After completing the two-week carpentry school

After completing the two-week carpentry school

It was decided in spring that I would participate in this carpentry school. After that, I prepared my work and health, and approached the two weeks with a bit of nervousness.

Looking back, though it was a short time, I feel I gained irreplaceable experience as a designer. It was days spent challenging myself, using my hands and body for the first time in a long while, mobilizing all five senses.

My hands became an extension of the tools, and the tools became an extension of my hands. Through daily repetition, I learned the importance of noticing small differences. The vivid sensation of tools and body becoming one was profound. I was deeply moved by the carpentry culture passed down through generations and by the people who pursue this path with such dedication. I also learned a great deal from their careful approach to sharing this culture and craftsmanship with people from overseas.

My heartfelt thanks go to Mr. Yamamoto, the representative of Somakosha who invited me to the carpentry school; to John and Yoko, who were my main instructors; and to everyone at Somakosha.

At the end of the school, I was asked, “Will you continue to challenge yourself with carpentry work?” But no way, no way. Just as a painter needs artistic talent, becoming a carpenter requires what I’d call a “carpenter’s instinct” – a quality I deeply feel I lack. Even if I had tried it when I was younger, I’m sure I would have felt the same way.

For that reason, I will continue to focus solely on design, just as I have until now.

I hope to carry the lessons learned over these two weeks in my heart and apply them to my daily design work.

二週間の大工スクールを終えて

この大工スクールに参加することが決まったのは春のこと。
それから仕事や体調を整え、少し緊張しながら臨んだ二週間でした。

終わってみれば、わずかな時間でありながらも、設計者としてかけがえのない経験をさせてもらったように感じています。久しぶりに自分の手と体を使い、五感を総動員して挑んだ日々でした。

手が道具の一部となり、道具がまた手の延長となる。毎日の繰り返しの中で、小さな違いに気づけることの大切さを知りました。道具と身体がひとつに結びついていく感覚も鮮烈で、脈々と受け継がれてきた大工の文化に触れ、その道を突き詰めてゆく人々の姿にはただただ感動するばかりでした。そして、その文化や技術を海外の人々にも丁寧に伝えようとする姿勢にも学ぶことが多くありました。

大工スクールに誘ってくださった杣耕社代表の山本さん、メインで教えてくださったジョンさん、陽子さん、そして杣耕社のみなさんに心から感謝します。

スクールの最後に「これからも大工仕事にも挑戦するんですか？」と聞かれましたが、まさかまさか。画家に絵心があるように、大工になるには“大工勘”ともいうべき資質が必要で、私にはそれがないと痛感しました。もし若い頃に挑戦していたとしても、きっと同じことを思ったはずです。

そのような訳で、今までと変わらずに設計に専念します。

二週間の学びを胸に、日々の設計へと還元していければと思います。