An entire chain of hand-turned wooden floats, once bobbing on the surface of Japan’s coastal waters, keeping fishing nets afloat. Known as ukidama, each piece has its own patina and tone, from pale driftwood to deep reddish brown, smoothed by sea and time. Strung together on old twine, they hang like a necklace of miniature buoys—part tool, part sculpture.
An entire chain of hand-turned wooden floats, once bobbing on the surface of Japan’s coastal waters, keeping fishing nets afloat. Known as ukidama, each piece has its own patina and tone, from pale driftwood to deep reddish brown, smoothed by sea and time. Strung together on old twine, they hang like a necklace of miniature buoys—part tool, part sculpture.