Wood Scent and Gentle Sounds — Giving Memories a Texture.

About the shop

Halfway up the Konpira shrine approach, there is a shop that feels like a tiny forest.
The moment you open the door, the scent of wood fills the air, along with the soft melody of a music box.
Little Me is a wooden toy shop with a mysterious warmth — a place where you can take your travel memories home in a tangible form.

The owner is Koji Tamaki, now in his 14th year after moving to Kotohira.
This time, we asked him about the charm of Kotohira and the thoughts behind his shop, and we also tried the personalized engraving experience ourselves.

Inside, you'll find playful items such as smooth wooden straps and keychains, ear picks, chopstick rests, castanets, accessories, and even "Kotoden" goods that are uniquely Kagawa.
Many wooden products come with free name engraving, so you can carve a name, your travel date, or even your favorite person's name to create a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

— Below is an introduction with interview excerpts.

Feeling the charm of Kotohira

"Some people inherit and continue family businesses for generations. Some younger people take on new challenges. Some come from outside the prefecture and start something here. Different ages and backgrounds—but this is a place that embraces it all. That's what I love most."

As you walk the shrine approach, long-established shops stand alongside new ones — and his words feel exactly like the scenery before your eyes.

The reward of having a shop in a tourist town

"An ordinary day for me can be a special day for visitors. I never want anyone to leave with a bad feeling. I want them to go home happy. And if, when they look at what they bought, it brings back their travel memories — that makes me glad."

He says the pandemic brought deep anxiety, but he looks forward, believing, "We endured it together, and that's why we're here now."

Choosing products by one standard: "Do they excite me too?"

"If I don't want it myself, I can't recommend it. What matters is whether it makes me feel excited when I pick it up. I want to introduce things that make me think, ‘It would be nice if this existed'."

The warmth that fills the shop comes from choices guided by what Mr. Tamaki genuinely loves.

A thoughtful eye for materials and the region

"We often work with factories that make hospital furniture, and we use their materials. To be honest, a lot of wood is imported. Ideally, contributing to forests with Kagawa wood would be best, but it's difficult to make everything locally sourced."

That's why he also selects Kagawa-made goods and Imabari towels, not only wooden items.

"Kagawa has so many people making interesting things. If I can introduce them, it's fun for customers, makers, and sellers. I think that becomes a win for everyone."

This shop's character also lies in its gentle flexibility — casually placing something on the shelf because "it would be nice to have."

The "magic moment" created by engraving

"Since it’s a trip, I want it to become something special. Even as a gift, adding a name makes the feeling come through more."

We engraved "Matatabi" on a keychain.
Choosing the font, watching the process on the monitor, and then seeing letters appear on wood in just a few minutes—truly magical.
When we received it, the day of our trip felt real in our hands.

A motto of "having no motto"

"My motto is not having a motto. Even after living for 50 years, there’s still so much I don’t know. I want to learn from people with different generations and experiences."

A mindset open to change, free from fixed ideas, creates the shop’s relaxed, open atmosphere.

Valuing connections with people

"I don’t just want to sell things — I want to be a shop that values relationships with people. A Taiwanese customer who visited 10 years ago came back again, and we took photos together. Reunions like that make me feel it was worth continuing."

Sharing time through products and experiences, and letting relationships continue — that is this shop’s true value.

Writer's summary

What comes through in Mr. Tamaki’s words is a warm gaze that supports someone’s "special day."
A small experience like engraving adds temperature and texture to travel memories.
And his approach—choosing what he enjoys, and sharing the region’s interesting creations together — lights a gentle warmth throughout the shop.

When you visit Kotohira, try engraving your name at Little Me.
The scenery you know may shine just a little brighter.

Little Me (Wooden Toys)

Location: Along the Konpira shrine approach, Kotohira, Kagawa
Items: Wooden keychains/straps/goods, free name engraving, and more
For the latest information: Please check the official website and social media