Preserving the \u201cdesign\u201d dating back to the Edo period <\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Please tell me about your corporate history dating back to the Edo period. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Our company was established in 1792 (Kansei 4), when Ienari Tokugawa, the eleventh shogun, was in power. The founder of our company was originally a sculptor of images of Buddha in Omi, currently Shiga Prefecture, and he began his trade in Edo (currently Tokyo) after he was called by the Shogunate to work on Zojoji Temple, which is the chief temple of the Jodo-Buddhist sect. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima <\/dt>\n
- How many years has it been since your store moved from Nihombashi to Ginza? <\/dd>\n
- Yasda<\/dt>\n
- Fifty-two years have passed since we established our store in Ginza in 1965 (Showa 40). <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- For how many generations have you been in business? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda <\/dt>\n
- I am the eighth President of the company. If I had been born a good singer or a fast swimmer, or with some other talent, I may have had other choices in life (laughs), but from the day I was born I had always believed that it was my destiny to take over the store. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Your parents are very fortunate! It is to my knowledge that you sell mainly Buddhist family alters and articles and sogon-butsugu. Could you please explain to me what sogon-butsugu are? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Sogon-butsugu are Buddhist alter articles that are found in temples. They include mizushi, or miniature shrines in which images of Buddha are placed, and shumidan, the dais for Buddhist images. Almost everything is made from wood, painted with lacquer, gilded,hand-decorated with metal fittings, and carved. There is a professional artisan for every process. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I see. It had never occurred to me that everything was made from wood. I had always thought that it was all made of metal. If you had the skills to create all of that, I would imagine that you would be capable of building houses and making furniture as well. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Yes, we also employ miyadaiku, or carpenters specializing in temple and shrine construction. The curves of shrine and temple architecture require special construction methods which differ from those for common houses and can only be done by professional miyadaiku. Furthermore, every store has a separate roof design, which makes the form and balance of the roof unique to each store. Therefore, our blueprints are family \u201ctreasures\u201d. For generations, we have kept our original design so that our products can be recognized as bearing the \u201cYasuda-Shokeido\u201d style.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_01.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_02.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"\u5bfa\u9662\u8358\u53b3\u4ecf\u5177\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_03.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSogon butsugu (Buddhist alter articles) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201dTokyo Butsudan,\u201d designated by the Tokyo metropolitan government as a traditional craft, was launched by the third president of our country. <\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Would you please tell me about your \u201cTokyo Butsudan\u201d series, made for the average customer. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- It is a series of Buddhist family alters that were originally made by Edo sashimono-shi, who specialized in making chests and boxes, during their free time using ebony, rosewood, mulberry, and Yakushima cedar. It is said that this line of alters was launched by our third-generation president, Shokei Yasuda. Today, they are made by traditional artisans designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Each alter must be finished with a coat of lacquer. Each certified Tokyo Butsudan comes with a serial number. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima <\/dt>\n
- Are these family alters available only for people living in Tokyo? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- They are available for purchase by anyone. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So, it is more like a brand? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Yes, it is a historical family alter that has been designated as one of the Tokyo Metropolitan Governments\u2019 traditional crafts. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Really. There is so much that I am hearing for the first time. It is all very interesting. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Thank you. I guess you wouldn\u2019t shop at a store specializing in Buddhist family alters very often. <\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_04.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n![\"\u6771\u4eac\u4ecf\u58c7\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_05.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTokyo Butsudan <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nEven as designs change, our prayers for the repose of a soul remain unchanged <\/h4>\n\n- Takashima <\/dt>\n
- Would you say that making Buddhist family alters and articles has changed over the years? If so, could you please name some of the changes? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Conventional alters had a statelier design, with luxurious carvings in the ranma (fanlight) and shoji doors, but times have changed and people prefer more compact alters today. Many houses no longer have a Japanese-style room, so there is more demand for simple and modern design to fit in the living room as well as for alters that are easy to clean. We make alters using walnut and maple, as well. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Especially in Tokyo, many people live in condominiums. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Yes, that is true. Also from a more emotional perspective, I feel that family alters have become a more personal item. Fundamentally, the inside of a Buddhist alter is supposed to be the \u201cPure Land\u201d so we were not to place photos or any other objects that depicted the deceased while he was alive, but more people are placing photos or some of the ashes taken from the original urn in order to feel the presence of the deceased. Furthermore, some people offer bread and coffee instead of rice and tea, saying \u201cthe deceased was fond of it.\u201d And I find no problem with these changes. What is important is that they are actions of love for the deceased. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Sometimes, there are matters more important than customary practices. What has not changed? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Even with shifts in design and style as the times change, our \u201cprayers for the repose of a soul\u201d remain the same. We continue to care about the deceased and have a desire to properly hold memorial services on the first, second and other designated anniversaries of a loved one\u2019s death. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That is so true! <\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![\"\u30e2\u30c0\u30f3\u4ecf\u58c7\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_06.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA modern Buddhist family alter<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_07.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nSeeking to offer omotenashi unique to Ginza, the \u201cultimate shopping street\u201d <\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I have been told that you are on the Board of Directors at Ginza Information Management. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda <\/dt>\n
- Yes, I am also a member of G2020, a project that aims to make Ginza an even more attractive place with a view to the Tokyo Olympics Games. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What kind of activities does the project involve? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- We get together for discussions on branding Ginza and involving the entire Ginza community in local events.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- With an active role in town development, how do you feel about Ginza? Could you please share some of your personal ideas with me? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- I believe Ginza to be the \u201cultimate shopping street\u201d. Large department stores and small family-owned and -operated shops can coexist in Ginza, which attracts not only Japanese shoppers but also foreigners from many different countries. Ginza is unmatched in this sense. Having done business here for many years, my wish is that Ginza will always be able to offer all of our visitors omotenashi that is unique to this town. Ginza has become famous worldwide and we often see its name written out in Roman characters: GINZA. However, being a retailer of Buddhist alters, I find it awkward for us to print \u201cGINZA\u201d in our catalogues. I would like to pursue forms of omotenashi that meet the expectations of \u201c\u9280\u5ea7(Ginza)\u201d written out in kanji characters. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Do you receive many foreign customers as well? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- We have recently had an increasing number of customers from overseas. Just the other day, a foreigner bought a lantern for Obon (=midsummer festival to welcome the spirits of ancestors). My guess is that it is going to be hung inside a home as an interior ornament. We appear to be Japanese gift shop from the outside (laughs). <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I see (laughs).<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_08.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_58_09.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Takashima started taking violin lessons from the age of 6. After a successful career abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, where she currently performs in concerts across the country. Highly noted for her character in TV and radio appearances, she has currently opened up her career to more diverse fields with an unchanged focus on her profession <\/p>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Please tell me about your corporate history dating back to the Edo period. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Our company was established in 1792 (Kansei 4), when Ienari Tokugawa, the eleventh shogun, was in power. The founder of our company was originally a sculptor of images of Buddha in Omi, currently Shiga Prefecture, and he began his trade in Edo (currently Tokyo) after he was called by the Shogunate to work on Zojoji Temple, which is the chief temple of the Jodo-Buddhist sect. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima <\/dt>\n
- How many years has it been since your store moved from Nihombashi to Ginza? <\/dd>\n
- Yasda<\/dt>\n
- Fifty-two years have passed since we established our store in Ginza in 1965 (Showa 40). <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- For how many generations have you been in business? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda <\/dt>\n
- I am the eighth President of the company. If I had been born a good singer or a fast swimmer, or with some other talent, I may have had other choices in life (laughs), but from the day I was born I had always believed that it was my destiny to take over the store. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Your parents are very fortunate! It is to my knowledge that you sell mainly Buddhist family alters and articles and sogon-butsugu. Could you please explain to me what sogon-butsugu are? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Sogon-butsugu are Buddhist alter articles that are found in temples. They include mizushi, or miniature shrines in which images of Buddha are placed, and shumidan, the dais for Buddhist images. Almost everything is made from wood, painted with lacquer, gilded,hand-decorated with metal fittings, and carved. There is a professional artisan for every process. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I see. It had never occurred to me that everything was made from wood. I had always thought that it was all made of metal. If you had the skills to create all of that, I would imagine that you would be capable of building houses and making furniture as well. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Yes, we also employ miyadaiku, or carpenters specializing in temple and shrine construction. The curves of shrine and temple architecture require special construction methods which differ from those for common houses and can only be done by professional miyadaiku. Furthermore, every store has a separate roof design, which makes the form and balance of the roof unique to each store. Therefore, our blueprints are family \u201ctreasures\u201d. For generations, we have kept our original design so that our products can be recognized as bearing the \u201cYasuda-Shokeido\u201d style.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Sogon butsugu (Buddhist alter articles) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u201dTokyo Butsudan,\u201d designated by the Tokyo metropolitan government as a traditional craft, was launched by the third president of our country. <\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Would you please tell me about your \u201cTokyo Butsudan\u201d series, made for the average customer. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- It is a series of Buddhist family alters that were originally made by Edo sashimono-shi, who specialized in making chests and boxes, during their free time using ebony, rosewood, mulberry, and Yakushima cedar. It is said that this line of alters was launched by our third-generation president, Shokei Yasuda. Today, they are made by traditional artisans designated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Each alter must be finished with a coat of lacquer. Each certified Tokyo Butsudan comes with a serial number. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima <\/dt>\n
- Are these family alters available only for people living in Tokyo? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- They are available for purchase by anyone. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So, it is more like a brand? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Yes, it is a historical family alter that has been designated as one of the Tokyo Metropolitan Governments\u2019 traditional crafts. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Really. There is so much that I am hearing for the first time. It is all very interesting. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Thank you. I guess you wouldn\u2019t shop at a store specializing in Buddhist family alters very often. <\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Tokyo Butsudan <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nEven as designs change, our prayers for the repose of a soul remain unchanged <\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima <\/dt>\n
- Would you say that making Buddhist family alters and articles has changed over the years? If so, could you please name some of the changes? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Conventional alters had a statelier design, with luxurious carvings in the ranma (fanlight) and shoji doors, but times have changed and people prefer more compact alters today. Many houses no longer have a Japanese-style room, so there is more demand for simple and modern design to fit in the living room as well as for alters that are easy to clean. We make alters using walnut and maple, as well. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Especially in Tokyo, many people live in condominiums. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Yes, that is true. Also from a more emotional perspective, I feel that family alters have become a more personal item. Fundamentally, the inside of a Buddhist alter is supposed to be the \u201cPure Land\u201d so we were not to place photos or any other objects that depicted the deceased while he was alive, but more people are placing photos or some of the ashes taken from the original urn in order to feel the presence of the deceased. Furthermore, some people offer bread and coffee instead of rice and tea, saying \u201cthe deceased was fond of it.\u201d And I find no problem with these changes. What is important is that they are actions of love for the deceased. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Sometimes, there are matters more important than customary practices. What has not changed? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- Even with shifts in design and style as the times change, our \u201cprayers for the repose of a soul\u201d remain the same. We continue to care about the deceased and have a desire to properly hold memorial services on the first, second and other designated anniversaries of a loved one\u2019s death. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That is so true! <\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n
A modern Buddhist family alter<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nSeeking to offer omotenashi unique to Ginza, the \u201cultimate shopping street\u201d <\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I have been told that you are on the Board of Directors at Ginza Information Management. <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda <\/dt>\n
- Yes, I am also a member of G2020, a project that aims to make Ginza an even more attractive place with a view to the Tokyo Olympics Games. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What kind of activities does the project involve? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- We get together for discussions on branding Ginza and involving the entire Ginza community in local events.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- With an active role in town development, how do you feel about Ginza? Could you please share some of your personal ideas with me? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- I believe Ginza to be the \u201cultimate shopping street\u201d. Large department stores and small family-owned and -operated shops can coexist in Ginza, which attracts not only Japanese shoppers but also foreigners from many different countries. Ginza is unmatched in this sense. Having done business here for many years, my wish is that Ginza will always be able to offer all of our visitors omotenashi that is unique to this town. Ginza has become famous worldwide and we often see its name written out in Roman characters: GINZA. However, being a retailer of Buddhist alters, I find it awkward for us to print \u201cGINZA\u201d in our catalogues. I would like to pursue forms of omotenashi that meet the expectations of \u201c\u9280\u5ea7(Ginza)\u201d written out in kanji characters. <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Do you receive many foreign customers as well? <\/dd>\n
- Yasuda<\/dt>\n
- We have recently had an increasing number of customers from overseas. Just the other day, a foreigner bought a lantern for Obon (=midsummer festival to welcome the spirits of ancestors). My guess is that it is going to be hung inside a home as an interior ornament. We appear to be Japanese gift shop from the outside (laughs). <\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I see (laughs).<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\n
Chisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Takashima started taking violin lessons from the age of 6. After a successful career abroad, she moved her home base to Japan, where she currently performs in concerts across the country. Highly noted for her character in TV and radio appearances, she has currently opened up her career to more diverse fields with an unchanged focus on her profession <\/p>\n
![\"MUSE\u301c12](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_cd_muse.jpg\")
<\/p>\n