2008/10/6
‘Yamanaka Spa’ is one of most popular hot spring resorts in Ishikawa prefecture,
as well as Kaga Spa. It is a really beautiful and excellent SPA.
There is a famous episode that exemplifies how wonderful ‘Yamanaka spa’ is:
Basho Matsuo, the poet who elevated haiku and was the author of ‘Oku no
Hosomichi’, a diary of his extensive travels through northern Honshu, stayed
there for 8 days, although he did not like the spa so much, and also despite
the fact that Yamanaka was almost the final location of his long tour.
I’m not sure how the above example shows how Yamanaka Spa is wonderful.
Seems like Basho didn’t really like it and wanted to leave.
Yamanaka lacquerware is a traditional craft which has come a long way as the
production center of souvenirs for those who come to this popular spa.
Originally Yamanaka City focused on producing more reasonably priced and popular
items, when compared to Wajima and Kanazwa of the same prefecture, because
of it’s proximity to the Kansai area, that was a political and economic center of
Japan for hundreds of years.
But since the Edo Period, it began to develop new manufacturing techniques
like ‘coating’ and ‘gold-relief’, which enabled it to produce tea utensil as well,
and develop tea utensil as one of its major products.
Normally Yamanaka lacquerware is completed after creating a wooden base,
thinning the ‘wooden base’as much as possible, and japanning or lacquering
in gold. This requires dozens of processes to complete.
The feature of its production method is ‘Rokuro-hiki’ to make a wooden base on
a wheel, which requires advanced techniques. Actually it is very popular for its
high quality, so much so that craftsman from other lacquerware producing area
often come to Yamanaka to obtain wooden bases.
Wooden bases stacked high. A craftsman is spreading lacquer.
Kihachi’s crafts shop where not only the production of its bland but also other
excellent goods of other popular brands across the nation are displayed.
Kihachi is one of the most popular, long-established stores, which produces
stylish lacquerware suitable for our modern life.
Its workshop and shop are located in an area richly endowed by nature.
Behind the workshop we can see a mountain and a river.
‘Usu-hiki Bachi’ requires an advanced technique ‘Usu-hiki’, thinning the wooden
base to the utmost limit, to complete. How thin and light it is !
Nobody can help but be surprised to see that.
Comments (0) 2008/9/5
Over the past several years, ‘Bonsai’ has become increasingly popular.
Bonsai requires a good deal of time and effort to properly care for.
In the past it has been regarded as a hobby for the elderly who are rich and
have some spare time.
However, it has become so common that we can see small Bonsais like‘Koke-dama’
which is a moss bonsai, in a variety of places, for example, at a general store,
an interior accessory shop, and a hair salon.
It may be said that ‘Bonsai’ has become more casual.
‘Bonsai’ is considered a culture and technique of Japanese origin.
However it is claimed to be of Chinese origin as well. It is said that the style
of bonsai that is currently practiced today began during the Meiji Period.
‘Bonsai’ green have a calming effect on people.
Especially we Japanese feel relaxed when we see Bonsai, which draws us in and
increases ‘Bonsai’’s popularity. But in my view, we are more attracted to
its underemphasized features with ‘quiet simplicity’, than Bonsai green.
Please be informed that TOKYO TOSHI have started to sell Bonsai produced by
Shinajina.
‘Kromatsu‘, a bonsai with black pine. That’s simple and cool.
Just by looking at the pot, we can tell the producer is a good judge.
A ‘Bonsai’ producer ShinaJijna is located in Jiyugaoka.
Its works are never out of date, nor eccentric. They are all natural, smart,
pretty-shaped and cool.
Mr.Kobayashi, the representative of this factory has a reputation for his design
sense and excellent techniques. So he is very much in demand as the ‘bonsai
coordinator’ for chain store planning, exhibitions, and workshops, and as a
bonsai editorial supervisor of TV series. Actually all bonsai which appeared in
the TV series ‘Kobayakawa Nobuki’s Romance’ were under his dircetion.
‘Kokeyama‘ that looks like a bite-size salad.
Shinajina produce not only casual bonsai but also authentic Bonsai.They are
simple and idyllic like the plants in the movie ‘My Neighbor Totoro’.
I think we have more affection to Bonsai because they require plenty of care
including watering or the amount of sunshine and moisture.
Fall is drawing near and it is a good season for enjoying Bonsai because it can
produce berries, or begin to turn red.
So why don’t you try to incorporate ‘Bonsai’ into your daily life ?
Then you can enjoy it as an interior, or house plant which shows the changes
of the seasons.
Comments (0)
This time I would like to introduce a paper lamp manufacturer, Hayashi Kogei
(Fores) in Gifu Prefecture and an overview of the Gifu area.
Gifu is well known for its scenery. For example, when you visit Gifu area,
we often take in the historic villages of Shirakawa-go, Hida-spa, Gero-spa, or
riverside fireworks events or cormorant fishing in the Nagara river.
There are many local industries in Gifu. The first thing that comes to mind when
we think of Gifu is its local industry is in traditional craft such as Minoyaki
which is a kind of ceramic-ware, and a handmade Japanese paper, Mino-washi.
Secondly, Gifu is well known as an area for wood production. So woodwork is
also popular as aits local industry.
The cutlery industry is also famous, too. Especially ‘Magoroku’ which is
regarded as a ‘celebrated sword’ along with ‘Masamune’, is very popular.
Many buyers visit Gifu from all over the world to obtain samurai swords,
scissors, knives, and food chopper. Gifu is a cutlery production center
comparable to Solingen in Germany.
The above Mino-washi is one of the three major Japanese papers along with
Echizen-washi and Tosa-washi. Actually lots of high quality Japanese paper come
from the Gifu area, which has lead to the development of paper lantern
production in the region.
Hayashi-Kogei (Fores) is a Japanese paper manufacturer.
This company is a member of the consortium,‘Re-mix Japan’ which participated in
‘Maison & Objet Paris’ in 2007 and displayed several crafts at the exhibition.
Fores produces high quality and elegant Japanese paper works such as the modern
paper lamps for sale on TOKYO TOSHI, the white lamps made of sliding-screen
paper, and paper lanterns.
Cool and Classy.
I have never seen such a chic and elegant lamp as this.
Fores have their showroom near its head office, which is noted as a tourist spot.
Comments (0)
2008/8/27
We sometimes get a rash from lacquer. But that won’t not occuer unless we
touch the concentrate lacquer solution. So completely dried lacquer is a
harmless natural material which won’t even irritate the skin of a baby.
Lacquer is waterproofed and antibacterial.
So it has been utilized as the coating compositions for building materials
since early times.
In Wajima, they paint lacquer onto not only exterior wall but also the walls,
floor, and interior pillars.
It looks so fine and beautiful as if the whole city is a traditional craft.
This time, I would like to introduce the inn named ‘Fukasan‘ where I stayed
during my visit to Wajima, The entire building is coated with Lacquer.
The whole building is finished with wipe-lacquer, which adds to its appeal.
‘Wipe-lacquer’ is a traditional technique to rub lacquer into lumber that is
repeated several times to ensure a nice coating which can highlight the natural
woodgrain pattern.
All of the wooden materials in this inn including the walls, floor, and pillars,
are finished with wipe-lacquer.They have a silky smooth touch.
The bath and ceilings are finished with wipe-laquer as well.
The bath is a natural hot spring. Each window in the bath is very large and
offers a expansive view, which make you feel comfortable and able to relax as if
we were enjoying an open-air spa.
Seafood and seasonal vegetables arranged on Wajima-nuri lacquerware.
I enjoyed dry Sake, named ‘Noto-Hirosue’ which is made by Nakajima-Syuzo
Breweries.
Breakfast. Tsurumo (a kind of local seaweed) was in the miso soup.
It is a gooey and delicious healthy food containing plenty of fucoidan.
During my stay in Wajima, I was not only able to find good lacquer wares but
also learned how to enjoy and use these traditional goods.
This inn is family owned and-operated. I was really satisfied with their cordial
service and carefully-prepared food, which left me feeling as if I stayed a five
star hotel.
===================================
Inn ‘Fukasan‘
[Adress]
4-4 Kawai-cho, Wajima-city, Ishikawa, Japan
Tel : 81-768-22-9933
[Rate per night]
JPY7500～ (Including breakfast and dinner)
===================================
Comments (0) 2008/8/25
The first process of Wajima-nuri production, as well as that of other
lacquer-ware, is to create a wooden base.
‘Wooden base’ is like the bread and butter of lacquer-ware. The quality of
the lacquer coating depends on that of its wooden base. Frankly speaking, it is
very hard even for craftsman to understand the nuts and bolts of the process.
However I will endeavor to introduce a portion of it in the following outline.
As I explained in the previous column, Wajima lacquer-ware needs to undergo more
than 124 processes to complete. These processes can be classified into roughly
8 to 10 main categories. The first process is to produce the‘wooden base’.
There are 4 major types of ‘wooden base’as below.
(1) Wan-kiji:
Used for the rounded goods like bowls or teacup holders.
(2) Sashimono:
Utilized for box-shaped goods like food boxes.
(3) Magemono:
Used for the cylindrical goods like tea caddies.
(4) Hoh-kiji:
Made of Hoh, a kind of magnolia, used for the intricately-designed goods
like wooden vases or the legs of tables and stools.
‘Hoh’ is the tree from which we get ‘Hoh leaves’ which is well known as the
material of ‘Hoh leaf miso’ the local cuisine in Takayama, which often appears
in the animated TV show,‘Manga Nippon Mukashi Banashi’.
The parent organization of ‘Wajima Kirimoto‘ is ‘Kirimoto Carpentry Shop’, which is
a‘Hoh-Kiji’producer, that specializes in wooden molds made of magnolia.
So they have great skill and know-how in creating the intricately-designed
lacquered furniture and stationery.
Plenty of wooden bases (at Kirimoto Carpentry shop)
The first step to produce the ‘wooden base’ is to select the lumber.
Only the lumber which has passed the strict screening process will be dried
naturally for 3 years so that it will not swell up nor shrink. After the drying,
they should be aged in storage for 5 or 6 years. Then these aged lumbers will be
hewn to rough wooden molds.
Furthermore these molds have to be smoked for a month, and after smoking, aged
another year.
Finally they are trimmed to be the ‘wooden base’for lacquer-ware.
How much time and effort it takes for just the first stage !
When I went to Wajima city, I visited Mr. Kancho’s factory in ‘Wajima Kirimoto‘
who produces the wooden bases for their ‘Sugi-wan‘ series. Before entering
the factory, we noticed a the spicy scented smoke coming from the wooden molds.
Mr.Kancho (left) Mr.Kirimoto (right)
The wall in fumigation room is gleaming black.
The fumigated molds are tiered like building-bricks.
The lathe which is used when they hew the rough molds.
The planes
They kindly gave me a smoked wooden mold as a keepsake.
Now I can enjoy the spicy flavour in my own room.
Next time I would like to introduce the lacquer-coated inn.
Comments (0) 2008/8/20
Wajima-Nuri is regarded as one of the best lacquer-wares in Japan, highly valued
for its coating technologic excellence worldwide.
This time, I would like to introduce a brand of lacquerware, ‘Wajima Kirimoto‘.
Actually there are many lacquer-ware production centers in Japan. However it is
only Wajima-Nuri that is designated as technical cultural property of national
importance. Wajima-Nuri is chic and shiny with a delicate and velvety color,
so it looks delicate and fragile. On the other hand, it is very durable.
So we can say Wajima-Nuri is, in reality and in name, the best lacquerware.
Wajima-Nuri is coated with lacquer mixed with a powder called ‘Jinoko’ two or
three times so that its wooden base can be more durable. ‘Jinoko’ is the powder
made from ‘Keisoh-do’, the clay of Wajima originally made of dead phytoplankton
accumulated on sea floor or the bottom of a lake or bog.
‘Jinoko’ can be generated by firing and grinding ‘Keiso-do’ into powder.
‘Keisoh-do’ which is well known as the material of charcoal brazier, is
fire-safe, adiathermic, and water-absorbing.
It is also often used as material for making walls.
Recently, this natural material has gotten a lot of attention, taking advantage
of the current echo boom.
It is very surprising and wonderful that our ancestors discovered this feature
of this material and utilize it for Wajima-nuri.
Not ‘Formal’ but ‘Casual’ works.
‘Wajima Kirimoto‘ is a brand produced by a famous Lacquerware producer,
Mr.Taiichi Kirimoto. Mr. Kirimoto who once belonged to one of the biggest
stationery and furniture manufacturer in Japan,‘Kokuyo’, resigned from the
company in 1987 to become a Wajima-nuri craftman.
Right now he is very busy not only with daily producition work and product
development at his factory, but also for giving sminars or participating in
exhibitions all over Japan.
For example, at the end of 2007, he gave a seminar and displayed works at
‘Toraya’in Tokyo Midtown, which turned out to be extremely successful.
Mr. Kirimoto sometimes produces special order works for some luxury brands.
He has actually designed and produced the Wajima-nuri accessory pouches with
gold-relief for Louis Vuitton, which was arranged by a famous women’s magazine.
Wajima-Nuri traditionist. Mr.Krimoto
Normally Wajima-lacquer works needs more than 124 processes to complete.
So the production system of Wajima-lacquerware is based on a division of labor,
divided into 8 or 10 stages of work. At each stage, a specialist completes a
part of the work.
However, Mr.Kirimoto does not adopt such as system instead striving to produce
and complete the works thoroughly from beginning to end.
Growing up as the son of a Wajima-nuri wooden base manufacture would later
enable him to find and adapt the methods as described above.
‘Sugi-wan‘ takes a perfect polish and shines as if it was a pearl.
It is soft to the touch, which makes it feel soft to our lips.
The surface of Wajima-Nuri is very fresh and moist because the lacquers hardens
by taking in the moisture from the air, instead of drying up.
So we can feel and the moisture so soon as we touch it.
Wajima-Nuri is a living, growing item. It can take on and retain the moisture to
when used every day, rather than storing them in a cupboard.
Kanna (a kind of plane) are the tool used for creating the wooden basis.
As well as Wajima-Nuri, Wajima city is famous for the ‘morning bazaar’ which has
been held every day for more than a thousand years.
Actually not only Takayama Market in Gifu, and Katsura Market in Chiba, Wajima
Morning Market is well known as one of three biggest morning markets in Japan.
Every morning, ‘Asaichi Street’ a street running a length of about 360 meters is
crowded with the local people and lots of tourists.
When I visited last September, there were hundreds of shops, Wajima-Nuri shops,
seafood shops or other shops lining the street.
I could hear the brisk voices of the sales clerk of each shop here and there.
To be continued…
Comments (0) 2008/8/15
‘Kamasada‘ produces not only a variety of reasonably priced goods for routine
use, but also lots of luxury goods for tea ceremonies and other events.
In the shop there is a special corner to display many high-class tea kettles
which we can rarely purchase or have the opportunity to use.
・Henryo Gama
・Tate-Suji Gama
・Shiho-Kiriawase
(that is a collaboration between Mr.Miya and Mr.Shigeru Uchida, designer.)
Originally Iron-kettle comes from luxury ironpots used for tea ceremony.
In the Edo Era, it was modified for daily use and was reduced in size and
sports the addition of a handle and a spout. After which their popularity
took off.
[Feature of Iron Kettle]
(1) It helps us to take supplemental iron.
(2) It can remove the smell of chlorine from tap water.
(3) It can maintain the temperatureof the water.
‘Iron return to the soil’.
That means iron is slow to tarnish, decomposed after long periods of time, and
eventually vasnishes, which is a completely natural circle of life. Of course,
we can use them for hundreds of years if we can care for them properly.
For this reason, I think ironware is good for the ecology.
Kamasada’s Ironware is made of iron that is blended by their original compounding
technique. They are rust-proof for each iron kettle so as to fire them over
charcoal during the finishing operation, instead of using anticorrosive paint.
In truth there is no iron which does not rust. So it is better to keep using
ironware without concerning yourself over a little rust.
Now I’m very pleased to introduce how to deal with and care for ironware for to
help preserve it for long term use.
[Break-in]
First in preparation for daily use, we have to keep boiling water according to
the following procedure everyday for two or three weeks so that ample ‘Yuaka’
attach itself on to the insde surface of the ironware.‘Yuaka’ is kind of film
made of minerals attached to the inside surface of the kettle. It is said that
it can provide protection against rust and make the taste of water milder.
(1) Rinse with plenty of water once or twice to remove any dust
which may have settled inside.
(2) After rinsing, fill the water in the kettle up to about 60% of
its capacity.Then bring the water to a boil.
(3) After boiling, pour off the boiled water.
Then dry up the kettle over a low heat.
Repeat steps (1) to (3) every day for 2 or three weeks.
(4) Never tourch, nor scrub it with a brush.
Or the ‘Yuaka’ is come off.
After a time you can see some bronzed splotches or markings in the kettle.
Please do not be concerned about these patch asthey are a signs that ‘Yuaka’
is properly adhered.
[Precaution for daily use]
(1) Be sure to boil water at a low heat
(2) When some water settles on the outside the kettle,
dry it gentlly with a soft towel.
(3) Be sure to dry the inside by putting the kettle over a low heat.
(4) When washed, be sure not to use a a detergent and brush.
(5) Be sure to store it in a well-ventilated place,
and use it at least once a month.
[What to do at times like below…]
(1) In case you forgot to pour out the excess water.
>>Start again from the ‘break-in’ phase.
(2) In case you let the kettel boil dry.
>>Start again from the ‘break-in’ phase as mentioned above.
If the water is contaminated, it needs repair.
Then you have to request the factory to fix it.
(3) When the handle becomes unclasped, when it has worn thin
at the bottom, or when it gets a hole.
>> It needs repair. Then you have to request the factory to fix it.
Noｗ you can enjoy wonderfully delicious water with Nanbu Ironware.
Comments (0) 2008/8/13
Over the past several years ‘Nambu Ironware’ has become increasingly popular
with women concerned about their health.
Much of it’s popularity owes to the 2007 NHK drama series,‘Dondo Hare’, in
which one of the main characters was a ‘Nanbu Ironware’ craftsman.
It is said that water boiled in ‘Nambu Ironware’ is rich in iron, due to iron
dissolving from the kettle into the water. The iron makes the taste milder and
increase the iron content of the water we drink.
The type of iron which dissolves into the water is easily-absorbable ferrous
iron (Fe 2+), which has been noted for it’s health benefits.
This makes ‘Nambu Ironware’ ideal vessel for boiling coffe, tea, green tea and
milk for babies.
The modern diet leaves people with an iron deficiency.
This is especially true of women and children who should proactively try to
ingest sufficient amounts of iron.
For this reason I would like to suggest you supplement your iron intake by
enjoying tea and other beverages made from water boiled in Nambu iron kettles,
one of Japan’s traditional crafts.
Just two years ago, I went Morioka City in Iwate Prefecture to see Mr. Miya in
the ‘Kamasada‘ factory one of the most traditional workshops of Nambu Ironware.
Iwate Prefecture is an old and historical area well known for its famous local
products and historic places including; Wanko-soba, Morioka-cold noodles,
Chuson-ji temple, as well as Nambu Ironwere. It is also famous as the hometown
of Kenji Miyazawa who is one of the most popular authors in Japan.
I still remember the moment I first caught a glance of the Northeastern area of
the city as I pulled into Morioka Station. I immediately felt the dignified and
venerable atmosphere lingering from the days Morioka used to be a castle town.
We can see the signboard over the entrance.
It displays the name ‘KAMASADA‘, in Roman letters. Now that’s cool!
Kamasada produces not only the kettles and other ironware for the tea ceremonies,
but also other iron goods routinely used, such as vases, ash trays, rice kettles,
nabes, and pans.
The speciality of Mr. Miya’s iron-works are they’re simple and homely yet modern
and fresh reflecting his personality, which attracts lots of people from all
over the world.
Fortunately I had the chance to see the workshop up close from the rear of the
building, not visible fromthe front door. It was quite large, dim.
The first thing I noticed was the sand covered floor of the workshop.
In the corner of the workshop, there was a furnace, and dozens of molds piled up
against the wall. Next to them, there remained plenty of ironwares on their way
to being finished as well. Glimpsing theis scene, I really felt this building
was a sanctuary for the craftsmen.
Kamasada’s Nambu Ironware needs over 40 operations to complete, and each product
is entirely handcrafted.Each piece is the result of a fight between the craftsman
and the iron, acarefully-prepared work of Mr.Miya, himself.
As you come to appreciate the fact that they are not merely black but and elegant
black, homely but still modern.., I feels a strong sense of what a wonderful
traditional craft they are.
I hope this great craftsmanship that can create these heartwarming goods out of
iron, sand, and fire can be duly handed down in posterity.
Next time, I would like to check and introduce how to use and maintain the
Ironware so that we can enjoy them as long as possible.
Comments (0)
