提灯一筋にこだわり続けたからこそ
できることがある
提灯を作ること。
絶えることなく続いてきた伝統、
使う人の暮らしに寄り添う専門性。
鈴木茂兵衛商店の“ものづくり”を紹介します。
Our attention to every facet and every detail of our chochin means we can achieve unique wonders.
We create chochin.
With tradition constantly kept alive over the years, and expertise closely bound to the daily lives of users.
Here we will show you how SUZUKI MOHEI SHOTEN makes its creations.
伝統を築いた人とのつながりや技術は、
新たな提灯づくりのために拡がり、歩みを進めます。
Human relationships and the skills which have built our tradition will evolve toward the creation of new chochin (paper lanterns).
私たちの“ものづくり”の伝統。
私たちは1世紀半以上に渡って提灯を絶え間なく作り続けてきました。そこには提灯づくりに欠かせない職人の存在があります。
提灯づくりは、伝統的な提灯も現代の提灯も、職人の手仕事に支えられています。職人たちとのつながりを大切にし、その技術が絶えないようにしていくこともまた伝統です。
歴史とともに、長年培ってきた技術や人とのつながり・信頼関係こそ、私たちを支える伝統なのだと考えています。
The tradition of our craftsmanship.
We have been continuously making chochin for over a century and a half. Our craftsmen are an indispensable part of the chochin-making process.
Having endlessly continued to make chochin for more than 150 years is not the only tradition which has kept us going on.
The presence of craftsmen is indispensable for the making of chochin (paper lanterns). The making of both traditional and modern chochin is supported by the craftsmanship of these artisans. Valuing our connections with such artisans and preserving their skills is also one of our important traditions.
We believe such mutual bonds and confidence over the years are what really supports our tradition.
変えないことと変えていくこと。
私たちの“ものづくり”の専門性。
創業から提灯一筋の私たちがこだわるのは、提灯の機能性です。広げて照らし、たたんで仕舞える。豊かな四季の移ろいを楽しみ、限られたスペースで豊かに過ごす暮らしの工夫から生まれた「たたむ文化」は、変えずに伝えていきたい日本の文化です。
同時に、移り変わる人びとの暮らしに沿って提灯が変わっていくことも大切です。私たちは今までにも、提灯に求められる役割や新しい使用シーンに応じて多様な新商品・新技術を開発してきました。この歩みはこれからも続けていきます。
変えないことと変えていくこと、この2つを絶えず続けていくのが、私たちの専門性です。
The things that are changed and left unchanged.
The expertise of our craftsmanship.
Ever since our foundation, what we have been strongly concerned about is the functionality of chochin. They give us light when opened up and they can be folded and put away. The culture of folding is an invaluable part of Japanese culture which must be kept unchanged, for it was born from our thoughtful ideas in order to enjoy the rich seasonal changes and enrich our daily lives within the limited space given.
Yet at the same time it is also important to adapt those conventional chochin to meet the changing needs of people. To meet such various demands made upon chochin, we have already been developing diverse new products and technologies depending on the different situations they are used in. We intend to continue doing so in the future as well.
Our expertise is to never cease to continue practicing the following—to leave some things unchanged and to change others.
提灯づくりを支える、
手作りの技法と
機械製造。
そのハイブリッド。
The handmade techniques and machine manufacturing which support the making of chochin, and a hybrid combination of these two.
「すずも」の“ものづくり”の精神
工程ごとに大小さまざまな道具を用いて、提灯づくりは進みます。既製の道具もありますが、職人それぞれの手に馴染むようにかたちを微調整したり、作業に合わせて職人が手づくりした道具もあります。
The spirit of SUZUMO’s craftsmanship
The making of chochin proceeds by using various tools, both large and small, for each individual process. In addition to ready-made tools, there are tools which have been handmade by the artisans themselves, making fine adjustments so that they fit their hands for every respective process.
より美しく、より手早く仕上げるために、オリジナルの道具を作り出したり、古くから使われてきた道具を改良することもあります。提灯をつくる職人の手仕事はもちろん、その技術を十分に活かすための道具や機械、及び環境づくりの工夫も含めたすべてが、「すずも」の“ものづくり”なのです。
We even create our own original tools or upgrade those tools which have been in use for ages, in order to complete the process more quickly and more beautifully. The craftsmanship of SUZUMO encompasses the totality of not only the handwork of our craftsmen in making the chochin, but also the ideas and contrivances for making the tools and environment in which to fully demonstrate those skills.
提灯づくりの工程
提灯づくりの技法は、構造によって大きく2種類に分けられます。
1種類めは、輪に組んだ骨を多数並べ糸をかける伝統的な「掛け糸技法」です。
より丈夫な提灯を作れるという特徴を活かして看板提灯などがこの技法で作られています。
The process of chochin-making
The techniques for making chochin are largely classified into two kinds depending on the structure of the firebox.
The first kind is the traditional thread technique, in which a number of bones are aligned in a ring and the thread is placed around them.Signboard lanterns are made using this technique, which is characterized by its ability to produce more durable lanterns.
2種類めは、1本の長い骨をらせん状に巻く「ぐる巻き技法」。
より効率的な製造ができるという特徴があるため、現在製造されている多くの提灯にこの技法が活用されています。
The second kind is the coiling technique, in which a single long bone is coiled around spirally.
This technique is utilized in many of the chochin being manufactured today because it is characterized by more efficient manufacturing.
