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日本の伝統的な避暑地、鎌倉。最近は外国からの観光客も増えて混み合っているが、ちょっと足を延ばせば静かで落ち着いた、本来の鎌倉の良さが満喫できる。そんな場所のひとつが鎌倉山。深い緑のなか、鳥のさえずりが心地いい。
「ここに暮らしていると、それだけで涼を嗜むことができますよ」と話すのは鎌倉山に居を構えるアートディレクターの青木二郎さん。数々の有名キャンペーンを手がける、クリエイティビティにあふれたクリエイターだ。
「この家での楽しみは自然豊かな環境と、家庭菜園です」。青木さんは広いバルコニーを利用して植物を育てている。その種類は驚くほど豊かで、ベビーリーフやローズマリー、トマト、レタスなどの野菜からミカン、コダマスイカ、デラウェアといった果物まで。 こうして植物と触れ合うことでチルアウトできるという。
「面白いと思ったらとことん凝ってしまう性分。だから植物を育てるために、土づくりから始めています。そもそも余った土はゴミとして出すことができません。ならばそれを利用しようと思いました。菌を混ぜて発酵させて、土を入れ替えながら育てた野菜や果物は格別な美味しさです」。鎌倉の深い自然に囲まれながら、土をつくり、野菜や果物を育てる。そんなスローな暮らしが青木さんの感性を豊かにしているのかも知れない。
Chill out by creating soil and growing vegetables.
Kamakura: The traditional Japanese summer retreat Kamakura, Japan’s traditional summer retreat, is now crowded with tourists, but a short journey away lies Kamakurayama, where the deep greenery and bird songs create a tranquil atmosphere.
“Living here alone lets you enjoy the coolness," says Jiro Aoki, an art director residing in Kamakurayama. Known for his famous ad campaigns, he is a very creative individual.
“The joy of living here comes from the rich natural environment and my home garden.” Aoki utilizes his spacious balcony to grow various plants, including baby leaves, rosemary, tomatoes, lettuce, citrus, watermelon, and Delaware grapes. Interacting with these plants helps him chill out.
“When I find something interesting, I get deeply involved. That’s why I started with soil preparation for growing plants. You can’t just dispose of excess soil as garbage, so I decided to use it. By mixing in bacteria and letting it ferment, I can replace the soil and grow vegetables and fruits with exceptional taste.” Surrounded by Kamakura's lush nature, Aoki creates soil and grows vegetables and fruits, enriching his senses with this slow-paced lifestyle.
Chill out by creating soil and growing vegetables.
Kamakura: The traditional Japanese summer retreat Kamakura, Japan’s traditional summer retreat, is now crowded with tourists, but a short journey away lies Kamakurayama, where the deep greenery and bird songs create a tranquil atmosphere.
“Living here alone lets you enjoy the coolness," says Jiro Aoki, an art director residing in Kamakurayama. Known for his famous ad campaigns, he is a very creative individual.
“The joy of living here comes from the rich natural environment and my home garden.” Aoki utilizes his spacious balcony to grow various plants, including baby leaves, rosemary, tomatoes, lettuce, citrus, watermelon, and Delaware grapes. Interacting with these plants helps him chill out.
“When I find something interesting, I get deeply involved. That’s why I started with soil preparation for growing plants. You can’t just dispose of excess soil as garbage, so I decided to use it. By mixing in bacteria and letting it ferment, I can replace the soil and grow vegetables and fruits with exceptional taste.” Surrounded by Kamakura's lush nature, Aoki creates soil and grows vegetables and fruits, enriching his senses with this slow-paced lifestyle.
青木二郎
Jiro Aoki
アートディレクター。
多摩美術大学美術学部グラフィックデザイン学科卒業。
ADKを経て、2010年に株式会社ハツメイ設立。2022年より鎌倉長谷にて古書店も営む。日本工学院専門学校、桜美林大学非常勤講師。