Starting Post-War: The Legacy of Shozu Shikko’s Kijishi Work

Can you tell us about your company history?

Takao Our company officially started in 1978, but our work began shortly after World War II. After the war, many men returned from the front lines to find no jobs in their hometowns. My grandfather was one of them.

While discussions about their future were ongoing, the proposal to engage in Yamanaka lacquerware, which was already a part of local culture, was brought up. Skilled individuals became Kijishi (woodturner), and those with a talent for negotiation became wholesalers, and they each took up roles in the Yamanaka lacquerware industry.

My grandfather became involved in the craft, marking the beginning of our predecessor’s venture into lacquerware making. Watching my grandfather work, my father helped him while attending junior high school. Eventually, the business was incorporated, my father took over as head, and now I have stepped into this role.

Did you become a Kijishi because you wanted to carry on the tradition?

TakaoNo, actually, I didn’t intend to succeed it. I played baseball during my student years, pursuing a professional career. When that dream didn’t materialize, I got a job in Tokyo as a company employee.

I eventually met my wife and told her about my grandfather and father’s work. Her response was, "That’s a rare profession." It made me realize that the Kijishi work I grew up around wasn’t the norm.

This realization sparked my interest in the work. I went through a period of indecision on whether to succeed the business, but my wife supported me. I returned home 12 years ago, and here I am today.