自分で才能ってもんが無いなあと実感することが多い。特にセンスってことに関していうと皆無だ。だからプロ、アマに関わらず誰かが作ったモノや撮った写真、描いた絵などを見て「スゲエな〜真似できねえな〜」と影響を受ける事ばかりである。でも家具づくりが好きだ。最近はまた、本当にそう思えるようになってきた。残念ながら純粋にそう思えない時期も長くあった様に思う。お正月は俺も大義名分でお休みだ。ただ、一番やりたい事がたまたま家具づくりだから好きで勝手にやっているだけで、あくまでお休みだ。だから自分的に失敗しても段取りが狂っても何でも許せるお気楽な数日だ。プロとしてでなく純粋に好きだから作業ができる大好きな数日だ。才能もセンスも無えのに、気合いと根性だけでプロでいるってことはとっても大変なのだ。笑昨年は仲間達や先輩達に多くの機会と環境を与えてもらえたおかげで、自分にとって気付きの多い一年だった。つい先日の年の瀬にフッと何かが抜ける感じがして「オレはロクでもねえボケだな〜」とガッカリした。一番になりてえとか、勝ったとか負けたとか。今まで頑張る目的の最上位にあったものがどうでもよくなった。「最高の家具を創って、最高に喜んでもらって、最高にカッコ良くある。」KOMAの理念だ。最高の家具が創りたかったら、それと相等の知って、見て、買ってもらえる環境が創れなければただの自己満足でしかない。歴史の無い俺たちにとって実績が一つの裏付けとなり環境を得る。その為には職人としてプロジェクトに選抜してもらえるかどうか。作品がプランに選考されるかどうか。などなど、実績を積む為にはライバル達と比べられる機会も多いのは事実だし、その結果が次の環境を創るのも事実だ。だから、KOMAの理念を叶えるために最高の環境を得るまで勝ち続けて一番になる事が頑張る目的になった。理念を叶えることが目的？逆じゃない？理念は活動の根幹だろ？理念を持って何をするのかじゃないの？俺たちの理念は、関わってくれるみんなと一緒に喜びを得るためにあるのだ。それが頑張る目的だ。その為には得なきゃならない環境もあるし、勝たなきゃいけない時もあるってだけだ。まさに本末転倒だった。こだわるべき結果は、勝ち負けじゃない。みんなと一緒に楽しめてるかどうかだ。勝ち負けは、楽しむ為の過程の一つだ。当たりまえのことに気が付くのに時間がかかった。毎度のことに自分で嫌になる。でも気付けて良かった。あとは単純に、若者よ大志を抱け。で、修行スタートに俺はまず日本一の家具職人になる事を抱いた。数年前から、んなもん無いんじゃない？と薄々気付いていてが、若い自分が抱いた大志を簡単には裏切れないとの気持ちも勝ち負けにこだわる理由の一つだと思う。2015年は本当にありがたい環境に恵まれた。関わって下さった方々の御厚意で沢山の機会を与えてもらった。経済産業省wonder500選抜。paris design week選抜。ミラノ万博ジャパンサローネ展示。林野庁wood design award 奨励賞。林野庁wood furniture award japan選出。paris展示。百貨店でも色々な事に参加させてもらった。若い衆と一緒にTVで特集もしてもらった。本当にありがたい。それで、年の瀬にふと思った。環境や機会を得ることを結果とするなら、今はオレが日本一の家具職人か？と。修業時代にたてた目標はこれのコトか？と。イヤ。これでイイじゃん！と。俺より巧い家具職人なんて俺が知らねえだけでいくらでもいると思うし、売上が高い会社もいくらでもある。評価には色んな尺度や角度があるから、こんな事を言うと「ナニ言ってんだテメエ！」と彼方此方から叱咤の声が聞こえてきそうだが関係ねえ。機会に選択してもらえたって事に関して焦点を合わせれば、企業も個人も含めて紛れもなく俺とKOMAが一番だ。だからもうコレでイイじゃん。べつに俺の実力じゃない。仲間達や先輩方に、ただ時間と機会を与えてもらえただけだ。でも納得してくれ。若かりし俺。家具のジャンルも加工技術も得意分野は人それぞれだし、自分一人で得られるものなんて何も無い。だから一番なんてそのものが存在しない。勝手に俺がこしらえた幻だ。ただただ、ありがたいだけじゃん。。それに自己採点15点の俺ごときが得られる結果だ。だからもうコレで勘弁してくれ修業時代の俺。コレで約束を果たした事にしてくれ〜だけど一つ。おかげさまでスゲエ自信がついた。才能もセンスも無いけどゼッテエ負けねえっていう執着と根性だけでも何とかなる。認めてもらえる。って思えた。それもこれも関わってくれる人たちのおかげだ。そしてあらためて思う。己を囲む人こそが己の価値そのもの。俺も周りの人にとっての価値になれたら何より嬉しいと思う。でもやっぱり負けるのは大嫌いだ。自分が命を懸けて頑張ってるんだったら世界中の誰にも負けたくねえと思うのは本能として当たりまえだ。ただ、勝つことが目的じゃない。その先の本当に大切な目的が見えたってだけのほんの小さなこの一歩が大きな一歩だ。勝負のためのモノづくりじゃなくなるってことがこの先の家具づくりに必ず良い影響がある。ガキの頃から放っておけば一日中、何かを作ったり描いたりしていた。ずっとモノづくりが大好きだったからこの職業に就いた。窓から差し込む光を背中に作業をする親方衆が眩しかった。彼らが逆光の中、技を振るって木屑が舞う様にシビレた。いつか俺もあそこに！純粋に憧れた。また思い出した。遠回りしたなぁとも思うが、今はあの頃よりもっと深いところで好きになれた気がする。だから15年で15点の自己採点はイッキに20点にしてあげようと思うのだ。ここが本当のスタート地点だ。やっと辿り着いた。もう競わなくてイイ。俺はこんな親方だ。若い衆には迷惑をかける。気付きの大きな要因として若い衆の影響もデカイと思っている。そう思える立役者の一人が平塚剛史だ。 I think of myself as racking of talents. Especially, I have none in terms of kinds of senses. So, I tend to be impressed by opus of goods, pictures, paintings made by others irrespective of professionals or amateurs thinking of them "it is awesome, I cannot make something in the same quality. Anyway, I love making furnitures. Recently, I have become thinking so from the bottom of my heart. Unfortunately, I have spent long period when I could not purely think so. At the beginning of new year, I am in off. Given making furnitures as my favorite thing, I am making furnitures even in my holidays. So, I have been in easy mode allowing me to make mistakes in it or to have inappropriate processes. I love these several days when I spend in manufacturing furniture not because it is my occupation but because I purely love it. It is really tough to be a professional with neither talent nor sense. lol. Last year, I had many opportunities to become aware of many things thanks to colleagues and senior people. At the end of the last year, I have felt losing my tension and so disappointed as "I have been useless idiot." I would like to be No.1 and/or winning or losing, etc. I have become not to take care of them which have been the most important motivation for me. "Making the best furnitures, bringing the most happiness to clients, and being the most cool." It is the philosophy of KOMA. When we would like to make the best furnitures, unless making the environment where clients know, see, and buy our products, it would be just self-satisfaction. It would be true that we are compared with competitors during those selection processes and relevant results would make next environments. That is why our goal was defined as keeping continuous victories and becoming No.1 in order for our idea to be true. Is our goal to realize our philosophy ? Is it the opposite ? Given no history, the environment would be made by our performance results. For that, it would be important whether we are chosen in projects as craftsman, our products are selected in plans. Is the philosophy is the fundamental of every activity ? Is more appropriate question what shall we do with the corporate philosophy ? Our philosophy exists in order for us to rejoice together with all our stakeholders. That is the reason why we make efforts. For it, we may need to establish a certain infrastructures and may need to win some competitions. It was truly the opposite. It should not be the result of competitions. But, whether we are able to rejoice with stakeholders or not. Results of competitions would be one of processes for rejoice. It took longer time for me to understand what is totally obvious. I would be about to hate myself with experiencing something like this almost every time. Anyway, it was good to be aware of it. It would be simple, however, boys be ambitious. So, at the initial step of my training for craftsman, I was aimed to be No.1 craftsman in Japan. Since several years ago I have been noticing it would not be appropriate gaol, at the same time, I would like to be compliant with the ambitious I had when I was young. We have very good opportunities by many stakeholders whom I really appreciate. Selected in "wonder500" hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Selected in "paris sedign week" Exhibition at "Japan salone in the World Expo in Milan" Awarded as the encouraging prize in "wood design award" sponsored by the Forest Agency Selected as "wood furniture award japan" sponsored by the Forest Agency and the associated exhibition in Paris. We had many opportunities in department stores. Special programs in TV were broadcasted. I really appreciate all. Then, at the end of the last year, I thought. Measuring results by acquiring relevant opportunities and infrastructures, would I be the No.1 craftsman of furniture in Japan ? Is it the gaol what I made at the begging of my training. Rather it is that ! There would exist many craftsman whose technique are better than me and there are many factory whose sales are bigger than KOMA. Given there are many measures and angles how to evaluate, I would expect blames like "What are you talking about ?", which I do not care. Measuring from the number of opportunities to be chosen in awards and/or exhibitions , KOMA and myself would be No.1 for sure. So, I have accomplished what I thought it as my goal. It would not be my true performance. Seniors and colleagues have given me time and opportunities. So, myself in your age, please be persuaded. There are many genre and each craftsman has own speciality in terms of manufacturing process, nothing can be made by myself. So, conceptually, there is no No.1 craftsman for furniture. It was illation I made myself. I just appreciate it. That is what I, whose self scoring would be 15%, am able to get. So, myself in training era, please be persuaded for you to accomplish your gaol. Please understand it as the completion of the promise. One I would be sure. I have had solid self-confidence. Without any talents and senses, I would be able to overcome anything with my sticky commit and guts. I would be able to think of being evaluated by others. I appreciate all stakeholders who have made me to think of what described above. And I truly realize it again. Those who are surrounding you are what is your value. It would make me happier than anything else if I would be able to bring value to others. Anyway, I dislike to lose. As instinct, it would be too obvious I would not like to be inferior to anyone else if I make furnitures desperately. But, victory would not be the goal. It would be significantly large step having made myself understood the truly valuable goal beyond being No.1. The change of the goal from manufacturing beyond competitions are supposed to bring good influences to making furnitures. When I was child, if left as was, I have created and/or painted something. I have taken this profession because I love creating something. Masters working backed by light shining from windows looked too bright to me. I was fascinated by their performance in using wooden hammers. I purely admired them "I would like to be there, someday !" I remember it again. I would think of it as a detour, however, I like making furniture something deeper than that period. I, who has gained 15 point score in 15 years, would to improve my score to 20 points immediately. This is the true starting line. I have reached out to the starting point. I am no longer able to compete with others. I myself would be such kind of master. I trouble younger employees. Actually, younger employees have made me to be aware of these kinds of things. Takeshi Hiratsuka is one of them. To be continued to "Takeshi Hiratsuka". Written by Shigeki Matsuoka
