About a 10-minute walk from Akihabara, you will see Yushima Seido, quietly standing in the lush greenery. Yushima Seido is a Confucius temple built in the Edo period, and later the Shoheizaka Gakumonsho, a school directly under the shogunate, was also built here. Today, it is a mecca for learning, visited by many students preparing for entrance exams.

Located near Yushima Seido is the atelier shop of "yuruliku." Yuruliku is a stationery label established by two designers, Kinue Ooneda and Koji Ikegami. They carefully create and sell stationery that is simple yet somehow appealing.

A place to freely design things that many different people can use

Yuruliku was born from the desire of the two, who worked as designers for a company, to have a place where they could "create things freely." The reason they decided to design stationery is because it is an item they both like and they thought it would be "something that many people could use."

"If I was going to create something, I wanted to deliver it to people of all ages and backgrounds. Stationery is something that everyone has come into contact with, and is familiar to many people. That's why I chose stationery. My desire to create things that many people can use hasn't changed even now."

Yuruliku began their activities in 2005. At first, they did not have a shop, but instead rented a gallery periodically to hold solo exhibitions and present their own work. After about five years of operation, the two decided it was time to open their own shop and began looking for a place to do so. Then, one of the galleries they regularly used introduced them to a certain basement property. Ooneda recalls the moment they viewed the property and says the following.

"The property is close to Jimbocho, where many of our favorite books are gathered, and there is a moderate amount of greenery, so I thought it was a great location. From the property, I could see the trains, which I love, from the window, so it felt like fate that this was the place for me."

The two immediately decided to base themselves in the property and opened an atelier shop, and even now, more than 10 years later, they are still making and delivering stationery in the same place.

Easy-to-use design with ample space to create a sense of attachment

The two of them are responsible for the production of many products, such as tool cases.
The design, which is so meticulous down to the smallest detail, is made possible by the two of them also taking responsibility for the production.

The two value "ease of use" and "attachment" when designing stationery. Their products are packed with many details so that customers can use them for a long time with an attachment to them.

The "FLAT tool case" series is a product that symbolizes the pair's commitment. This series is designed to help people live their daily lives as light as possible in this modern age where people tend to own fewer possessions. At first glance, it appears to be a very ordinary and simple product, but the position, size, and specifications of the pockets reveal the pair's commitment.

"Attachment" is an important keyword for Yuruliku. While each person has their own way of feeling attached to something, the two of them place great importance on "creating designs that do not limit how they are used."

"We don't use our products, but the people who buy them. So there are surely many different ways for different people to use them. That's why at Yuruliku, we try not to limit the ways people can use it too much, and we try to leave some room for flexibility. We're always careful not to force our ideas that 'this is good' on people as the creators."

They seek out what is best for the user, not the creator. The foundation of their designs is always their concern for the people who will use them.

Our goal is to create a "partner on your desk"

The "Aka-Ao Series" is a long-selling product that has been around since the company's early days.
It is a series that is still loved by many people who have been using it for a long time and those who are looking to replace their old ones.

Yuruliku will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year. Nowadays, people from a wide range of backgrounds, from small children to the elderly, and even people from overseas, visit our atelier shop.

When asked what he would like yuruliku's products to be for customers, Ikegami replied, "I guess it's like a companion."

"I would be happy if we could create a situation where people realize that Yuruliku products have been with them for a long time. People stop using tools that they find difficult to use. So, if you realize that you've been using a product for a long time, that must mean that there is something good about it. So I would be happy if Yuruliku becomes like a companion that quietly stays by your side."

Yuruliku was started by Ikegami and Ooneda with the desire to create things freely. The name Yuruliku is derived from the words "yururi" (relaxed) and "yukkuri" (slowly).

As the name suggests, Yuruliku's products slowly become familiar to many people, becoming like a "charm" that gently fits into their lives. This may be what the two of them call "attachment" and what they are aiming for.

yuruliku
Address: B1, Toshin Building, 2-1-3 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021
HP: http://www.yuruliku.com/index.html
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/yuruliku/
*For details on business hours and holidays, please check the link above.