Takinoue town in the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido, where the Shibazakura blooming in full bloom is beautiful. A cool, clean stream flows between the mighty canyons, and there is a secluded Woodhouse. Here is the "Bremen Farm". Masami Takeuchi lives in Takinoue Town from Osaka and enjoys rural living while making wooden toys. Mr. Takeuchi who experienced war and revolution in the Middle East of unstable situation on the contrary to gentle expression. They talked about their dreams for the children and their dreams through the toy classroom.

Determined to move to the countryside from the experience in the Middle East

-What did you do before you moved to Hokkaido?
When I was a child, I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher, but in the society at that time, men did not have an understanding about early childhood education. I remember having regretted "Why can't I become a kindergarten teacher?" I gave up my way to early childhood education and went on the road of architecture and design, but when I was about 29 years old, I was able to get involved in the work of designing a nursery school in Osaka. Many of the people involved in the nursery school have a deep understanding of environmental issues and food safety, and because of that influence they became interested in handmade toys.

-After that, I heard that I was struggling across the countries of the Middle East.
When I was about 30 to 34, I was sent by a large design office as a subcontractor and engaged in the construction of an oil base in Iran and Iraq. Originally I loved geography and history, so I crossed the ocean with a light idea of "It's the Arabian Night World!" However, life in the local area was unimaginable. While the situation was unstable, such as a revolution or war, I could hear gunshots from the other side of the phone and rang the air raid siren at 4 o'clock in the morning. I can not think of such a situation in Japan today, but it was scary that local people were getting used to it.

-Why did you decide to move to Hokkaido after returning home?

I wanted to change my own life through my experiences abroad, and after returning home I decided to move to Hokkaido, a city away from the city. I was worried about living in the country, but considering the life I witnessed in the Middle East, I thought that if I could work seriously here in Japan, I could live somehow. As a result, I flowed to Takinoue-cho, which was recommended by my acquaintance, and fortunately I was qualified as an architect, and I was able to entrust a lot of work such as transportation, construction and forestry, and construction.

Choose by yourself and make by yourself. It becomes individuality.

―What was your chance to have a toy school for children?
In the project of the Board of Education in Takinoue-cho, I had the opportunity to work with the children. Originally I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and I was interested in handmade toys, so I joined with pleasure. However, I often used ready-made tool kits, and I was worried that only similar works would be lined up as a result. I thought that there would be problems with the adults who were making this, and I began to seriously consider how to draw out the personality of The child. At that time, it was a big turning point that we had a toy classroom at an event hosted by Hokkaido Daigaku Marche students at Hokkaido University's Faculty of Agriculture, who were invited by friends. When you ask the children, "What do you want to make? ", The answers from elephants, helicopters, etc. will be returned. I will shape it little by little together as I direct it. When completed after hard work, not only the person but also the surrounding children cheers. I didn't have to be unique and I realized that it would be a good personality to devise with the materials of your choice. Display wooden products in a wooden shop or try to use them as food. We made it possible to do shopping pretends and play as a series of flows. named it "Kids Marche", but I am proud that I could make a work to be a culmination.

-Can you tell us the origin of the Bremen farm?
The origin of the naming is Grimm's fairy tale'The Musicians of Bremen' At first, they were aiming for the town of Bremen in search of happiness, but they did not actually go there. But I found a different form of happiness in different places I really liked the story, so I was thinking of giving it a name someday. At the root of my experience is that people's dreams and goals come true even if they are not the place I first designed. Through the toys, I realized that "I am not a teacher in a nursery school". It may be different from the form I originally drew, but my dream came true as I was able to meet the nursery schools in Osaka and I was invited to Hokudai Marche. I think this is exactly "Bremen".