■日本の風土、日本人の心
古くから障子、欄間、衝立などに用いられ、日本の家屋に彩と意匠を与えてきた組子。
その歴史の中で生まれた紋様は実に200種類以上あると言われています。職人たちが切磋琢磨し、また、技術を継承・発展してきた証です。
もちろん、今でも、組子工房では現代の職人たちが木を削り、細木を組み立てています。
針葉樹の無垢材を細かく割り、そのひとつひとつにホゾ加工をほどこし、ノミ等の工具で丁寧に調整を重ねながら組み合わせていく。完成品だけでなく、その制作過程にも、技術を継承・発展させている職人たちの木に対するこだわりと美意識を見て取ることが出来ます。
それは、おそらく、日本の風土や日本人の気質や心の有様と無縁ではありません。
組子は人々の目を楽しませ、なごませる装飾品であるのと同時に、日本を象徴する伝統工芸でもあるのです。

■The Japanese Climate and the Japanese Heart
Since ancient times, kumiko has been used for shoji (sliding screen), ranma (transom), tsuitate (screen) and others, providing added color and designs to Japanese-style houses.
It is said that the number of types of patterns created during its history is more than 200. This proves that craftspersons have worked hard and have succeeded and developed their techniques.

It goes without saying that even now, today’s craftspersons whittle a piece of wood and put together tiny pieces of wood at kumiko kobos (studios).
They flake a solid wood into tiny slices, tenon them piece by piece, and assemble them while making careful adjustments with a tool like a chisel and the like. Not only in finished products but also during the production process, it is possible to see a firm commitment to wood by craftspersons who succeed and develop their techniques as well as their aesthetic sense.
Perhaps, it is not completely unrelated to the Japanese climate, the Japanese characteristics, and the state of their hearts.
Kumiko is an ornament that pleases people’s eye and softens their heart, but at the same time, it is also a traditional craft that symbolizes Japan.