HULS Gallery Tokyo

　

　

　

When we first visited the HULS Gallery in Akasaka, Tokyo, we felt a quietly vibrant ambiance.
Centred around tea-ware such as Arita-ware hōhin (宝瓶: handleless teapots) and Tokoname-ware kyūsu (急須: teapots), the gallery constantly showcases around 200 items, including guinomi saké cups and other works from various regions across Japan. With the exception of one glass case, most pieces are displayed openly, allowing visitors to touch the vessels and feel their texture. Works by individual artists and those by manufacturers are displayed side by side, with no boundaries separating the two. There is also a special room dedicated entirely to chawan (茶碗: tea bowls), which is not to be missed.

Under the direction of SHIBATA Yusuke (柴田 裕介), founder of the HULS Gallery, the gallery space was designed by interior designer MATSUMURA Kazunori. SHIBATA not only selects the products, he also directs the visuals featured in the gallery’s pamphlets and Instagram.

SHIBATA first became interested in design during his time as a musician and went on to work professionally in web and graphic design. Later, he joined his family’s trading company, and during numerous overseas business trips, became increasingly fascinated by the international interest in Japanese culture and craftsmanship.
A key moment came in 2014. After having moved to Singapore, SHIBATA visited a ceramics workshop in Japan. He was deeply moved not only by the skills of the artisans, but also by the emotional expressions and stories rooted in their home regions. This experience led him to visit other production centres across Japan and to begin sharing information about Japanese crafts, which eventually led to him launching the online media platform “KOGEI STANDARD”.
In 2017, SHIBATA established the HULS Gallery Singapore, followed by the Tokyo gallery in 2019.

The name “HULS” is derived from the initials of “HUman Life and Social life”.
The company only handles crafts made with local materials and inherited techniques. The more than 100 manufacturers and roughly 60 artists they work with are all carefully selected by SHIBATA and his staff, who visit production areas, ateliers, and exhibitions in person. Among them are saké vessels by SAWA Katsunori, which are also featured on our own website.

The Tokyo gallery, where inbound visitors make up one-third of the clientele, is very active. It hosts curated exhibitions once a month. Knowledgeable bilingual staff are always ready to help and enable visitors to learn the stories behind the works in English.

Under the concept of “Roots & Touch”, founder SHIBATA Yusuke’s aesthetic vision resonates throughout the entire space, where each showcased vessel sits in harmony with all the others. In the pleasing atmosphere of the HULS Gallery, we hope you will search for and discover something that speaks to you, an item that will become your one of your favourites.

　

　

A MESSAGE FROM THE STORE OWNER:

We at HULS Gallery are dedicated to sharing and promoting, both domestically and internationally, crafts that can only be made in specific regions; works that reflect the climate, culture, and aesthetic sensibilities of various parts of Japan.
A defining feature of our gallery is that we make no distinction between artists and artisans; we showcase a wide range of beautifully handcrafted works by both.
By visiting the production regions ourselves and engaging in dialogue with the craftspeople, we are constantly learning and gaining new insights.
It is our hope that you will be able to sense a part of that learning and awareness through the pieces we present in our gallery.

　　 　

DETAILS:

STORE CATEGORY & BUSINESS DESCRIPTION:
Gallery of modern crafts
High-end restaurant wholesaler

OVERSEAS ONLINE SHOP & SNS:
HP: https://hulsgallerytokyo.com/en/
INSTAGRAM: @hulsgallery_tokyo
ONLINE SHOP: https://store.hulsgallerytokyo.com/en
KOGEI STANDARD (online media): https://www.kogeistandard.com/　

　

PAST EXHIBITIONS:

“Freedom” – Shinji Terauchi, Riso Porcelain Solo Exhibition (November, 2025)
Yuko Sekino Solo Exhibition “Utakata no Hikari: The Light of Fleeting Moments” (October, 2025)
Katsunori Sawa and Kazuhiro Fukushima Joint Exhibition: “Interlacing Techniques – The Present State of Ceramic Expression” (September, 2025)
Tableware with Coolness Exhibition (August, 2025)
Kenta Nakazato Solo Exhibition “PLAIN FORMS” (July, 2025)

　

　

OVERSEAS PRESENCE (Past & Future):

HULS Gallery Singapore
Duxton Hill – Flagship
24 Duxton Hill, Singapore, 089607

HULS Gallery Singapore
Millenia Walk
9 Raffles Blvd, #01-36/37, Singapore, 039596

　

　

　

　

　

Courtesy of HULS Gallery Tokyo

　

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