Welcome to Terntern
We turn on the lights
and there awaits a special world enshrined in a gourd
our hearts feel uplifted
and our daily concerns melt away
Terntern
The name of my store is a combination of my daughter’s nickname for me “tantan” and “tern” from lantern, as well as the sound of the Japanese word for gourd “hyotan”.
![ternternの想い](https://terntern.com/cms/wp-content/themes/terntern/assets/img/concept-img01.jpg)
STORY
Takao Ota
Born in Toyohashi, Japan
I loved making things as a child and started making ethnic jewelry in my teens.
My avid curiosity to try many things led me to southeast Asia in my 20s where I encountered a Djembe drum for the first time.
My love for music later led me to Africa where I joined a traditional music workshop and I discovered a world which fulfilled both my love for music and creating things.
It was in Africa that I also discovered the world of gourds and saw how they were used in so many ways in daily life including making instruments.
In 2017 I moved to Ogawa village in Nagano prefecture. I had the chance to see a speaker made out of a gourd at a friend's house and it had a huge impact on my life. I recalled the time I spent in Africa and was also reminded of ancient Japan where I could imagine gourds being used in daily life. This was when I first felt inspired to create things out of gourds.
Special lamps are created from the gourds which I cultivate and harvest myself.
It's hard to explain why but all I know is that I love gourds!
![Takao Ota](https://terntern.com/cms/wp-content/themes/terntern/assets/img/concept-profile.jpg)