Hiroshima, Miyajima. With the Torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine soaring majestically and the entire island revered as a sacred object, agriculture was once forbidden here. It is said that the island's industry began when a monk suggested woodworking for an island that couldn't sustain agriculture. Miyajima Rokuro (lathe), born in the late Edo period, features a unique two-disc mechanism found only in Miyajima, and even today, machines from 70 years ago continue to operate. We spoke with Yusuke Shimomura, a young craftsman who has inherited this lathe.
Yusuke Shimomura
Born in 1996 in Mie Prefecture. Graduated from Hiroshima City University, Faculty of Art (Urushi Art) and specialized in lacquer art in graduate school. After graduation, he began working in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, where he produces wooden works while living on Miyajima. He also promotes and passes on Miyajima craftsmanship as part of Hatsukaichi's regional revitalization cooperation team (traditional craft inheritance 담당).
(*The content of this article is based on information at the time of the interview.)
#1 An industry born on a sacred island where agriculture was forbidden
The island's life connected by the rice paddle of Itsukushima Shrine
── Could you tell us about the history of Miyajima Rokuro (lathe)?
Miyajima Rokuro (lathe) itself began around the end of the Edo period.
Aside from the lathe, rice paddles are probably Miyajima's most famous craft. Miyajima rice paddles, Miyajima Rokuro (lathes), and Miyajima-bori (Miyajima carving) are collectively called "Miyajima Fine Craftsmanship."
The rice paddles were the beginning of tourism, and it is said that they were first made for visitors to Itsukushima Shrine.
── There's a story that the rice paddle was invented to resemble the biwa (lute) of Benzaiten at Itsukushima Shrine, isn't there?
Regarding the rice paddle, the word "shamoji" (rice paddle) evolved from "shakushi" (ladle). It is said that the shape of the rice paddle, which is used to scoop rice, was inspired by the biwa held by Ichikishima-hime-no-mikoto, the goddess enshrined in the main shrine of Itsukushima Shrine.
In other words, the shape of the rice paddle itself might have originated in Miyajima.
── I've heard that rice paddles and lathes sold well during wartime.
Historically, large rice paddles were often made as good luck charms.
Scooping rice was associated with "capturing the enemy," so rather than rice paddles for actual use, they were used to cheer on baseball teams or inscribed with "certain victory" or "family safety."
Also, people who carved Miyajima-bori sculptures on lathe-made bases would carve and present emblems or accolades for soldiers. It seems there was work like that.
Even after the Pacific War, there's a history of making and exporting military-related emblems for America, and I've heard there was a lot of work.
── Is there a reason why woodworking became so popular in Miyajima?
Because of the Torii gate and the belief that the entire island is a sacred object, it has long been forbidden to grow vegetables or farm on the island.
Since farming was prohibited and fields couldn't be cultivated, there was no real industry on the island.
It is said that a monk came up with the idea of starting a woodworking industry as a livelihood for the island, and that's how it began.
The development of woodworking is also deeply intertwined with geographical reasons.
The opposite shore of Miyajima was a lumber accumulation area, with many lumberjacks and foresters, so timber distribution was relatively easy from there since the Edo period.
Miyajima was a place to make and sell, and the opposite shore was a material accumulation area, so it was a relatively easy place for woodworking.
── So the wood materials came from outside Miyajima?
Yes. There's almost no material from Miyajima itself because, as a sacred object, cutting trees has been forbidden since ancient times.
That's why even now, I source wood from a lumberyard in Hatsukaichi, so I believe I'm basically using wood from other parts of the Chugoku region besides Miyajima.
#2 The Two-Disk Lathe, Unique to Miyajima
Controlling speed with your feet: A dialogue with traditional machinery
── So this is the Miyajima Rokuro (lathe) machine.
That's right. There are two discs inside that rotate in opposite directions, transmitting power to the central shaft, causing the shaft to move. The foot pedal rotates the shaft in accordance with the discs, changing the speed.
──You can adjust the speed with your foot?
Yes. When carving, if you want to go fast, you press down and it carves faster. If you want to carve slowly and carefully at the end, you loosen your foot and it rotates slowly.
The mechanism that allows speed adjustment by placing the shaft between these two discs is a characteristic feature of Miyajima's lathe, unique to Miyajima.
I think the characteristic is being able to operate the lathe using your whole body, hands and feet.
── Why did such a complex machine develop in Miyajima?
Hiroshima itself had a thriving industry, but Miyajima was particularly skilled at making large items like trays with lathes.
Large items need to be rotated, which requires torque. I believe this mechanism with two discs and a central shaft was developed to provide high torque.
When rotating large items, the outer edges naturally reach very high speeds. I've also heard that this mechanism was adopted because such high-speed rotation wasn't necessary.
In other regions, a belt directly connects the motor and shaft, and speed is adjusted by the size of the motor's pulley, or nowadays with an inverter, but the speed adjustment mechanism is limited.
Miyajima's foot-pedal adjustable speed was probably a very advanced tool for its time.
── How did you acquire this lathe?
The house I'm in now on Miyajima was originally built by a lathe craftsman. There were many lathes and materials stored in the house.
The landlord of that house had a desire to utilize the lathes and materials. It just so happened that I was seriously aiming to become a lathe craftsman in Miyajima, and I had a connection with the landlord, so I inherited both the lathe and the materials.
── How old is it?
I heard the house is 70 years old, so I imagine the tools are probably about 70 years old too.
── What kind of person was the original user of this lathe?
I'm told he was skilled at making large items. There's a 3-shaku (90cm) tray on display. The fact that he could make that with this lathe means I have to be able to do it too... I create my works daily under this pressure, a kind of tension from my predecessors.
It seems that large trays sold well during economically prosperous times, as gifts for new ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) constructions or grand openings.
