[Hanshin Umeda Main Store] Handcrafted One-of-a-Kind Music Boxes Using Natural Wood: "Junon Wind Music Box Exhibition" to be Held.

Hanshin Umeda Main Store's Art Gallery, which inventively showcases paintings, objects, and art goods for everyday enjoyment, is pleased to present the "~Melody of Time, Traveler of the Forest~ Junon Wind Music Box Exhibition." Each music box is a one-of-a-kind creation handcrafted using natural wood, with every step of the process—design, composition, and tonal expression—performed by a single artist. Please enjoy the soft and warm melodies that seem to awaken the gentle stories sleeping in everyone's heart. ◇ Product Introduction - "Across the Starry Night" Song: "Look Up at the Stars in the Night" (50-note cylinder music box, approx. 57 x 60 x 15 cm) 770,000 yen (tax included) - "Whisper" Song: "Forbidden Games" (30-note cylinder music box, approx. 40 x 30 x 12 cm) 253,000 yen (tax included) - "Let's Jump Out" Song: "Carrying You" (30-note cylinder music box, approx. 30 x 43 x 13 cm) 286,000 yen (tax included) - "Castle of Dreams" Song: "When You Wish Upon a Star" (30-note cylinder music box, approx. 46 x 33 x 12 cm) 264,000 yen (tax included) - "Let's Go Out" Song: "Smile" (18-note cylinder music box, approx. 33 x 28 x 13 cm) 110,000 yen (tax included) ◇ About Cylinder Music Boxes Music boxes are said to have originated in 1796 when Swiss watchmaker Antoine Favre used small, thin metal teeth instead of bells to play music in pocket watches. These teeth eventually evolved into a metal comb-like plate. Cylinder music boxes have been around since the early days, using a cylinder pinned with notes like a score, powered by a mainspring just like a watch. They reached their peak in the late 1800s with improvements in materials and techniques, and today they are produced in a wide range from popular items to luxury goods. ◇ Artist Profile Born in Kyoto City. After graduating high school, worked as a designer. Following a doctor's advice that music boxes are good for the autonomic nervous system during a child's illness, explored warm expressions of creative music boxes while raising children. Since 2004, has held solo and collaboration exhibitions with annual themes at places like Nene-no-Michi in Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto. 1999: Commenced full-scale activities as a creative music box artist. 2003: First solo exhibition at Kyoto Gallery Origin. 2011: Performed music box concerts at the Kyoto National Culture Festival official event, followed by performances nationwide. 2022: Relocated atelier to Kunisaki City, Oita Prefecture. Location: Hanshin Umeda Main Store 8th Floor ART GALLERY Dates: April 29 (Wed/Holiday) to May 5 (Tue/Holiday), 2026. *Closes at 5:00 PM on the final day.