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When carved motifs are incorporated into Japanese style sliding paper doors or carved wooden panels, meticulous attention is paid to the direction in which the motifs face.
For example, motifs of auspicious birds such as the crane, are placed to show them facing the entranceway, in order to bring good fortune to the family. As Japanese designs embody profound meaning, craftsmen are dedicated to ensuring the well-being and happiness of their customers through correct use of the design elements.
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Chapter 4, The challenges of manufacturing Kumiko.
Page 107, Japanese traditional design or world-wide brand
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“As a craftsman, I have spent my life wondering if I followed the right occupation: Why am I doing this work? Does this work mean much to me?” Even though I took up woodwork because I liked it, I cannot help feeling that I could have done something else.
But we should never be discouraged during times of uncertainty. Long years of training develop craftsmanship and a sense of purpose as a human being.”
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Chapter 2, Our decision to merge Japanese and Western styles.
Page 35, Long years of training.
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My father's hospital room looked out on the Tateyama mountain range.
Especially beautiful in spring when accumulated winter snow accentuates the ridge lines, the mountain is a truly amazing sight.
Every day when visiting my father, I would gaze in awe at the mountain.
Whatever the weather, a sunny, rainy or cloudy day, the mountain stood steadfast, constant, unchanging, in contrast to the passing of countless human lives.
And I wondered, “How many human lives has the mountain witnessed from its lofty height?”
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Chapter 4, The challenges of manufacturing Kumiko.
Page 122, Tateyama mountain range seen from the hospital.
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| Information technology is not cold and lifeless – rather it offers the possibility to inform and connect people, and the reward of working and living with IT is that it brings satisfaction. |
Chapter 6, What a small company truly values in the digital era.
Page 183, Associations and networking.
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| As a result of having discontinued production of conventional fittings, sales declined sharply for a brief period, hitting an all-time low in the history of Tanihata. However, we earned sufficient to repay loans through increasing orders for Kumiko ramma. And most importantly, the reduced workload improved staff satisfaction: “We have enjoyed working this summer.” And so I realized that my decision to specialize in Kumiko had been right. |
Chapter 5, Reviving traditional Japanese style.
Page 161, Our decision to go forward
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