Story
The Animals of Japan's Satoyama
Japan's satoyama, the transitional landscape between mountain forest and human settlement, has shaped Japanese culture and folklore for centuries. The animals in this set come from that world: bear, hawk, boar, rabbit, squirrel, fox. Creatures Japanese children encounter in stories, in nature, and in the woods beyond the village.
Designer Kanayo Sugiyama, recipient of the Kodansha Picture Book Award, shaped each form to be instantly recognizable and safely graspable by very small hands. The result works as a building toy, a sensory toy, a storytelling prop, and a nature lesson — all at once.
At Oak Village's Gifu workshop, every piece is hand-sanded through multiple stages and inspected before packing. These blocks will end up in a child's hands. That awareness shapes every step of how they are made.
