Somewhere in Tokyo.
The place was tucked away in a residential neighborhood, yet it possessed a presence that naturally drew the eye. On the red mailbox, a familiar name.
GHOOOST, the duo behind it.
Things created by hand, and the place they’re born
I am drawn to things created by human hands.
During what we call the First Industrial Revolution, humanity used the shift toward mechanization to achieve mass production and cost reduction. And now, we live in an era where AI and 3D printers are widespread—an age where you can complete a creation just by knowing how to operate these tools. Thanks to the development of machinery and information technology, countless "things" are surely being birthed into this world today.
I am truly amazed by these technological advances, and I’m excited to see the future we envisioned as children gradually taking concrete form.
And yet, perhaps because we are in such times, I feel an unparalleled sense of admiration and respect for things created by "human hands and human skills"—as if in defiance of that trend.
I recently visited the studio of GHOOOST, with whom I’ve been deepening our friendship since last year. Their signature work is the TWIST FLOWER. If you aren't familiar with it, please be sure to read the blog post below.
I’ve started seeing more people with these humorous, adorable flowers blooming on their bikes. At bicycle events, it’s no exaggeration to say that this was the most eye-catching item, with many people falling in love with its charm despite its small size. They traveled to new homes at a speed that exceeded all expectations.
I hear that many fans place orders repeatedly just to get the illustrated backing cards that come with online purchases. Of course, even these cards are all hand-drawn. Normally, one might feel inclined to create a few designs and then mass-produce them by printing, but I believe it’s precisely because they cherish "handiwork" that they remain so particular about it.
The evolution of Twist Flower
Evolution doesn't only happen in machinery or information technology; it also occurs within the realm of handiwork. It seems there has been a change in the Twist Flower as well. And there is always a trigger for change...
The center circle, the key color of the flower, fell off. And it happened to the very Twist Flower I had attached to my own bike.
The two of them noticed that the center circle of the flower on my bike had beautifully flown off to parts unknown. (It seems I must have lost it somewhere along the way while I was rafting down a river by bike in Hokkaido, or perhaps after circling an island and racing up a mountain... my apologies!)
Apparently, this later became known as the "Chan-Mai Incident" between the two of them.
The intro has become long, but this event led to a change. They decided to part ways with a certain adhesive they had trusted, and instead, sew the pieces together. Now reinforced by stitching, this upgraded Twist Flower is sure to please those high-spirited riders who want to play to their heart's content on their bikes.
Twist Flower Circles Original
Finally! They have created an original colorway for Circles.
On a white wire, flowers in red and green—the Circles corporate colors—are blooming vividly.
Our focus was on the "round petals."
Just as our name "Circles" suggests, we love round things (circles = connections), and we hold them very dear. We asked them to make the petals round, putting that sentiment into the design.
Now available in our WEB SHOP!!
Some people even stop by Circles seeking a Twist Flower while visiting Nagoya on business. Whenever I meet such people, I am incredibly happy, but I have also always wished that we could help flowers bloom on the bikes of those living far away...
Thank you so much for waiting.
Starting now, we are launching sales in our long-awaited WEB SHOP!!
The flowers will be available in two options: assorted (random) and the Circles original color. Please note that the assorted option is completely random.
GHOOOST Twist Flower
Assorted / Original 990 JPY each (incl. tax)
Be sure to make flowers bloom on your beloved bike as well.
Even as information technology advances, handiwork will not fade
Returning to the point at the beginning, I’ve been seeing and hearing more literature with nuances like, "Can humans beat AI!?" and "A world encroached upon by AI."
In terms of intelligence, AI is indeed extremely superior. Even so, I believe it will never surpass human "handiwork." Handiwork... it encompasses everything from daily goods to fine art: the wonderfully beautiful calligraphy written by someone or other circulating on social media, sand art, pottery, handmade bicycles. I believe all of these are instances of handiwork from end to end.
Within them lies the creator's imagination and technique, crafted with a soul that pours in human heart, skill, and body. I think the ability to find charm in this is uniquely human, so everyone, please do try and pick up a work born "from human hands."
