This man gathers origami sculptures left at Japanese dinners as tips | art and culture



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Yuki Tatsumi was waiting tables at an izakaya pub in Kyoto, Japan when something on the table caught his eye – a pack of chopsticks folded and manipulated into an abstract form. It has been the catalyst for a collection that now includes some 15,000 pieces of origami art found by customers, folding the paper sleeves that cover chopsticks in Japanese restaurants. "The very first one I found was nothing more than a junk," says Tatsumi, 27, but it made him think.

"What if it was a message from the customers? The cleaning of the tables suddenly became something fun, just thinking about it that way."

A collection of d & rsquo; Origami made of baguette sticks belonging to Yuki Tatsumi in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture.
(AFP)

The Single Point

Tipping in restaurants is not standard in Japan, but Tatsumi came to see small folded pieces of paper left by customers as a "Japanese trick" and began to monitor different types. He quickly found that there was a great variety in the pieces left by customers, perhaps no surprise in a country where origami is a popular pastime and taught in schools [19659002"IhavediscoveredthatmanyofthemhaveobjectsinJapansuchasafanacraneandaturtle"hesaid"I'vealsofoundadecoratedtablelikeanaquariumwithfoldedpaperlikefishandseaweed"

Excited by his discoveries, he decided to diversify and ask other restaurants to donate the pieces left by their customers. In April 2016, he began a one-year road trip, asking hundreds of sushi restaurant restaurants to walk around noodles to share their paper sleeves transformed with him. , and even reluctance, on the part of restless restaurateurs to know why he would like something that goes to the trash.

But 185 places north of Hokkaido south of Okinawa promised to keep everything they found.

An envelope of sticks folded and grafted in the form of a swan.
(AFP)

Better Than Money

"Many restaurateurs who helped me later said that they found now more gratifying than anybody else. a real tip, "said Tatsumi. "It may seem hard to believe, especially for those living outside of Japan, but this way of showing that each person is grateful is something very pleasant."

Currently a researcher in an art museum in Kameoka near Kyoto, Tatsumi has about 15,000 pieces, each stored in his own little wooden box, as a precious jewel. Many are simple, with dinners that just form an improvised baguette resting out of the sleeve. But others are elaborate, like a black and white patterned piece forming a dress, or a blue twisted snake envelope, with the folds following the patterns on the paper.

He sees them as an unsaid message between customers and their waiters in restaurants, and worries that automated service is becoming more common in Japan, the "advice" that he collects will disappear. "When you go into a restaurant and only treat one machine, I do not think you would do these items, I really think they are products created only when people communicate in person."

Tatsumi already exhibited his collection in Japan, and plans to take him to art events in Paris and South Korea later this year. He wants the collection to remind people to show their appreciation and consideration for what they have. "Japan is a very rich country, where you can find something to eat anywhere and anytime, but I think people are less and less grateful for what they do. have or who does the food. "Money is not the only way to show your warm feelings," he said.

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