Interview with representatives of Kurashiki Ivy Square and HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC.
We spoke with Nakakubo Ryoji of Kurashiki Ivy Square, Yagi Tatsuru of HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC., and Kuroda Toki of HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC., who were involved in bringing back the garland at the Kurashiki Christmas Market.
How the garland was made
Could you tell us how the garland came to be made for the Kurashiki Christmas Market?
Nakakubo (titles omitted)
2025 was the Christmas Market’s third year.
The Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau took the lead in organizing it in the first year, and visitors were delighted by the garland displayed then, saying, “It’s so cute.”
However, in the second year, when I took over responsibility, we changed the design to feature the tree in the center of Courtyard Plaza, so we removed the garland.
We received many disappointed comments from visitors, such as, “The garland was so cute,” and “Is it gone?”
So, we decided to bring it back in the third year.
Later, we had an opportunity to speak with HAGIHARA INDUSTRIES INC. and learned that garlands could be made from “blue tarpaulin,” so we asked them to collaborate with us as a local company.
Garlands made from “blue tarpaulin” are unusual. What was the thinking behind this?
Kuroda (titles omitted)
As a company, we wanted to explore ways to use blue tarpaulin beyond simply using it as an industrial material or disaster-prevention supply.
We usually make custom-made items such as three-dimensional covers, but it is unusual for us to make something “stylish to decorate a venue” like this. It was a new challenge.
For the design, we didn’t want it to be all blue and look unmistakably like “blue tarpaulin,” so we suggested using colorful offcuts and mixing in sheets with a “denim pattern” that our company sells as a playful touch.
Were there any challenges in making it?
Yagi (titles omitted)
Employees at our Kasaoka factory handled the production.
We usually sew large sheets in straight lines, but we also often receive requests for detailed work involving many pieces, as in this case. The on-site staff carefully sewed each piece with great care, making sure not to mix up the color sequence or let the flags slip along the rope.
They also came up with practical ideas on site, such as marking the starting point with tape to make installation easier.
Visitors’ reactions
How was it when you actually installed it?
Nakakubo
The installation was really difficult.
Working on the roof was especially challenging. We set the center point and stretched ropes out radially from there, but at one point the ropes got tangled...
All the staff climbed onto the roof and worked hard to put it up. That made us all the happier when it was finished.
How did visitors and staff react?
Nakakubo
Visitors were delighted, saying, “The garland is back!” At first glance, you can’t tell it’s made of blue tarpaulin, but when we explain, everyone looks at it closely in surprise.
The staff liked it too, and we decided, “Let’s leave it up until Christmas Day (December 25), even after the Christmas Market ends,” so it remained on display for an extended period.
Kuroda
It also got a strong response within the company.
Our products are usually used in “civil engineering” settings, such as construction sites.
So the photos of them being used as festive decorations felt fresh, and employees even asked us for copies.
Looking ahead
It looks very durable. How do you plan to use this garland in the future?
Nakakubo
Because it is made of blue tarpaulin, it is extremely durable and not disposable.
This time, we decorated not only Courtyard Plaza but also the area in front of Red Brick Hall, and it looked wonderful.
We hope to use it for a long time, including at other events such as beer gardens and by displaying it in other locations.
Finally, do you have a message for our readers?
Yagi
Blue tarpaulin is strongly associated with construction and disaster recovery, but I’d be happy if people learned that it can also be used in fun ways like this.
And I hope this will give people a reason to remember that there is a company like ours right here in Kurashiki when they think, “I want to make something.”
Nakakubo
It was very meaningful to collaborate with a local company like this.
Going forward, we’d like to set up panels or QR codes that explain, “This is a material made by a local company called XX,” rather than simply decorating with it, and create a system that helps promote local industry.
From the Writer
The garland made a strong impression at the Kurashiki Christmas Market, but when I looked into it, I found that there are very few examples of garlands being displayed at Christmas markets held across Japan, let alone in Europe, where the tradition originated.
In fact, it wasn’t exactly a “Christmas market staple.”
The “blue tarpaulin garland” may be a defining feature of the Kurashiki Christmas Market.
I think we’ll see it more often at events held at Kurashiki Ivy Square in the future. Keep an eye out for it when you visit.
I hope the Kurashiki Christmas Market will continue to inspire new initiatives, such as further collaborations.
Kurashiki Christmas Market Information
| Name | Kurashiki Christmas Market |
|---|---|
| Address | 7-2 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-0011 |
| Website | Kurashiki Ivy Square |
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