Maebashi is a bustling city of over 320,000 people. Leaving the convenient downtown around Maebashi Station, a thirty-minute drive north led to Fujimi, a town dominated by open farmland.
Set against the backdrop of Mount Akagi, the Nakajima family’s BESS home came into view. Standing in an unobstructed field, the quiet brown timber of their Wonder Device suited the landscape perfectly.
Joining PAPERSKY editor Lucas was Toshinobu Shimizu, who runs an udon shop in nearby Kiryu. As everyone settled in, the conversation turned to how this land, and this home, reshaped the family’s daily life.
Visitor：Lucas B.B. (Editor-in-Chief of PAPERSKY)
Visitor：Toshinobu Shimizu (Third-generation owner of Shimizuya, an udon shop in Kiryu, Gunma)
Host：Hiroki & Miko Nakajima (BESS “Wonder Device” owners living in Maebashi, Gunma)
1. Shifting Home to Restore Mind and Body
Both working from home in their respective careers, the Nakajimas have adorned the house with charming glass pieces hand-crafted by Hiroki. Their gentle demeanor made it instantly clear just how fulfilling life had become.
Lucas: ”So Hiroki, you’re a glass flower artist, right? Are those your pieces on display over there? They’re really eye-catching, the kind of art that just brings a smile to your face looking at them.”
Hiroki Nakajima (“Hiroki”): “Thank you. I always try to craft pieces that radiate positive energy.”
Miko Nakajima (“Miko): “I get a boost of energy from his work every single day, too.”
Lucas: ”And Miko, you work as a therapist, right?”
Miko: ”Yes, I provide mind and body treatments, along with online counseling sessions.”
Lucas: ”So both of you mostly work from home, then. It must be incredible doing what you do in a BESS home set in such a great location. What made you decide to become an artist in the first place, Hiroki?”
Hiroki: ”Back when we lived in Tokyo, I was actually a police officer…”
Lucas: ”Wait, really?”
Miko: ”We were living right in the heart of Tokyo back then. I was working as a nursery school teacher. We both found our jobs rewarding, but over time, it started feeling emotionally suffocating, like something vital was missing. Our apartment sat tucked between skyscrapers with almost no natural sunlight, and my husband was carrying a tremendous amount of pressure at work.”
Hiroki: ”After that, I got transferred to Tochigi, which turned out to be a wonderful place surrounded by nature.”
Miko: ”That change of environment completely gave us a new lens. We realized we wanted to focus on what we truly loved, things that felt joyful and exciting. The two of us found ourselves having that exact conversation every single day.”
Hiroki: ”Because of my work back then, I always prioritized doing things for others, to the point where I couldn’t figure out what I actually wanted to do. But once we left Tokyo and embraced a life closer to nature, a huge shift happened inside me. I realized it was time to focus on what I wanted for myself.”
Toshinobu Shimizu (“Shimizu): ”I see. So that transfer turned out to be a real turning point.”
Miko: ”Around that time, I found a silver jewelry making class online and decided I wanted to try it myself, so I started attending. Then my husband went, ‘That looks fun, I want to come with you,’ and joined in.”
Hiroki: ”Part of that class curriculum involved cutting and kiln-firing glass. I found it absolutely fascinating. When I began thinking about what to create with glass, it instantly connected with my love for flowers and plants.”
Miko: ”And the very first piece he finished was an orange tulip made of glass. The look on his face as he stared at it was brighter than anything I’d ever seen. In that exact moment, an absolute gut feeling hit me: this is it.”
Lucas: ”That’s amazing! That’s how you became an artist. Being true to your feelings is so important. Looking at both of your expressions, you look so refreshed and serene. I can really feel how fulfilling your life is right now. So you quit your jobs and moved to Gunma?”
Hiroki: ”Yeah. We couldn’t explain it, but Gunma just pulled us in. When searching for land, we looked across the whole prefecture and landed on this spot. The moment we arrived, Mount Akagi loomed right in front of us, and we were completely sold. Living surrounded by nature was our only requirement, so it was ideal. We’ve been here nearly three years now.”
Shimizu: ”Hearing that truly means a lot. I’m sure you had plenty of options, so I’m thrilled you chose Gunma. I’m based in Kiryu myself, but Maebashi holds a special place in my heart.”
Hiroki: ”So many people we’ve met here in Gunma have told us how happy they are that we came, which makes us feel truly welcomed. The people here are so warm. Moving here was genuinely the best decision we ever made.”
Lucas: ”What made you decide to become a therapist, Miko?”
Miko: ”I felt like living in Tokyo had completely disconnected my mind and body. As I searched for ways to bring them back into harmony, I turned to Oriental medicine. Moving into this house in Gunma shifted my perspective entirely, and I found myself drawn to the power of nature and the art of mindfulness. So, in a wonderful way, it was almost fate. Living here naturally guided me toward becoming a therapist.”
2. Pure Instinct: Arriving at the WONDER DEVICE
Lucas: ”What led to choosing a BESS home?”
Miko: ”Hiroki was already familiar with BESS, so right around the time he decided to leave the police force, we paid a visit to LOGWAY. It wasn’t as if we were set on having our own place built back then, but the moment we saw the house in person, it was as good as decided. We couldn’t imagine anything else, so we made the call right on the spot.”
Lucas: ”Why did you settle on the WONDER DEVICE?”
Miko: ”At first, we thought a log-house style home might be nice, but the moment you open the door to the WONDER DEVICE, it feels instantly open and spacious. The ceiling opens all the way up to the roof line, giving it this wonderful sense of freedom.”
Shimizu: ”I live in an old house that’s nearly a hundred years old myself, so I’m curious: what’s it actually like living in a place like this?”
Hiroki: ”You might not get that impression from the outside, but inside, you really feel surrounded by timber. Above all, it gives you a sense of calm and peace. Walking around barefoot, the feel of the wood underfoot gives this sense of comfort.”
Lucas: ”Still, moving to an unfamiliar place, settling into a new home, and both of you launching brand-new careers, it was a total fresh start. I’m sure it was exciting, but didn’t you feel a little nervous, too?”
Miko: ”We had both dealt with our share of worries up to that point, and we thought everything through before deciding on this path, so the excitement definitely outweighed any nervousness.”
Lucas: ”And living in a BESS home brought even more of that excitement to life, I’m sure.”
Miko: ”Looking outside, you see the green trees and the mountains, and we noticed ourselves gradually becoming more chilled out and relaxed. Even when the wooden floors get dinged or stained, we’ve come to see it as adding character rather than as a problem.”
Lucas: ”A change of scenery and the home you live in can truly transform you.”
Miko: ”Honestly, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel lonely moving to a place where we didn’t know a soul, and we certainly had our anxieties about both of us switching careers. But shortly after we moved in, there was a moment when I was here alone and felt this overwhelming sense of reassurance. It was almost as if the house itself had a personality, wrapped around us and watching over our family. It’s hard to put into words, really.”
Lucas: ”Just like you two, I often work from home, and the overall atmosphere and feel of a space really have a huge impact on your work, don’t they?”
Hiroki: ”That’s true. Since I work with glass and wood for my pieces, I find myself constantly inspired by living surrounded by timber. Above all, I started creating my work out of a desire to move forward in life with a positive mindset, and I pour those feelings into everything I make. I always feel like the house and our surroundings are right there backing me up. This home is the ultimate space where you can tune out everyone else and truly focus on what you’re feeling.”
Miko: ”I feel the exact same way. My mind used to be constantly cluttered and racing. But living in this house surrounded by this kind of environment, I naturally find moments to just zone out and unwind, which has had a wonderful effect on my work as a therapist. Up until recently, I was actually renting a room nearby for my sessions, but being in this house feels so right that I decided to shift my workspace to the cabin we built in the garden.”
Shimizu: ”I can really feel how much you both love living in this home.”
Lucas: ”Shimizu-san, your workplace is a long-established udon shop, but the restaurant and home are integrated into one building, right? Isn’t that just like the Nakajimas?”
Shimizu: ”That’s very true (laughs).”
Lucas: ”What are the moments when you feel true happiness at home?”
Shimizu: ”Hmm, let me think. Probably when the whole family eats together. We have an unwritten rule that we all gather to have lunch as a family.”
Lucas: ”So, do you usually end up eating udon?”
Shimizu: ”Yes, we do (laughs). It’s just a quick break because things get busy, but to me, it’s absolute bliss. I can’t help but smile to myself, thinking about how fortunate I am.”
Lucas: ”How about you two? When do you feel most happy?”
Miko: ”Our son loves sprawling out and lying on the wooden floor. When he does, he’ll say, ‘Mom, come lie down next to me,’ and while we’re lying there together, he’ll add, ‘Dad, you lie down too.’ Moments like that, with all of us gazing up at the ceiling and agreeing how wonderful this house is, our dog will snuggle up beside us, and even birds come landing close by (laughs). Times like those feel so deeply happy to me.”
Lucas: ”Even the birds gather around? That’s definitely a moment of pure bliss.” (laughs)
3. eyond the excitement lies a new way of living
Now for a customary snack break. Shimizu brought Hanapan, a local favorite from Kiryu City. Made by baking flour and eggs and drizzling them with sweet syrup, it has a comforting, nostalgic taste. Over these snacks, talk turned to even deeper topics.
Lucas: ”Listening to you both, it really strikes me how important intuition and making decisive choices are. After all, if you hadn’t trusted your gut and taken that leap, you wouldn’t have the life you enjoy today. Coming to live in Japan was the exact same for me; it all came down to trusting my instincts.”
Miko: ”Simply put, it might come down to whether something truly excites you or not. Even when faced with small everyday choices, if you keep asking yourself which option feels more exciting and follow that feeling, I believe wonderful things are waiting for you at the end of that path.”
Shimizu: ”I completely agree. I make udon every single day, but I think the reason I’m able to keep at it is that sense of excitement, always wondering if our customers are going to love it.”
Lucas: ”So, what kind of exciting things do you two have planned next?”
Miko: ”To be honest, we don’t really have that feeling of ‘what should we do next?’ (laughs). I think what matters most is the here and now. Of course, there are little things ahead like taking care of the garden, but I just want to focus on what we feel like doing each day and moment.”
Lucas: “Ah, I like that. How about you, Shimizu-san?'”
Shimizu: “Well, through my udon, I want to connect with all kinds of people. I also want to create an environment where udon makers get more recognition and can take real pride in what they do. That’s what really gets me excited.”
Lucas: ”That’s awesome, you’ve got so much passion. As for me, I have way too many exciting things going on to name them all here (laughs). So, for our last question: what does a home mean to you two? A big question, I know!”
Hiroki: ”At the risk of repeating myself, it really is a space that enriches the heart.”
Lucas: ”Are you glad you went with the WONDER DEVICE?”
Hiroki: ”Oh, absolutely (laughs). I’m really fond of the brown exterior, too.”
Lucas: ”How about you, Miko? What does home mean to you?”
Miko: ”Whether it’s a day when our family is laughing out loud or a day when we’re crying, I feel like this house is always watching over us. Honestly, it feels like the home itself is part of the family. I think this place will keep growing right alongside us.”
BESS home
https://www.bess.jp