Tsuchikabe - 土壁

A second life.

The earthen walls, known as tsuchikabe, once lived inside our workshop space, Maana Atelier, and have now found a second life in the Annex.

In many ways, our relationship with Tsuchikabe shaped what Maana is today. What began as a fascination, led to the creation of Maana Atelier, our earthen wall workshops and retreats, and ultimately our relationship with our master plasterer, Hiraishi-san of TOURU Inc., whose mission is to pass on the knowledge and possibilities of this material to future generations. Over time, tsuchikabe became an integral part of the Maana story.

Made simply from fermented rice straw, seaweed, and local earth, the walls from our Atelier were carefully taken down, sifted by hand to remove impurities by our own team, and prepared to be rebuilt once again. As we sifted the earth by hand, fragments of pottery, shells, and other traces began to emerge. Each discovery offered a glimpse into the material’s past, reminding us that the earth carries memories long before it becomes part of a building.

Recycling tsuchikabe is not the easiest path, but it reflects a belief that materials still have value long after their first use. We are proud that these walls have found a second life in the Annex, continuing a story that once began at Maana Atelier.