TVの密着番組の打ち合わせに制作会社のスタッフさんが工房に来てくれた。可愛らしい20代前半の女の子だ。名刺にはAD(アシスタントディレクター)と書いてある。普通はディレクターさんのアシスタントとしてついてくるのが読んで字の如くADさんだ。でも今回はADさん１人だけ。「えーと、えーと。。何から話せば。。とにかくこういうの始めてなんです。。」となにやら緊張した様子の彼女。話はこうだ。以前ウチの武内マイちゃんを中心に取り上げていただいた「７ルール」というTV番組をたまたま観たらしい。厳しい職人の男社会で奮闘するマイちゃんと、やはり同様である番組制作の現場で働く自分の姿が重なったようだ。「同じ歳なのに武内さんは活躍しててカッコ良くて、私は下っ端の一番下っ端で、とにかくこのままじゃダメだと思って。。」そこで彼女は一念発起して自ら番組の企画を創ろうと思ったらしい。「誰にも求められてないんです。下っ端の私のチャレンジなんて。」どうせなら自分が影響を受けたKOMAで密着番組を創りたいと考えてくれたらしい。企画を上司にぶつけてみたら「１人で行ってきてみろ」とチャンスを貰えての今日なのだ。なんとも嬉しい話である。そうして打ち合わせが始まった。「KOMAってなにがスゴいんですか？」と彼女。聞かれてもどう答えて良いか分からないタイプの質問にとまどいながら「大量生産と工芸の違いってわかる？」と俺。「う〜ん。。なんとなく。。」「職人が手で創った作品を理解してもらうのって難しくて、、えーと、、一般市場の中で認知してもらえてて、、それには評価とか実績とか必要で、、みたいな？」「すみません。それのどこがスゴいのかわかりません。。」と彼女。「そうだね。。えーとなんだろうな。。。」正直で気持ちがいい。何よりちゃんと自分が理解して上司にKOMAの良さを伝えようとしてくれている熱意が嬉しい。でも説明するのが難しい。こんな調子で２時間ほどの質疑応答と製作の実演などをした。人に理解してもらう難しさをあらためて知って勉強にもなった。数日して彼女から電話がかかってきた。「上司にもっとKOMAのこと伝えたくて！だから追加で質問があるんです！」どうやら彼女の企画書が好評だったようで、一段階上の会議に臨むための追加資料が必要とのこと。「おー！彼女スゲーよ！！」なんだか俺たちKOMAメンバーも盛り上がる。また数日して電話がかかってきた。しかし、なんだか浮かない声。「いい番組が創れそうだ！」上司の評価も上々で次々と段階をクリアしていったそうだ。社長参加の会議まで漕ぎ着けて「よし！これでいこう！」と決まりかけたところで問題発覚。以前にKOMAが取り上げていただいた番組と今回のスポンサーがバッティングするという理由で企画は一瞬で白紙になってしまった。残念だけどチャレンジのほとんどはこんなもんだ。一度の挑戦ぐらいじゃ環境もきっと変わらない。ただ自分の内側で何か少し変わるかもしれない。それが達成感でも敗北感でもそんな事はどっちでもいいのだ。チャレンジの結果を受け入れた経験の積み重ねが環境を変えていくと思う。「下っ端の自分のチャレンジなんて誰からも求められていない」彼女の言葉が印象的だった。少なくとも彼女の上司はその挑戦が嬉しかったはずだが、でも確かにそのとおりだと思った。誰だって最初は下っ端で誰からも期待なんてされない。それでも続けていれば少しずつ期待してくれる人が増えてきて、それに応える責任が自由を与えてくれるような気がする。チャレンジなんてのは、自分が納得できないとか誰かに褒めてもらえたら嬉しいとかそんな理由で勝手にやるもんだ。なにかのせいにしてストレスを溜めるなんて馬鹿々々しいし、諦めてしまうのはもったいない。居酒屋で上司、会社、政治とどこまでもスケールアップしていくグチで盛り上がるオッチャンも夜の街の風情としては悪くないが、なんかスゲー疲れそうだし出来ればそうはならない方が良さそうだ。残念そうな彼女だったが、最後にこんなことを言ってくれた。「松岡さんカッコ良くて！だから私が密着番組を創るからそれまで待ってて下さい！」マジ嬉しすぎる。若いお嬢さんにそんなこと言ってもらえるだけで家具職人やっててよかった。過去が今を創るけど、過去の半分は今が創ると思っている。苦い思い出の半分くらいは今が良ければ笑い話になるからだ。「いつかの彼女にガッカリされないように」それだって十分チャレンジの理由になる。そして本当に実現したときの打ち上げはたいそう盛り上がるだろう。そんな未来を想像できる出会いがあるからやっぱり仕事は面白い。上写真は１２月の一週目にしていた仕事の中で一番覚えている事。tie chair2017の特注品を製作中。椅子の仕上げに用いる小鉋や小刀などの刃物の使い方がまた少し進歩できたことを半年ぶりに実感できた。それを武内マイちゃんに教えているところ。 For the discussion about the close cover story of KOMA in TV, a stuff of a program production visited the factory of KOMA. A pretty female in her early 20's. According to her business card, her title is AD (Assistant Director). Usually, ADs visit the factory to literally assist Directors. However, this time, she visits us by herself. She seemed to be very nervous saying, "How can I say, how can I say, from what I should start. This is the first time for me something like this." He story would be following. She happened to see the TV program named "7 rules" where KOMA was covered with special focus on our employee Maiko Takeuchi. She seemed to have sympathy with Mai-chan who is struggling in man-oriented craftsman world given her similar experiences in man-oriented TV productions. "Despite same age, Takeuchi-san has been showing excellent performance which looks cool, I have been struggling as the lowest level of stuffs. I need to change something myself." So, she made her mind to produce her own project of a TV program. "No one requires me to do it. This is the challenge of the lowest level of the employee." She would like to make cover story of KOMA which influenced her, if she is going to do it. When she talked to, her boss gave her a chance saying "Cover the story by yourself." It is quite delightful story. Then, the interview has been started. She asked "What are great in KOMA ?" I replied with kind of embarrassed "Do you know the difference between mass production and crafts ?" "Well, I guess I know it without details..." "It would be difficult for hand crafted products to be understood, or recognized in the general market, which requires evaluations and track records, kinds of...." "I am sorry I do not understand what is great about them.", she said. "Well, it would be...." I felt refreshed about her honesty. I was delighted to observe for her enthusiasm trying to convey goodness of KOMA to her seniors with full understanding of it. However, it would be difficult to explain. Through interactions something like this, the Interview and associated demonstrations continued about tow hours. It was a good lesson for me through I have re-realized how difficult to be understood by others. Several days later, we had a call from her. "I would like to explain more about KOMA to my supervisor ! Thus, I have additional questions !" Her project proposal seemed to be well received, thus, she needs additional information for one step upper forum. "Oh ! She is great !!" We, KOMA members were also excited. Several days later, she called KOMA again. However, her voice sound kind of down. As expressed as "We are supposed to make a good TV program !", the evaluations of her seniors were good and she has cleared upper steps. When the project was almost to be signed off at the meeting where the president of her company participated as "Yes ! Let's proceed this !", an issue was identified. One of assumed sponsors of this project has a conflict of the interest with the company which sponsored another TV program covering KOMA. The project was suddenly returned back to the drawing-board. It would be disappointing, however, most challenges are something like this. Just one time trial must not change the environment and infrastructure. Actually, something inside oneself may be influenced. It does not matter whether it is a sense of accomplishment or a sense of defeat. The experiences of accepting results of challenges would change the environment. Her words were really impressive; "No one requires challenges from me, the lowest level of the employee." Her words would be true although her supervisor was supposed to be pleased with her challenge. Everyone starts from the lowest level of employees whom no one expects. However, through continuous challenges, the number of others who expect you is supposed to increase, thus, responsibilities responding to their expectations may give you autonomy. Challenges would be initiated by something selfish like one cannot be convinced, one would like to be evaluated by others. It would not make sense to have been stressed out with attributed the fault to something and it would be waste of time. Old men, who are excited to grumble about supervisors, companies, and politics in "Izakaya" restaurant, would not be necessarily bad as one of scene in an entertainment district at night, however, it seems to be very tired and would be good to avoid to join them. She seemed to be very disappointed, however, she made the following comments at the last. "Mr. Matsuoka, you looks so cool ! Please wait for me to make your closely covering story in the future !" I was too delighted to hear it. My craftsman carrier in furnitures is paid off given such comments from a young lady. The past has made the present, while a half of the past is made by the present. Because about a half of bitter memories of the past will be funny story if the present tome is good. "I will never disappoint her in the future", which would appropriately justify challenges. And, the celebrating party accomplishment of it would be really fun. Given encounters through the job which implies such interesting futures , the job would be fun. The picture above is the most memorable thing in the first week of the December. We are making specially ordered "tie chair 2017". I was able to realize my skills in small planes and/or blades have been improved in 6 months. And I taught Mai-chan Takeuchi it. Written by Shigeki Matsuoka
