AJI PROJECT
These "ROCK END" bookends, made from Aji stone with its distinctive mottled pattern, are truly striking.
The contrast between the natural, rugged appearance of the rock and its carefully polished, straight edges is quite impressive.
This product is by "AJI PROJECT," a beautiful design interior brand that uses Aji stone.
Aji stone is a high-grade granite quarried from the rock face of Mt. Goken, which spans Mure-cho and Aji-cho in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.
With the desire to share its appeal with more people, the brand was launched in 2012 by 13 local stonemasons and volunteers from the chamber of commerce.
Aji stone is a historic stone material that has been traditionally used in construction and statues for over 400 years.
AJI PROJECT sublimates its natural form and texture into designs that fit contemporary lifestyles.
Rich texture woven by differences in grain size
The minerals contained in Aji stone have small crystals and are classified into "Koma-me" (fine-grained) and "Chu-me" (medium-grained) depending on the size of their particles.
Also, brownish stones with a high iron content are called "Sabi-ishi" (rust stone) in the production area.
The Koma-me on the bottom left is characterized by its fine texture, and when carefully polished, it reveals a beautiful pattern like a double ikat weave.
The Chu-me on the bottom right is characterized by small grains of biotite, one of the main components of Aji stone, and appears slightly whiter than Koma-me.
The Sabi-ishi in the center top has long been used for gardens, but in recent years, it has also attracted attention as a building material.
It gets its name from its brownish "rust color," and it's surprising that it deepens with age, and the beauty of its natural surface is said to have a healing effect.
Elegant and sturdy Aji stone
Aji stone is a type of granite, but it is also called "the diamond of granite" due to the beauty of its fine crystals.
Aji stone is also characterized by its high hardness and resistance to weathering.
Because the fine crystals are strongly bound together, it is said that delicate craftsmanship, which cannot be imitated by other stones, can be applied.
These rock ends utilize this characteristic, featuring a design where one stone is split into two.
The surfaces that come into contact with books are polished to prevent damage, and inconspicuous clear rubber is attached to the bottom as a non-slip measure, combining both functionality and aesthetics.
It pairs well with vintage furniture, and a rich black shelf further enhances the stone's texture and substantial feel.
It creates a modern ambiance and adds an elegant accent, whether in Japanese or Western-style settings.
A form that naturally blends into any space
AJI PROJECT strives to develop products that value the material feel of Aji stone and consider its place in the environment.
Although seemingly unconventional, they surprisingly blend naturally into various spaces, as if they had always been there.
A stone shape that brings fresh air to a space
The Aji stone producing region has a long history as a thriving stone industry, and it is also known for the high skill of its craftsmen.
Here, specialized craftsmen work in a division of labor, performing tasks such as splitting, carving, and polishing.
Each craftsman utilizes their expertise, and through each step from quarrying to processing, a single product is created.
AJI PROJECT's items boast delicate and exceptional quality, harnessing the unique texture of Aji stone while working with this natural material that emits the energy nurtured by the earth.
Thinking about where to display them in my room is one of my recent pleasures.
