.

I’d also like to touch on the untapped potential of art.
Not only two-dimensional pieces, but also sculptural works add a tactile, atmospheric layer of sensation to a space.
They change with the light and deepen their presence over time —
art becomes a way to mark time within a space.

In addition, sustainable materials like hemp, which I work with personally, can also convey ethical living and our connection with nature.
Placing art in a space, I believe, is a deeply fundamental act —
it transforms that space into a place of meaning.

Let me share a few real-life examples.

In an apartment in SoHo, New York, abstract paintings and travel photos are arranged harmoniously on the walls, creating a personal story of “travel and memory.”
At a boutique hotel in London, naturally dyed textile artworks in the lobby express a harmony between nature and city life, inviting guests to relax.
And in a design office in Tokyo, acoustic hemp wall pieces are used to create a quiet yet creative atmosphere.

Each of these examples shows how art enhances the quality of a space.

What did you think?
I hope today’s episode offers a spark of inspiration — whether you're involved in spatial design, engaged in the arts, or simply exploring new forms of expression.
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you could subscribe or follow the show.

Thank you for listening all the way to the end.
This was Hiromi Kim.

English is below.

今日のテーマは
**「脱・大量生産。ラグジュアリーの新基準は“手仕事と意味”」**です。

“ラグジュアリー”という言葉、最近では少し意味が変わってきたように感じませんか？

かつてのラグジュアリーは、
高価な素材やブランド名で語られることが多かったと思います。
でも今、静かに価値観がシフトしています。

その変化のひとつが、**「手仕事」**への回帰。

私がどのようにして制作に向き合っているのか、よろしければお聞きください。

(English Script)

“Beyond Mass Production: The New Standard of Luxury is Craft and Meaning” (Approx. 5 minutes)

Hello, this is Hiromi Kim.
Welcome to my podcast, where I share stories about art, materials, and spaces—through the lens of design and culture.

Today’s theme is:
“Beyond Mass Production: The New Standard of Luxury is Craft and Meaning.”

Have you noticed how the meaning of the word “luxury” has started to shift recently?
Luxury used to be all about expensive materials and brand names.
But now, quietly and steadily, our values are beginning to change.

One of the key shifts is a return to craftsmanship.
We’re beginning to appreciate things that hold the time and touch of the maker—qualities that mass production simply can’t replicate.
These are the kinds of things that are now seen as truly luxurious.

When I create my own works using hemp,
I spend time with each material—
weaving, braiding, and composing piece by piece.
It’s a process that demands a lot of time and sensitivity.
It feels less like efficiency, and more like a kind of prayer.

Recently, handcrafted art like this has started to find its way into high-end interiors.
In homes, hotels, restaurants, and galleries,
one-of-a-kind pieces are elevating the entire atmosphere of a space.

I don't think of my work as mere “decoration.”
I want each piece to be a storyteller within the space—
something that gently speaks to the emotions and sensibilities of the people who gather there.

To do that, the why behind the work becomes essential:
Why was this piece created? Why were these materials chosen?
The meaning and context behind the work give it depth—and that, I believe, is at the heart of this new idea of luxury.

Anything that takes time and care also carries a reason.
And that reason, that intention,
is becoming the true core of what we now call “luxury.”

So let me ask:
What does “richness” or “abundance” mean to you?
I hope my work can pose that question—and maybe offer a quiet answer.

So, what did you think?
Today, we talked about the shift away from mass production and how craft and meaning are redefining luxury.

I hope this episode was inspiring for those of you working in space design, art, or anyone looking to explore new creative possibilities.

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe to the channel or give it a rating.

Thanks for listening all the way to the end.
See you next time!

English script is below.

今日のテーマは

「アート作品を“壁紙”や“ファブリック”で終わらせないために」です。

ヘンプを使った作品は、ときに「壁掛け」「テキスタイル」「ファブリック」というカテゴリーで語られてしまうことがあります。

私がどのようにして制作に向き合っているのか、よろしければお聞きください。

(English Script)

“Beyond Wallpaper and Fabric: Redefining the Role of Art”

Hello, this is Hiromi Kim.
In this program, I share stories about art, materials, and spaces, all through the lens of design and culture.

Today's theme is:
“Beyond Wallpaper and Fabric: Redefining the Role of Art.”

The material at the heart of my work is hemp—a plant-based fiber known for its strength and flexibility. It ages beautifully over time, gently “breathing” in harmony with the space around it.

However, artworks made with hemp are sometimes categorized as “wall hangings,” “textiles,” or simply “fabric.”
And while this might be technically accurate to some extent,
what I truly aim to express is something beyond that—art as presence.

The words wallpaper and fabric often imply a decorative function.
But an art piece is not merely something to be looked at—it should possess a presence of its own, engaging with the space and building a relationship with the surrounding atmosphere.

To me, it's not about “using” materials—it's about “dialoguing” with them.
The warmth you feel when you touch the surface, the subtle fluctuations in the fibers, the shadows that emerge when lit by natural light...
These qualities evoke what I call a “memory of being”—something that doesn’t exist in mass-produced objects.

This presence comes to life most vividly in spaces dedicated to exhibition.
In galleries, architectural spaces, and museums, works of art don’t just get “viewed”—they engage the viewer’s body and senses in a deeper dialogue.

I believe in the power of art to resonate with space, to shift the emotions and awareness of those who encounter it.
Not just as a material,
not just as fabric,
but as a presence that exists as a work of art.

By embracing this perspective, I believe the spaces we inhabit can become richer, more sensorial, and more deeply alive—spaces that truly breathe with us.

How was it?
Today, I spoke on the theme: “Beyond Wallpaper and Fabric: Redefining the Role of Art.”
I hope this episode serves as a source of inspiration for those involved in spatial design, art, or anyone seeking new creative possibilities.
Please consider subscribing or following the channel.
Thank you for listening until the end—this was Hiromi Kim.

English script is below.

第5回目となる今回は、日本文化における“麻（ヘンプ）”の神聖な意味、そして空間におけるその力についてお話しします。

これからの空間づくりにおいて、大きなヒントになれば嬉しいです。

[English script ]

Bringing Sacred Materials into Space — The Meaning of Hemp in Japanese Culture

Hello, this is Hiromi Kim.
In this program, I share stories about art, materials, and space from the perspective of design and culture.

Today's theme is:
“Bringing Sacred Materials into Space — The Meaning of Hemp in Japanese Culture.”

In my work, hemp—asa—is a core material.
While I value its environmental sustainability, my choice to work with hemp is also deeply rooted in its sacred significance in Japanese culture.

Take the Ise Grand Shrine, for example—one of the central places of Shinto, Japan’s indigenous spirituality.
At Ise, hemp is used in almost all essential ceremonial tools: the cloths that wrap the sacred objects, shimenawa (sacred ropes), and mihobari (sacred curtains).
In these rituals, hemp is known as ōnusa—literally “great hemp”—because it has long been believed to purify spaces and drive away negative energy.

Hemp fabric fluttering in the wind was thought to move unseen energies—what we call ki—and harmonize the atmosphere of a space.

Let me read you a passage from the official website of Ise Jingu:

The sacred talisman of Ise Shrine is called “Jingū Taima” (Grand Shrine Hemp Talisman). “Taima” is another way of reading “ōnusa,” and refers to a ritual implement used in purification. In ancient times, these talismans were distributed by Ise priests known as “onshi,” and with the will of Emperor Meiji, they began to be distributed nationwide so that people across Japan could pay their respects to the Grand Shrine morning and evening.

As you can see, hemp was never just a material—it was a spiritual device for tuning the atmosphere and flow of energy in a space.

In my own creative process, I see hemp not merely as a material, but as a resonant body.
The fibers respond to air, allow light to pass through, and naturally shape themselves under the influence of gravity.
It’s as if the hemp makes the invisible “breathing” of the space visible.

Even today, these unique qualities of hemp are being applied in various types of spaces.
For example, in one private home, hemp is used as a partition between the living room and a traditional Japanese tatami room.
At the entrance of a small shop, a hemp curtain (noren) serves both as a gentle threshold and a spiritual ward against bad luck.
When I install my hemp works in homes or galleries, I often feel that the atmosphere of the space shifts.
There’s a noticeable change—as if the space becomes quieter, more transparent.

I believe this is due to the inherent power of the material—
a quiet sacredness, passed down through generations, that still resonates with our modern senses on some deeper, perhaps unconscious, level.

We don’t experience space only with our eyes—we perceive it through our skin, and through the energy it gives off.
That’s why the materials we choose for our spaces shouldn’t be just decorative elements,
but rather presences that harmonize the flow of energy.

Hemp truly has that capacity.
It is a fiber of memory that connects the past and the future—
a breathing material that holds both sacredness and warmth.
And it’s my hope to continue bringing this material into the spaces we live in.

How was today’s episode?
I spoke about “Bringing Sacred Materials into Space — The Meaning of Hemp in Japanese Culture.”
I hope this episode offers insights for those involved in spatial design, art, or anyone seeking new possibilities.
If you enjoyed it, I’d be grateful if you subscribe or follow the channel.

Thank you for listening until the end.
This was Hiromi.