Shipping Necklace Flower

[COAS × UNGAPLUS]

COAS, which has a workshop in Otaru, has created exclusive accessories for UNGAPLUS inspired by the former Nippon Yusen Otaru Branch, one of the historical buildings remaining in Otaru.

The former NYK Otaru Branch was built in the late Meiji period and is an impressive early modern European Revival style building with a stately exterior made of pure stone. The interior is also lavishly decorated and has been carefully preserved as a valuable cultural heritage linking history and the present. With this history in mind, a necklace was created using brass, with the motif of the beautiful ceiling centerpiece that actually exists in the second floor conference room. Brass deepens over time, acquiring a beautiful luster and creating a simple yet elegant look. The original UNGAPLUS packaging comes with a backing made from gold leather paper that decorated the walls of the VIP room at the former NYK Otaru branch, and is delivered along with the story of Otaru's glory.

This brass necklace was made in Otaru, a city with many historical buildings and a modern perspective, and is also recommended as a gift.

The former Otaru branch of Nippon Yusen Kaisha, with its luxurious appearance, gives a glimpse into Otaru's prosperity during the Meiji period. Built in October 1906 by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, it remains a core company of the Mitsubishi Group. As one of Japan's three major shipping companies, it was well known overseas and remains the representative of Japanese shipping today. At the time, Otaru was the base for the national Hokkaido development project, and was expanding its commercial port functions with European connections. As can be seen from the "banking district" that remains in Ironai today, financial institutions and trading companies were actively expanding into the area, and many buildings were built incorporating the finest techniques by first-class architects.

The former Otaru branch of Nippon Yusen is a building that symbolizes the heyday of Otaru's development. It is a two-story stone building in the European Renaissance style, and the VIP room inside features a plaster ceiling and chandeliers, crimson curtains, a parquet floor and a striking carpet with a large floral pattern, and the walls are covered in gold leather paper with a chrysanthemum crest, which is said to have been extremely difficult to restore, creating an extravagant and luxurious space. Gold leather paper is a traditional Japanese craft that was created based on "gold leather," a leather craft invented in Europe during the Renaissance. It attracted great interest in Europe when it was exhibited at the Vienna World Exposition, and has since been exported.

COAS uses brass to express the rich atmosphere of Otaru, a city that has flourished as a port town since ancient times. After studying sculpture at Hiroshima City University and working as a prototype designer for accessories, he was captivated by Otaru and launched his own original brand. COAS's pieces, which evoke the image of a sophisticated journey, show a variety of expressions, from delicate earrings with rope and anchor motifs to bangles that make dynamic use of the material itself.