Only Time & Money Disappear

After his fateful encounter with Zogan while working at the prefectural testing center, Nakagawa began juggling life as both a salaryman and an artisan. However, the daily reality of working on Kaga Zogan was nothing like what Nakagawa had pictured.

"Even after a year, I would only finish about three large pieces, or maybe five small ones. You have to carve the metal, then inlay gold or silver—that takes about twice as long as other crafts.

In the beginning, I failed a lot too, so time slipped by in the blink of an eye, and money for metal supplies disappeared just as fast."

Looking back, Nakagawa says as someone specialized in industrial design, he had no idea it would take so much time and money to create just one piece. Because of this intensive commitment, people around him eventually fell away and disappeared.

Even if you’re captivated by the world of crafts, there are structural challenges that make it tough to continue.

"As a salaryman, you get a paycheck every month. But in crafts, if you don’t sell your work, no money comes in. On top of that, after deducting materials, you’re left with only about a third of the selling price. I only became able to make a living through my craft after I was in my sixties."