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”.
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!
