The invisible parts are also beautiful,
In pursuit of such jewelry
From Friday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 12th, 2025, MIN GALLERY will be holding a solo exhibition by jewelry artist Sayumi Yokouchi.
Yokouchi moved to the United States after graduating from high school and spent over a quarter of a century in California and New York. However, her jewelry pieces, which are delicate and elegant, yet evoke the painstaking, time-consuming work required to create them, also have a strong nuance that is reminiscent of traditional Japanese crafts.
Yokouchi has always been inspired by the times he spent, the things he saw, the people he associated with, and the places he traveled to, creating new works. In this solo exhibition, he will be showcasing recent works that he has woven together while carefully reviewing his past memories. We managed to find time in between his days of immersed in his creative work to visit his studio.
This is a scene in a corner of the studio, where you can't help but sense Yokouchi's aesthetic sense and delicacy in the casually stacked cans and small tools hanging on the wall.
A small atelier is a wonderland of ideas and play
Sayumi Yokouchi's studio is located in a quiet residential area along Tokyo's Chuo Line. The moment I entered the room, bathed in sunlight, I couldn't help but let out a cry of joy. It was a cozy space that had been carefully renovated from an old apartment building, with fresh potted plants placed throughout, not a speck of dust between them, and a glass pot filled with tea on the table, with the ice making a clanging sound as it swayed.
Welcome, please come in.
Yokouchi-san, the owner of this small castle, greeted us with a gentle welcome. Numerous books, miniature tins, and bowls were neatly arranged on the trolley table and desk, and each container contained meticulously placed metal parts, buttons, and other items, just like an antique collector.
I've met designers and artists before, and one thing I've learned is that the spaces they live in are permeated with nuances that are common to their work. It's said that "a name reflects the body," but I was reminded of the saying that "a room reflects its owner."
The green tea, served in a cool glass pot, was accompanied by rice flour cookies, which Yokouchi says she "loves," and a subtle flower garnish, creating a comfortable atmosphere that felt more like a neighborhood tea party than an interview.
A small beauty formed by the overlapping of repetition and coincidence
I thought Yokouchi was a metalwork jewelry artist who has been active in the United States and Japan for a long time. However, when I looked around the studio, I found a variety of adorable items, including unique objects made from processed paper, custom-made jewelry pieces that looked like they were in progress, antique buttons, and small dolls that looked like they had been "tricked" into. What exactly is her main job?
I couldn't help but want to check it out.
"My main job is making jewelry out of metal, but sometimes I reach for paper or beads. For me, they're all part of my creative process, and I don't think of them as separate things. Look at this (she shows me a catalogue of my work published in the US in 2011). I made this in the 2000s, and it's a candle stand with a solitary pearl ring motif. Isn't it interesting? (laughs) The pearl part is made out of a candle, and you can actually light it." (Yokouchi)
Although Yokouchi's style has changed over the past few years, what remains consistent is the meticulous attention to detail that is memorable at a glance and the eloquent storytelling that seems to appeal to you. The charm is overwhelming, and it is clear that there is some kind of story hidden within. Yokouchi's works have a unique atmosphere that captivates you and makes you want to look at them forever.
"Repetition and coincidence. If I were to describe my production style in words, those two words would suffice. Each and every part that makes up a piece of jewelry or an object is incredibly detailed, and I patiently create so many of them that it amazes me. I also create a variety of different designs. I make various parts in parallel, and sometimes I stop and leave them for a while, and then, at some point, several parts come together as if drawn to each other, and are sublimated into a work of art. There are parts that I do unintentionally, and I think that this is the best part of it." (Yokouchi)
Yokouchi-san lovingly showed us his past works. His style seems to have changed considerably from one era to the next, but if you look closely, you'll see that the characters that live within them are always the same person. They always have a delicate, breathtaking creativity, and a playful spirit.
Something like mist or haze eventually becomes words
Listening to her stories, Yokouchi's jewelry begins to look almost like living creatures. If you put your ear close to it, you might actually hear a voice coming from within.
"For me, one of the most important things when creating jewelry and other pieces is words. To put it dramatically, I believe that jewelry cannot exist on its own because it is beautiful. Although it is invisible to the eye, I want it to have some kind of spiritual reason for existence, a story, a necessity, and I believe that these things need to be wrapped in words so that they can be conveyed to a third party, rather than just vaguely. However, it is not like I have a definite word or theme from the beginning... Well, I imagine it as something like onomatopoeia, or a vague image of color. As I work silently, with these things in the back of my mind, little by little they begin to appear and become words." (Yokouchi)
Even though I had researched Yokouchi's past work before meeting her, the words she spoke really struck a chord with me. For example, the title of her solo exhibition is "Absence Is Present," and the title of one of her works is "Ring My Bells." From the moment I read them, the nuances and emotions slowly seeped in. I wonder how she established this style.
"Ring My Bells" is a mysterious ring in which a Kagura-like object made of a string of small bells sways on the back of the hand. Yokouchi has been creating this unforgettable design of jewelry since the 2000s, using a variety of materials and configurations.
During his time in New York, he continued to admire the beauty of the world
I feel that the answer derives above all from the half of her life that Yokouchi has lived so far.
"My parents loved to travel and had connections abroad, so from a young age I had the sense that a wide world awaited me on the other side of the ocean. However, I really didn't like being tied down by rules and regulations. I was good at English and art at school, and had no interest in anything else. So my parents were reluctant to let me go to the United States as soon as I graduated from high school. I never expected what was supposed to be just a few years to turn into 28 years," says Yokouchi.
While breathing in the free air of California, Yokouchi learned about art and ways of life outside of Japan, and after moving to New York, she realized once again that there are other worlds within the same country, and gradually came to understand that what inspires her most is to face herself while also maintaining communication with others.While working for a jewelry brand, she also engaged in her own creative work, and furthermore, seeking the stimulation she gets from interacting with many people, she continued to take part in educational activities such as workshops.
One of the people who had the greatest influence on Yokouchi was probably Federico Di Bella, the creative director of Jewelry & Art, who was a very up-and-coming designer at the time. When Di Bella moved from San Francisco to New York, he recognized Yokouchi's skills as a jewelry prototype maker and brought her into the project.
"The space he created was like a cabinet, a gallery, filled with rare and carefully selected beautiful things. Founder, director, and designer Federico di Bella has an incredible aesthetic sense, and working with him may have slightly changed my definition of 'beauty'. Federico would collect all sorts of beautiful objects from all over the world, spread them out on the table, and ask, 'How can we make this even more valuable?' Although they may seem unrelated, they had all passed through the threshold of Federico's sense. For example, a fragment of a 17th-century antique cameo or coral found in Italy... I was truly amazed when I saw whalebone brought from a faraway land. My mission is to process these items and give them value that customers will desire. His ingenuity is of course important, but it was a great learning experience to realize how different people's perspectives and standards of beauty can be." (Yokouchi)
The many precious books that capture the times she has lived through are still treasured to this day. She says that these times have become an essential part of her life. Although she now creates works in a completely different style, the path she took during her time there has shaped her present.
New beauty can be found by taking a different perspective
The realization that "if you have a different perspective, you can see a different kind of beauty" has influenced not only Yokouchi's creative style but also her way of life. Before interviewing her, I was curious about the year 2018 when Yokouchi decided to return to Japan. It wasn't the year she graduated from graduate school or left "DE VERA," nor was it 2011, when the world was shocked by the terrorist attacks. When I asked her, the reason was simple:
"From around 2015, before my father passed away, I started returning to Japan more frequently with my mother and sister to care for him. I started going back and forth about three times a year, which was an unprecedented pace, and I began to think, 'Huh? Japan isn't so cramped after all. On the contrary, it's a convenient and friendly place.' It's strange, isn't it? Maybe it's because of my age," says Yokouchi.
For Yokouchi, who had spent 28 years in America and obtained a green card, America had become like home. However, knowing that he wouldn't lose anything by returning to his home country, he returned to Tokyo. At first, he struggled with the language. "I couldn't find the right phrases. I had lived in English for so long. I relied on books, conversations with friends, comedy shows and the radio. I listened to all of that stuff all the time and took a fresh look at Japanese," he recalled with a smile.
Yokouchi Sayumi. Listening to her quiet speech, there is a unique nuance to her voice, like a cheerful young girl and an enlightened philosopher all living together. When I told her this, she became a little embarrassed and said modestly, "I've gotten used to it quite a bit, but I still feel like my Japanese skills haven't fully returned. I'm choosing my words carefully as I speak."
Inspiration from teaching
Along with his creative work, there is another thing he continues to do, and that is his work in the field of education. Yokouchi is currently working as a part-time lecturer for metalwork students at the Department of Industrial, Craft and Design at Musashino Art University. Isn't it hard to find time to teach enthusiastic art students in between his intensive creative work? When asked, he replied, "It is hard, but I can't quit."
"My job is not just to teach techniques. I continued this even when I was in America because the experience of sharing with others the difficulty and joy of turning a concept into reality was a source of inspiration for me. If there are 10 people, there are 10 different ways of thinking, and by coming into contact with these, I am reminded every day that there are many different perspectives on beauty." (Yokouchi)
This attitude is humble, and the way she speaks quietly reminds me of a Yamato Nadeshiko who appears in Yasujiro Ozu's films. When I blurted this out, Yokouchi-san smiled, blushing. 
To ring the bell in your heart, the journey never ends
Yokouchi has a supple sensibility and delicate works. But the impression I get from her is one of a person with a hidden inner strength. The jewelry she creates can sometimes give off a poetic or delicate image, but there is also a strength within it.
When I first saw "Ring My Bells," one of the series names mentioned above, I was astonished by the freedom and beauty of its design. Bells swaying quietly on the back of the hand. Some of the pieces actually ring, but even those that don't make it seem as though you can hear the high-pitched sound of bells in your head when you look at them. Let me ring my bell, fill my heart with joy, and add color to my life with inspiration. This is certainly not jewelry that simply adorns me.
"Beauty alone is not enough. I want to create a work that makes people feel that the hidden meaning, the words, the story, the visuals, and even the heart that holds it in their hands are all beautiful. That's why I continue on this journey of creation." (Yokouchi)
At this solo exhibition, you will be able to see and even touch Yokouchi's works. We will also be exhibiting some of her past works (not for sale) that will give you a glimpse into the path she has walked. Please come and see her unique worldview for yourself.
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SAYUMI YOKOUCHI Jewelry Exhibition
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Sayumi Yokouchi
Born in Tokyo. Moved to the United States in 1990 after graduating from high school. Studied at California Institute of the Arts, and after graduating, studied metal art at the State University of New York at New Paltz, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree. Since then, based in New York, she has gained experience in the fields of craft and jewelry design, while also continuing to create her own works and teach. While in the United States, she also worked for New York-based brands "Me & Ro" and "DE VERA." After living in the United States for 28 years, she returned to Japan in 2018. She currently continues to create works based in Tokyo.
Text by Mayuko Yamaguchi