【製造業の苦楽】ヤリ続けてきた事で賞状をいただくっていうのは素直に嬉しい。何だか子供の頃より大人になってからの方が余計に嬉しく感じるのは、続ける事の難しさと同時にありがたさを知れたからだろう。だから職人として良い時代に生まれたなぁと思う。大親方（89）は戦後から高度成長期を経て、あれが製造業にとって最高の時代だったと言う。モノが無いから作れば売れたらしい。どの時代に生まれても一生懸命に過ごした人にとっては自分が生きた時代がサイコーなんだろう。2000年に社会人になって基本的にいつも不景気と言われているが、それしか知らないから実感がない。俺にとっては今の時代が最高だ。作れば売れる時代なんて面白くない。「モノが無いから売れる」なんて売れる理由としてつまらねえ。「何でもイイんだ。とりあえずそれちょうだい」なんて言われたらちょっと悲しい。どうせなら、「気に入った！」と多くの選択肢の中から見つけて買ってもらえたらスゴく嬉しい。今はモノが溢れ、製造業にとってはモノが売れないと言われるが、ユーザーにとっては海外ブランドから国内の地方産業まで無限の選択肢を得て、こだわりや趣味の幅も大きく広がり、よりワガママにじっくりモノが選べる時代だ。目の肥えた消費者に向けて新しいモノやサービスが次々に出ては消え、目紛しく淘汰されていくが、マーケットそのものは無限に広がっていくようで面白い。その中から選んで買ってもらった一つ一つが本当にありがたいし嬉しい。今は、そんな嬉しいことがたくさん感じられる時代とも言えるのだ。俺みたいな根っからの高慢ちきでも素直にありがたいと思える時代なのだ。角度や尺度は様々あるが、何れにせよ「良いモノを作り続ける」っていうのはいつの時代も難しい。ちょっと前からサステナブルなんてよく聞くが、持続可能ってのは「無理なく」っていうのが大きなキーワードになるのだろう。無理なく健全に歪みなく会社を運営して生き残っていけるなら誰も苦労しない。だから何事も「続ける」っていうのは難しい。小さな製造業が大きなマーケットの中で自立するのは無理の連続だ。時間も金も労力も何にも余裕が無いなかで、何度も失敗しながら自社製品の開発をする。その次は最低限の準備として売れる保証のない在庫ストック分を材料費をはたいて作る。限られた予算を切り詰めながら発信、営業、販促。一銭にもなっていないのに経費ばかりが先行する。超無理で不健全だ。それでも挑戦したいと思えるのは、サイコーに可能性に溢れた楽しい時代だからだ。何事も無理の連続を経て、少しづつマシになっていくものだと思う。マジの職人にしか創れない「本物」を創る家具メーカーとして成長していきたい。だから、一つの家具メーカーとして評価してもらえた今回の受賞は嬉しかった。飛騨産業、天童木工、カンディーハウス、カリモク、アルフレックス、宮崎椅子製作所など名だたる大手メーカーの中に俺たちみたいな小さな家具工房が混ざれた事が嬉しい。それもこれもこの時代のお陰様々だ。 It is purely happy to be awarded for what have been committed to continue. Being awarded when matured would feet more happy compared to the period when I was child would be probably because I have known the difficulty to continue and the appreciations to others. I feel I am lucky to be born in the good era as craftsman. Grandmaster (in 89 years old) told me the era he run the factory would be the best for manufacturing industries from the end of World War II and high growth period in Japan. Given shortage of goods, as soon as manufactured, products were sold off. For those seriously committed to work, the period when they live as craftsman would be best whenever they are born. It has been always said to be depressed since 2000 when I had become working adult, thus, I have never realized it. For me, this prevailing period would be the best. It would not be fun for whatever products are sold as soon as produced. "The shortage of goods" would not be interesting reason for products to be sold. It would be a bit disappointed when I am told "I would like to buy your products because whatever I would like to buy." It would be more happy if our products are chosen among other alternatives as "I love your products !" There are many products available now. From manufacturers' point of view, it would not be easy for the products to be sold. On the other hand, consumers would be able to choose products with more considerations from almost infinity alternatives across overseas' bland and Japanese local manufacturers' ones. Many goods and services are born for consumers with expert eyes and disappear and bewilderingly selected, the market itself would be interesting given as if being unlimitedly expanded. I would really appreciate for every single client to buy KOMA products among other alternatives, which makes me happy. The prevailing period would be recognized as the era when we are able to feel such kinds of happiness. I, even as genuine conceited person, would be able to appreciate obediently. In any period, in nay measures and angles, "continuously making valuable products" would be difficult. Many have talked about sustainability these days, "Without extra efforts" would be one of the material key word for it. Everyone would be able to run companies if they would be able to survive without any extra efforts, soundly, without any dislocations. So, anything would be difficult to continue. Continuous extra efforts would be required for small manufacturers to be independent in the big market. Even with limited time, capital, and resources, it develops its own products. Then, it produces the minimum inventory stocks without any guarantees of sales after paying money for relevant materials. With limited amount of expenses, advertising, marketing, and sales promotions. Without any sales, expenses need to be paid in advance. It would be super extra efforts and unhealthy. The reason why I would like to challenge it, even under such difficult environment, would be this prevailing era would have the best potentials. Anything would have improved gradually with continuous extra efforts. I would like to grow KOMA as a factory producing "genuine" furnitures which can be made only by highly professional craftsman. So, I am very happy for KOMA to be awarded this time as evaluated as one of the factory for furnitures. I am happy for KOMA to be awarded as other famous manufacturers of furnitures including Hida Sangyo Co, Ltd., TENDO CO., Ltd. , CONDE HOUSE co. ltd., KARIMOKU FURNITURE NC., Alflex spa., Miyazaki Chair Factory Co. Ltd.. I appreciate this to this prevailing period. Written by Shigeki Matsuoka
