Craftsman making tools for tapping lacquer

In Tsugaru, there is a lacquer craft called ”Tsugaru nuri”. Needless to say, you need lacquer to make ”Tsugaru nuri”. The first step is to collect lacquer by tapping. A tool is used to create a notch in the brunk of the lacquer tree to collect the sap that oozes out. The sap is called ”arami”.
Fumitoshi Nakahata, a blacksmith in Takkomachi City, Aomori Prefecture makes the tools that are used for tapping. There are various tools, including a sickle to peel the bark off the tree, a plane to scratch the trunk, and a spatula to scoop off the sap. Not only does Nakahata make all these tools, what’s amazing is that he adjusts every single tool depending on who the tapper is. He finely adjusts the width and curve of the blade depending on the tapper’s habits or request. It is a time consuming task that also requires highly refined techniques.

Limited to three tools a day

As soon as he graduated from school, he learned the trade from his father, Chojiro, and he has been in this business since. In 1995, he was selected to be the Selected Conservationary Technology Holder of the country. He showed us how he does blacksmith work. He manipulates the bellow with his left hand, adjust the fire and heats the sickle. The way he take it out and hits it, makes him look exactly like a blacksmith of the old days. Again and again, he repeats the task to make subtle adjustments. Sometimes he even makes a few millimeter adjustment. “The most difficult one to make is the planar which makes a groove in the tree.” he says. Curvature of the tip is important and requires careful work. Nakahata says “I can only make three a day.” Every scraper has his own demands so they cannot be made with a machine because the form are not uniform. This is precisely the tool that are made when the craftsman meet face to face with the users.

Creator that users trust

For this reason, the tools can not be mass produced. “”I should make tools if I have any free time.”” he tells himself, but the orders seems to be different every year. The thickness of the tree also seems to influence the orders. Surprisingly, the difference with the orders are very minute. “”Last year I requested 4.3 millimeters, but since the tree is different this year, can you make it 4.1 millimeters?””, a request of only 0.2 millimeter difference. First and foremost, this is a result of how much they entrust Nakahata. Nakahata commented about his work, “”It’s good because I’m still able to make tools people want to use.”” I make tools which people like to use.
People come to Nakahata wanting to learn the trade, but the number is very small. Some even say that Nakahata is the only person who can make genuine lacquer tapping tools. “”I want to pass on the technology and skills so that tappers aren’t inconvenienced.”” Nakahata told us. Takkomachi is committed to passing on the technology by using the “”Local Revitalization Cooperative System”” which the country promotes as part of the local revitalization program, to recruit trainees.

The post Making sickles to tap lacquer – Fumitoshi Nakahata first appeared on NIHONMONO.

“Sakai” where metal casters live and work

Sakai is a town where the ancient Emperor Nintoku rests in the giant tomb. It is believed that the tomb was built around the first half of the 5th century, but with such a large construction, a good quantity of tools must have been required. As evidence that such tools existed in the past, many old plows and hoes have been uncovered from the soil of Sakai. Sakai was an area where metal casting and forged metal craftsmen gathered to live and work from long ago.

Around the year 1570, knives to chop tobacco leaves were mostly made in Sakai. Later in the Edo period, tobacco became one of the listed items in the government monopoly system and the cutlery made in Sakai, as represented by tobacco knives, became famous across the country.

Experiencing the traditional method of smith forging

A traditional artisan, Tadashi Enami, has been making cutlery with the traditional method that has been passed down for 600 years. He still manufactures cutlery products with traditional fire-polishing. Fire-polishing is a method of forging hot iron with a hammer. Yes, it is very close to the typical blacksmith image of hammering red-hot iron with sparks coming out of it.

Nakata was given the chance to observe and actually try this fire-polishing method. Unlike pouring melted iron into a mold, this method requires time and labor. You have to hammer each stroke with care and attention to make a good piece of cutlery.

After guns were introduced to Japan, many craftsmen in Sakai made use of their skills to make parts for guns. The town of Sakai has observed different times of history, but it remains to cherish and pass on the traditional method even to this day.

The post Cherishing the history and tradition of Sakai cutlery industry, “Enami Cutlery Manufacturing” first appeared on NIHONMONO.