A Man’s Resolve
Today, I went on a factory tour to Yoshikazu Ikeda’s factory.
I recently got a new mirrorless camera, so I decided to test it out. Ikeda-san has a solid theory behind the temperatures he uses to heat steel and the exact techniques for forging it. He’s constantly experimenting to develop his own approach through hands-on experience, which means he knows quite a lot.
Even when I throw strange questions his way, he almost always has an answer. But rather than saying, ‘This is absolutely correct!’, he’ll often say, ‘In my experience, this is what happened.’ He’s open to the idea that other blacksmiths may have different answers. Despite being highly skilled, he carries this aura of someone who’s still on a journey of learning.
I was able to pick up some hidden insights during my visit and interview, and learning a few extra things was really exciting!
Today in Sakai, it was 24°C (75°F), but it already felt pretty hot in the forge!
- 2014-04-24 :
