The other day, I visited the Kanazawa/Kaga/Noto exhibition held on the 9th floor of Hankyu Umeda main store.
The Hokkaido product exhibition is very popular, but Kanazawa is no less crowded!
I met Mr. Taiichi Kirimoto, representative of Wajima Kirimoto and Kirimoto Woodworks.
Although I was somewhat familiar with lacquering, the more I listened to Mr. Kirimoto, the more I was impressed by
the quality and charm of traditional crafts and
the passion and sincerity of the representative and his craftsmen who are trying to keep the tradition alive.
Lacquer can cause a rash.
It is applied over and over again, then wiped off, then applied again, then wiped off.
The lacquer is applied over and over again as the humidity increases.
The finished product is said to change in color as the years go by, and becomes more and more tasteful.
Mr. Kirimoto himself stands at the booth and listens directly to the voices of those who use the products.
He designs products and communicates his thoughts to the craftsmen.
When the craftsman compromises and says, “That’s enough! but he refuses to compromise, saying, “This isn’t good enough.
(I think he was speaking in Hokuriku dialect like this…)
If you rearrange traditional craft techniques in a modern way, you will get bashing from the same industry.
Nowadays, we live in an age where you can get cheap and good quality goods; you can get almost anything at a 100 yen store.
It is because we live in an age of abundance of things that it is good to have such things by your side, so that you can become attached to them and cherish them for a long time.

Instead of eating to live,
“Looks delicious! It’s delicious! Delicious!” I want to eat a meal that nourishes my heart as well.
Wajima Kirimoto’s dishes will play a supporting role in making us think so.

Now, it seems that the next generation has decided to follow in their father’s footsteps and pass on the tradition to the future.
Mr. Kohei Kirimoto, Mr. Kirimoto’s son.
He is always working and has taken only two family vacations so far…
But I knew that his son had understood his father’s desire to preserve tradition when I saw this article.

I myself met Mr. Kirimoto and came into contact with Japanese traditions.
It was a chance to change my values about things a little. I was able to change my values about things a little bit.
I sincerely believe that Japanese traditions should be handed down to the future, even though their forms may change with the times.

Wajima Kirimoto Kirimoto Woodworks