The other day, third graders from the local Chuo Ward Hisamatsu Elementary School came to visit our shop.
The theme of the activity is "Nihonbashi's best! Let's find the masters!" and participants are touring local facilities and stores to deepen their understanding of the town.
Everyone had thought up a lot of questions.
Q: How do you feel when you are making an umbrella?
A: "I wonder what kind of person would carry it? I think about the person who would carry it."
Q: What kind of person would you like to take over the business?
A: "It's an umbrella that you can only use on rainy days, but it's one that you can treasure.
They make wonderful umbrellas that make you want to go out and have fun even on rainy days."
Q: How old is the current president?
A: "I'm the third generation."
Q: How many types of umbrellas do you have?
A "Umbrellas, parasols, umbrellas for both sunny and rainy days, long umbrellas, folding umbrellas, men's umbrellas, women's umbrellas, etc.
There are over 100 varieties.”
Q: Is there anything you do to preserve the tradition?
A: "At Komiya Shoten, craftsmen in their 80s make umbrellas.
We teach young people how to make umbrellas and train them to become fine craftsmen.
Q: Why do you preserve the umbrella tradition?
A: "Because I want to preserve umbrellas made in Japan. If everyone were to buy Chinese umbrellas that cost just a few hundred yen, it would become difficult to see Japanese umbrellas. I want to preserve the beautiful and lovely umbrellas made in Japan so that this doesn't happen."
When they saw the umbrellas, which were made in Japan and opened by hand instead of with a single touch, they seemed to wonder, "How do you open them?" When they slid it open with a click, they all exclaimed in surprise, "Wow!"
Everyone at Hisamatsu Elementary School, please come visit us again!
All our staff are looking forward to seeing you.
