In a world where digital speed often outpaces tactile experience, Yosuke Shimano brings us back to the pleasure of making with Take 5 Rubber®, a project that blends ancient craftsmanship with a material designed for the future. Presented during the Isola Design Festival for Conscious Objects, Take 5 Rubber® is not just a product: it’s a manifesto for slow, playful, and accessible creativity, made possible with the support of Tosho Rubber Industries, Inc..

At the heart of the project is Artisan Silicone®, a revolutionary silicone rubber that turns every preconception on its head. Unlike traditional silicone, which requires industrial machinery and high-temperature processes, Artisan Silicone® can be hand-shaped like clay and cured in a simple kitchen oven at 120°C. No molds, no special equipment.

The project invites everyone — professional designers, hobbyists, enthusiasts — to explore the expressive potential of rubber. Artisan Silicone® blends colors in a surprising way thanks to its high refractive index, is heat-resistant, non-toxic, odorless, and even safe for environments with children. It can be shaped without molds, is not sticky, and even allows hardened pieces to be joined with fresh material.

Shimano’s work is deeply rooted in the Japanese ceramic tradition: Tosho Rubber Industries is based in a region with over 1,500 years of ceramic history. Take 5 Rubber® thus emerges as a new form of “rubber ceramics,” celebrating tactile discovery and the freedom of DIY. No special effects, just the transformative magic of time, temperature, and hands-on experimentation.