Readings
50年前の七夕豪雨で消えた「清水瓦」を次世代に繋ぐ瓦アクセサリー。──長澤瓦商店・長澤玲奈
Tile accessories that connect "Shimizu-gawara," which disappeared in the Tanabata Flood 50 years ago, to the next generation. ── Rena Nagasawa, Nagasawa Kawara Shoten
Shimizu Kawara, where all the kilns were lost in the Tanabata heavy rains. Rena Nagasawa's challenge to connect tradition to the next generation with tile accessories, while tracing the memories... Read more...
静岡唯一の女性鬼瓦職人、失われた「清水瓦」復刻をめざす制作現場──長澤瓦商店・長澤玲奈
Shizuoka's Only Female Onigawara Craftsman, Rena Nagasawa of Nagasawa Kawara Shoten, Aims to Revive the Lost "Shimizu Kawara" — The Production Site
Reina Nagasawa is the only female tile craftsman in Shizuoka Prefecture who has trained as an Onishi (demon tile craftsman). We will show you the現場of the traditional industry of Onigawara... Read more...
鮭はもう生まれた川に帰ってこない？年400回の釣り経験で見えた、社会問題の「今」──DearFish・太田悠介＜後編＞
Salmon Never Return to Their Birth River? What 400 Fishing Trips a Year Revealed About Today's Social Problems - Yusuke Ota of DearFish (Part 2)
Fish catches have plummeted by about two-thirds in 40 years. We delve into the challenges felt firsthand by Yusuke Ota, a fish leather artist who has been working with fish... Read more...
28歳にして釣り歴25年。筋金入りの釣り好きがなめし作業から手がけるフィッシュレザー──DearFish・太田悠介＜前編＞
25 years of fishing experience at the age of 28. Fish leather from a die-hard fishing enthusiast who handles the tanning process – DearFish, Yusuke Ota
Fish skin, used as far back as the Nara period, is being revived in modern times. This is the story of fish leather, pioneered by a craftsman who has been... Read more...
芸術品じゃない、使ってなんぼ。曲げわっぱ職人の哲学──りょうび庵〈後編〉
Not just art, but made for use. The philosophy of a magewappa craftsman - Ryobi-an (Part 2)
Magewappa aren't works of art, they're everyday items. The words of Mr. Ishikura, who established his workshop at 60, and Ms. Ito, the first female traditional craftsman. Read more...
100本曲げれば、30本は折れる。秋田・大館、曲げわっぱ職人の手仕事──りょうび庵〈前編〉
If you bend 100, 30 will break. The handiwork of a magewappa craftsman in Odate, Akita - Ryobian (Part 1)
The craft of "Magewappa" in Odate, Akita, a tradition since the Edo period, and the words of the artisans who keep it alive. Read more...
概念は覆され、価値観はアップデートされ続ける。道を極める真っ只中の二代目の目を借りて知る、匠の景色──石山人工房・三輪崇＜後編＞
Concepts are overturned, and values are continuously updated. Knowing the artisan's landscape through the eyes of a second-generation successor, who is in the midst of perfecting his craft—Takashi Miwa of Ishiyama Kobo
There are views to be seen only in unexplored territory. Take a glimpse into the world through the eyes of Jinin Ishiyama II, who creates stone vessels. Read more...
全ての伝統は、最初スタートアップだった。石を曲げて器を作る二代目が挑む「歴史作り」──石山人工房・三輪崇＜中編＞
Every Tradition Was Once a Startup. The Second-Generation Craftsman Challenging "History-Making" by Bending Stone to Create Vessels - Takashi Miwa, Ishiyama Artificial Laboratory
What was the answer that the second generation Ishiyamajin, who dedicates himself to creating one-of-a-kind stone vessels, arrived at after pursuing "what it means to be oneself"? Read more...
石を削り、溶かし、曲げる。太古の地球からの贈り物“石”が望む姿を「器」に映して──石山人工房・三輪崇＜前編＞
Carving, melting, and bending stone. Stone, a gift from ancient Earth, is transformed into a vessel reflecting its desired form—Takashi Miwa, Ishiyama Art Studio, Part 1
Inside the workshop of Ishiyama Ninkobo, where they craft bowls and other vessels by carving stone and bending it through firing. The second-generation successor, who has inherited this unique technique,... Read more...
お米、袋のまま放置していませんか？桐の米びつに変えたら、ごはんがちょっとおいしくなった話。
Are you still leaving your rice in the bag? My story about how switching to a Kiri rice dispenser made my rice taste a little better.
Introducing the charms of kiri (paulownia) rice bins. These three functions - humidity control, anti-oxidation, and pest prevention - effortlessly protect your rice. Read more...
行政方針も覆した村上市まちづくりに学ぶ、挑戦のヒント
Learning from Murakami City's Town Planning, Which Overturned Administrative Policy: Hints for Taking on Challenges
This session will uncover the "hints for initiating and realizing projects" that moved locals, the administration, and people nationwide, all starting from one person's urban development efforts. Read more...
都市計画を覆し、古さを蘇らせて輝く。奇跡の街・村上を訪ねて。
Overturning urban planning and restoring the old to shine anew. A visit to Murakami, a miraculous town.
Instead of "new town development," by pursuing "old town development," we transformed a decaying castle town into a city that attracts 300,000 visitors annually from across the country. Read more...
桐の米びつのお手入れ方法。思っていたより、ずっと気楽。
How to care for a paulownia rice box. It's much easier than I thought.
For those who had given up on using a paulownia rice bin, thinking it would be too difficult to care for. We will carefully explain, step by step, the correct... Read more...
曲げわっぱを買う前に。自分に合った選び方、教えます。
Before you buy a magewappa. We'll show you how to choose the right one for you.
For those of you wondering, "Which magewappa is right for me?" We explain the four ways to choose: coating, size, shape, and origin. Read more...
作並唯一の伝統こけし職人が、今カラフルなこけしを作る理由──平賀こけし店・平賀輝幸＜後編＞
Why the Only Traditional Kokeshi Craftsman in Sakunami Now Creates Colorful Kokeshi Dolls – Teruyuki Hiraga of Hiraga Kokeshi Shop
"Tradition isn't something old; it's something that gets updated." What does preserving tradition mean to Mr. Hiraga, who also creates colorful and diverse kokeshi dolls? Read more...
160年前、作並こけしは子どものおもちゃだった──平賀こけし店・平賀輝幸＜前編＞
160 years ago, Sakunami Kokeshi were children's toys — Teruyuki Hiraga of Hiraga Kokeshi Store (Part 1)
Sakunami Kokeshi, said to be the oldest kokeshi in the Tohoku region, boasts a history of approximately 160 years. We speak to Teruyuki Hiraga, the sole craftsman, about his path... Read more...
菓子を一度も作ったことがない男が、村上の一口菓子を生んだ──嘉門亭・吉川真嗣＜後編＞
A Man Who Had Never Made Confectionery Created Murakami's Hitokuchi Gashi—Kamontei's Yoshikawa Shinji, Part 2
The philosophy a man with no prior confectionery experience arrived at: "Sweets are dishes made from a combination of sweet ingredients." Dried persimmons, nori, snow-aged carrots - bite-sized sweets unique... Read more...
奥様ではなく、亭主が淹れる。明治の町家で蘇る、村上「亭主の茶」の流儀──嘉門亭・吉川真嗣＜前編＞
It's not the wife, but the husband, who brews the tea. Reviving the Murakami "Husband's Tea" style in a Meiji-era townhouse – Kamontei, Shinji Yoshikawa (Part 1)
A Meiji-era machiya, dormant for 25 years, has been revived. The unique Murakami custom of "Teishu no Cha" (Master's Tea) and the culture nurtured by this northernmost tea-producing region are... Read more...
数百人から、島内4人へ。宮島ろくろを継承する29歳職人の覚悟──下村祐介＜後編＞
From Hundreds to Just Four on the Island: The Resolve of a 29-year-old Craftsman Inheriting Miyajima Pottery — Yusuke Shimomura (Part 2)
There are only four woodturners left on the sacred island bustling with Itsukushima Shrine. They breathe new life into their woodworking creations with techniques inherited from their 84-year-old master. Read more...
農業禁止、神の島「宮島」で生まれた産業。宮島ろくろの現在地──下村祐介<前編>
Agriculture forbidden, the industry born on "Miyajima," the island of the gods. Miyajima Rokuro's current location - Yusuke Shimomura
Why did woodworking flourish on Miyajima, an island where the entire island is considered a deity? We explore the history of Miyajima lathe work and the story of the young... Read more...
群馬最後の桐タンス職人、伝統を現代に変化させるモノづくり──桐匠根津・根津安臣＜後編＞
Gunma's Last Paulownia Tansu Craftsman: Modernizing Tradition Through Craftsmanship – Kirisho Nezu, Yasutomi Nezu (Part 2)
A craftsman in a four-generation family business who, despite criticism, incinerates dressers that cannot be planed down and remakes them into rare kiri wood snowboards: his challenge and resolve. Read more...
国産桐「2％の危機」を苗から救う。種から30年、耕作放棄地に植える未来──桐匠根津・根津安臣＜前編＞
Saving Domestic Paulownia from a "2% Crisis" Starting from Seedlings. Planting the Future on Abandoned Farmland After 30 Years from Seed - Yasumi Nezu, Kirisho Nezu
Facing the crisis of only 2% domestic paulownia production, we plant 400 saplings annually to cultivate timber. This is a long-term manufacturing philosophy that connects lives 100 years into the... Read more...
計算しない美学と沖縄の自然が生む、焼き物のかたち──螢窯・山上學＜後編＞
The Aesthetics of Intuition and the Forms of Pottery Born from Okinawa's Nature – Manabu Yamagami of Hotaru Kiln (Part 2)
Beyond calculations and functional beauty, our pottery embraces the joy of process and improvisation. What unique ceramic forms emerge when a distinct worldview intersects with the nature of Okinawa? Read more...
守破離の、その先へ。辿り着いた「離品」という宇宙観──螢窯・山上學＜中編＞
Beyond Shu Ha Ri. The Worldview of “Ri-hin” that We Arrived At — Kei Kiln, Manabu Yamagami
Exploring the origins of the ceramicist profession, moving beyond folk crafts and crafts to "rihin" (detachment/transcendence) at the culmination of the shu-ha-ri principle. Delving into Manabu Yamagami's philosophy. Read more...
大阪万博へ向かう時代、土器を拾った少年がいた──螢窯・山上學＜前編＞
As Osaka prepared for the World Expo, a boy picked up a piece of earthenware—Manabu Yamagami of Hotaru Kiln (Part 1)
A boy who picked up pottery in the development area before the Osaka Expo went on to study in Seto and Kyoto, and eventually pursued a career in pottery. We... Read more...
道具から自分で作る。魚と対話する竿に込めた哲学と執念──竿政・田村政孝＜後編＞
Crafting Tools from Scratch. The Philosophy and Obsession Behind a Fishing Rod That "Dialogues" with Fish - Saomasa Tamura Masataka (Part 2)
From the saw to the silverwork, he makes everything himself. "It's not a job that can be taught." What is the reason why the last successor of Sendai fishing rods... Read more...
伊達政宗が愛した仙台竿を94歳が一人で守る──竿政・田村政孝＜前編＞
94-Year-Old Preserves Sendai Bamboo Fishing Rods Loved by Date Masamune—Saomasa's Tamura Masataka
A 93-year-old's hands carve bamboo again today. Masataka Tamura, the last竿師(rod craftsman) preserving the Sendai-zao, a tradition continuing since the era of Date Masamune. His skill and philosophy in perfecting... Read more...
お弁当箱にもこだわれる自分になりたい。曲げわっぱという選択
I want to be the kind of person who can be particular about their lunch box. Opting for a magewappa.
Magewappa, a trending topic on social media. Is it only for skilled cooks? Not at all! In fact, it's highly recommended for beginners and those who aren't confident in their... Read more...
200匹の蚕の命が紡ぐ、洗えるシルクの未来──桐生整染商事・阿部哲也、川上由綺＜後編＞
The future of washable silk, spun from the lives of 200 silkworms – Kiryu Seisen Shoji's Tetsuya Abe and Yuki Kawakami (Part 2)
A woman who suffered from atopic dermatitis was saved by the gentle touch of silk. The future envisioned by SILLKI, a silk brand born out of the COVID-19 pandemic Read more...
神様と呼ばれた師匠から、桐生の現場に残る技術──桐生整染商事・阿部哲也、川上由綺＜中編＞
From the Master Who Was Called a God: The Techniques Remaining in Kiryu’s Dyeing and Finishing Industry—Tetsuya Abe and Yuki Kawakami of Kiryu Seisen Shoji, Part 2
In Kiryu, the teachings of a master revered as a "god" still resonate. We visit ten companies to delve into the knowledge and techniques of silk production, woven by human... Read more...
日本を植民地から救った絹が、今、桐生から消えていく──桐生整染商事・阿部哲也、川上由綺＜前編＞
Silk that Saved Japan from Colonization Now Disappears from Kiryu – Tetsuya Abe, Yuki Kawakami, Kiryu Seisen Shoji (Part 1)
In Kiryu, which, along with the Tomioka Silk Mill, supported Japan's modernization, there are people confronting disappearing techniques and attempting to redefine the "meaning of silk." Read more...
思っているより簡単。曲げわっぱの使い方とお手入れ方法
Easier Than You Think: How to Use and Care for a Magewappa Bento Box
Even beginners can relax. For those who had given up thinking, "It's not cheap, and I wonder if I can really use it." Here are surprisingly simple ways to use... Read more...
忙しい朝でも「美味しそう」が叶う。曲げわっぱ弁当箱のある暮らし
Even on busy mornings, you can achieve a "delicious-looking" meal. Life with a magewappa lunchbox
On busy mornings, the appearance of your bento box might be an afterthought… you might be packing leftovers and frozen foods every day. A magewappa bento box can rescue you... Read more...
傘に託す、106年の記憶｜「雨を凌ぐ道具」から「人生を彩る一本」へ ──藤田屋・藤田 大悟
106 Years of Memories Entrusted to Umbrellas | From "Tool to Ward Off Rain" to "A Piece that Colors Life" ──Daigo Fujita, Fujitaya
Fujitaya, a long-established umbrella shop founded in 1919. The fourth generation inherits a history that almost came to an end, taking on the aesthetic challenge of creating "umbrellas to be... Read more...
幸野志勇
Lighting the Incinerator Once More | Burning, Steaming, Flowing. The Philosophy of "Circulation" in Yanbaru Forest – BUNA SAUNA, Shiyu Kono
BUNA SAUNA, located in a former school incinerator in Yanbaru, Okinawa. This article delves into the sauna as a system essential for life, based on a philosophy centered around nature. Read more...