I went to Aritsugu, which sells great Japanese knives and kitchen tools in Nishiki food market, to say a happy new year. The photo above is a president and also a craftsman of Aritsugu, Mr. Terakubo, who has been sharpening and maintaining the beautiful edge of knife. His crooked fingers show his long lives with this job.
A lot of people from all over the world visit Aritsugu in Kyoto, and brought the knives back to their homes. Actually I'm wondering they could maintain the edges of knives made in steel, because it's more difficult to maintain their sharp edge than the stainless steel knives.
Pres. Terakubo says " I hope our foreign customers bring not only the knives but also the Japanese mind. This is the mind which appreciates the tools, maintains them with our hands and spends with them for long time. Ecology? Kyoto Protocol? We've been eco-friendly with everything from very old time. This is just usual."
I agree with it. It could be said "Mottainai" mind, which is the Japanese word as taking care of everything.
Share the Japanese tools, share mind !
Aritsugu
10m east from the corner of Gokomachi and Nishiki St. (in Nishiki food market)
Fax : 075-231-1066 Open : 9:00~17:30 everyday
(Their website is under re-construction.)
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