Man’s Back
Today, I visited Mr. Yoshikazu Ikeda’s factory for a guided tour.
I recently got a new mirrorless camera, so I decided to give it a try and took some photos. Mr. Ikeda, as a blacksmith, has a theoretical understanding of temperature and forging techniques. He goes through trial and error to gain practical experience and solidify his own theories. As a result, he possesses a wide range of knowledge. Even if I ask strange questions, I usually receive answers. Even if I ask strange questions, I usually receive answers. However, it’s not about making absolute claims like ‘This is the correct answer!’ Instead, it’s more like saying, ‘Based on my experience, this is what I’ve found!’ I still feel the aura of being in the midst of training. Through the visit and interviews, I obtained a lot of valuable information! It’s exciting to see my knowledge expand. Today’s temperature in Sakai is 24℃! The blacksmith’s workshop was already quite hot.
hibishugyo 2014-04-24
The text below is the comment I received when I wrote this article.
Please understand that there are many expressions that are peculiar to Japanese, so there are some parts that cannot be translated well.
Oh,
Re:Oh,
Thank you for your comment. Indeed! Mr. Ikeda’s attention to detail is remarkable, so it takes time for the knives to be delivered. But once they arrive, each knife is beautifully crafted. There is a flow from the blacksmith to the sharpener, and in this process, you can feel the clash of pride among the craftsmen… They have an aura that says, ‘If I don’t do my job as a blacksmith properly, I can’t pass it on to the sharpener!’ When you talk to the craftsmen, you can hear many interesting things! Including some trivia. As for behind-the-scenes stories, I will gradually share them in my blog and other platforms!
