From: Gerald Laabs INTER NET> Date: 28 jan 2003 Subject: Article on Shogi Set Making --Apple-Mail-8-977576552 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Hello List, Thought there might some some interest in the following article from the Daily Yomiuri, as translated from an article in the parent Yomiuri Shimbun. Enjoy. City becoming famous for luxury shogi sets Yomiuri Shimbun Fujinomiya has become the home of a number of talented artisans and craftsmen whose finest boxwood shogi (Japanese chess) sets are fetching as much as 500,000 yen, and is emerging as a mecca for those seeking fine, handmade Koma (shogi pieces). The local shogi pieces, known as Fuji-koma, are being displayed at Maruhachi, a shop specializing in shogi and igo sets in Ginza, Tokyo, whose merchandise is purchased by the Japan Shogi Association. High-quality shogi pieces bear the names of the artisans who made them, such as Tosei, Seiho and Eigetsu. The price of a high-quality, handcrafted 42-piece set ranges from 150,000 yen to 450,000 yen. The store currently has contracts with eight artisans around the nation. Tokujiro Kito, the store's manager, spoke highly of Fuji-koma pieces. "Fujinomiya artisans have only recently been known for their shogi pieces. Their relatively low profile allows merchandise to be reasonably priced," said Kito. Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture, has traditionally been well known for making shogi pieces, but in recent years pieces have been produced by machines and trained craftsmen have become fewer in number as well as older in age. "When it comes to the bottom line, Fujinomiya is the place to keep an eye on for quality shogi pieces," said Kito. Tateo Osawa, 60, who signs his work with the pseudonym Tosei, is considered the pioneering master of Fuji-koma. After joining an amateur koma-making club in 1986, Osawa learned the art mostly on his own, with help from information in the club's newsletters and tips exchanged with other members. He began offering his work as prizes for local shogi competitions as an outlet for his hobby. In 1989 he visited Tendo in search of better materials and tools and took some of his pieces with him. A store owner looked at some of his work and purchased one set for 20,000 yen. Osawa continued to polish his skills, and his products began to bring higher prices. Neighbors began to drop by, asking him to tutor them in the craft. He started a local koma-making club in 1992. Its members were soon putting their works on display at the local civic center. Merchants who heard of their activities came to look and sometimes bought sets of the pieces. The club currently has 30 members whose favorite pastime is honing their craft. Members range in age from those in their 20s to those in their 70s, and many are craftsmen and artisans in their own right, earning their livings as carpenters or confectioners. Kiyomitsu Ishikawa, a 55-year-old office worker, signs his work as Seiho. He equals Osawa in the making of moriage-koma, which requires the most painstaking techniques. In contrast to boxwood hori-koma, on which characters are carved, and horiume-koma, whose carved characters are filled with lacquer, the characters of moriage-koma are mounted with lacquer and considered to be of the finest quality. Because the subtle brushings of lacquer demand careful attention and ample time, production of a set by even the most practiced craftsmen require at least a couple of months. Of the 10 craftsmen that are said to have this skill in the country, two now reside in Fujinomiya. Osawa retired from his job hauling lumber in December and is eager to train the young people of Fujinomiya in the art of making shogi pieces. He will be acting as spokesman for the Fuji-koma as well, visiting the association's chapters around the nation. "I want to make Fujinomiya a place where you can get the finest koma, just like Tendo," said Osawa. How to Japanese - http://www.twics.com/~glaabs Gerald Laabs --Apple-Mail-8-977576552 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/enriched; charset=US-ASCII Hello List, Thought there might some some interest in the following article from the Daily Yomiuri, as translated from an article in the parent Yomiuri Shimbun. Enjoy. PalatinoCity becoming famous for luxury shogi sets Yomiuri Shimbun Fujinomiya has become the home of a number of talented artisans and craftsmen whose finest boxwood shogi (Japanese chess) sets are fetching as much as 500,000 yen, and is emerging as a mecca for those seeking fine, handmade Koma (shogi pieces). The local shogi pieces, known as Fuji-koma, are being displayed at Maruhachi, a shop specializing in shogi and igo sets in Ginza, Tokyo, whose merchandise is purchased by the Japan Shogi Association. High-quality shogi pieces bear the names of the artisans who made them, such as Tosei, Seiho and Eigetsu. The price of a high-quality, handcrafted 42-piece set ranges from 150,000 yen to 450,000 yen. The store currently has contracts with eight artisans around the nation. Tokujiro Kito, the store's manager, spoke highly of Fuji-koma pieces. "Fujinomiya artisans have only recently been known for their shogi pieces. Their relatively low profile allows merchandise to be reasonably priced," said Kito. Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture, has traditionally been well known for making shogi pieces, but in recent years pieces have been produced by machines and trained craftsmen have become fewer in number as well as older in age. "When it comes to the bottom line, Fujinomiya is the place to keep an eye on for quality shogi pieces," said Kito. Tateo Osawa, 60, who signs his work with the pseudonym Tosei, is considered the pioneering master of Fuji-koma. After joining an amateur koma-making club in 1986, Osawa learned the art mostly on his own, with help from information in the club's newsletters and tips exchanged with other members. He began offering his work as prizes for local shogi competitions as an outlet for his hobby. In 1989 he visited Tendo in search of better materials and tools and took some of his pieces with him. A store owner looked at some of his work and purchased one set for 20,000 yen. Osawa continued to polish his skills, and his products began to bring higher prices. Neighbors began to drop by, asking him to tutor them in the craft. He started a local koma-making club in 1992. Its members were soon putting their works on display at the local civic center. Merchants who heard of their activities came to look and sometimes bought sets of the pieces. The club currently has 30 members whose favorite pastime is honing their craft. Members range in age from those in their 20s to those in their 70s, and many are craftsmen and artisans in their own right, earning their livings as carpenters or confectioners. Kiyomitsu Ishikawa, a 55-year-old office worker, signs his work as Seiho. He equals Osawa in the making of moriage-koma, which requires the most painstaking techniques. In contrast to boxwood hori-koma, on which characters are carved, and horiume-koma, whose carved characters are filled with lacquer, the characters of moriage-koma are mounted with lacquer and considered to be of the finest quality. Because the subtle brushings of lacquer demand careful attention and ample time, production of a set by even the most practiced craftsmen require at least a couple of months. Of the 10 craftsmen that are said to have this skill in the country, two now reside in Fujinomiya. Osawa retired from his job hauling lumber in December and is eager to train the young people of Fujinomiya in the art of making shogi pieces. He will be acting as spokesman for the Fuji-koma as well, visiting the association's chapters around the nation. "I want to make Fujinomiya a place where you can get the finest koma, just like Tendo," said Osawa. GenevaHow to Japanese - 1998,1998,FFFEhttp://www.twics.com/~glaabs Gerald Laabs --Apple-Mail-8-977576552--