Ginza×CSR・CSV Vol.35 Ginza Natsuno

Continuing to question “richness”

• ─ You have published a book on chopsticks, too.
• Yes. The book is dedicated to the late Mr. Masayoshi Yamada, a chopsticks artisan that I respect and consider my master. The book is titled Jibun no hashi to deau tame: Ohashi no hanashi (finding your own chopsticks: the story of chopsticks) (WAVE Publishing).
  
  Yamada-san was like a human national treasure because his work started with cutting down the tree and making logs. He could complete the whole process by himself. He invited me to stay at his home, and I learned much from him. I doubt there will ever be anyone else like him.
  
  Yamada-san’s chopsticks are, to be honest, fuzzy and come in different shapes. In times when standardized products are demanded by he market, his chopsticks fail to meet commercial standards but I like how they feel handcrafted. They can also be used very comfortably.

• We also sell lacquerware. Lacquerware and chopsticks do not sell just for their high quality. Many people say that lacquerware is expensive, but they are very firm and can be used for 100 years if you re-coat them. They are actually very environment-friendly.

• The Japanese are a unique people because they feel that certain plates and utensils belong to individuals. Each family member has his own chopsticks and rice bowl. This is rare in many other countries.
  
  Moreover, Japan’s tableware culture is amazing. First of all, plates come in many different shapes, with a rich variety of decorations. Given so many producers all over Japan, we have quite a high level of tableware quality.
  
  However, less people eat at home nowadays. The dining industry has become very strong and people do not have the time to eat at home. I believe that how you eat at home has a great impact on how enriched a person’s life can be. Even if you are not using the best of ingredients, anything that one takes time to prepare tastes delicious.
  
  When I visit chopsticks artisans, I always enjoy the food that is served by his wife, although they always say, “I only used what I had at hand.”
  
  A person’s life can change with how he eats, and tableware is the essence that makes meals at home exciting and enriched. This has an especially large impact on children.
  
  At “Konatsu,” our specialty store for children’s chopsticks and Japanese tableware, we engrave children’s names in the tableware out of the hope that if children know that something is their own, they will be inspired to take good care of it.

With the times in Ginza, a town to stroll in

• ─ Please share your feelings for Ginza
• As described by the term “Ginbura,” Ginza is a town where you can stroll around.
  
  The streets follow a grid pattern and each street, large and small, boasts unique stores and boutiques. You can see why a long-established store has been in business for such a long time, the moment you step in.
  
  I am hoping that my chopsticks store will last for a century. Most long-established stores tend to run businesses that are associated with food – for example, Japanese confectionery stores and sake breweries.
  
  I believe food culture survives the times because of its importance. I am sure that the Japanese will never stop using chopsticks.
  
  In contrast, it is also true that good things that have been around for hundreds of years are not selling well. Using a favorite item for a long time is a beautiful practice, and I believe chopsticks and tableware are tools from which future society can learn important values. Ginza is the perfect place for communicating this.