[Nishijin Maizuru Interview Part 2] What we communicate through textiles

-----When do you feel the joys and hardships of your work?

The greatest joy is the moment when a customer puts on our obi and smiles.

There's nothing better than this.

Of course, there is also suffering.

As a practical matter, sometimes products don't sell as well as expected, or production hits a dead end.

I believe it is important to maintain hope even in the face of various difficulties.

Once you start thinking it's hard, everything starts to seem hard.

So, I change my mindset and face the challenges with the attitude that "I just have to have fun."

I know that our ancestors overcame many hardships, so we can overcome them too.

I think it's our turn next.

-----What do you think about the future of the industry?

There will probably be no new entrants into the world of yarn-dyed textiles.

Not only do we need equipment, but we also need to accumulate skills. In addition, there are also issues such as a shrinking market and a decrease in weavers.

If we think back to a certain period, we might say that we are currently in a period of decline.

However, I believe that since our predecessors overcame difficulties, we too can overcome them.

One of my recent efforts is to make textiles more accessible to people.

We cooperate with nearby elementary schools to allow them to observe the production process, and we also offer workshop tours for people from overseas.

-----Maizuru-san, you are the fifth generation owner of the business. Did you have any conflicts about taking over the business?

When I was a student, I had no intention of taking over the family business.

I felt like I was in charge of my own life.

My first job was in the same industry, but at a different company.

One day, my father became ill and was hospitalized, and I returned home to visit him. After working in the workplace, my outlook on the family business changed dramatically.

I realized how much effort my parents put into raising me and how much the employees put into the company.

At that moment, I decided to take over the company.

-----As I listen to you talk, I get the sense that you're not just taking over the company, but also inheriting its traditions. What are your thoughts on tradition?

I believe that Japan's identity is "harmony," for better or worse.

Cherishing relationships with those around you and caring for others.

That is the essence of Japanese culture.

I believe that traditional Japanese clothing has been cultivated within this culture.

I don't think there's much point in just preserving the traditional Japanese clothing.

It's important to get the essential parts across.

We are just a passing point in the history of culture and the history of Nishijin weaving.

How can we pass on culture to the next generation?

And that's after clearly conveying the essence of the matter.

We aim to express that spirit through our textiles.

-----Please tell us about your future challenges.

We are challenging ourselves to go beyond the boundaries of traditional Japanese clothing.

I'm trying out various ideas, such as making business cards and bags using woven fabric.

What worries me is that textiles will become museum exhibits.

It's not that I don't like being exhibited, but I'm afraid that textiles will become a thing of the past.

We know that textiles shine best when they are worn.

As I mentioned earlier, the initiative to communicate with young people and people overseas is also part of this challenge.

If we can properly communicate the appeal of textiles, I believe they will transcend the boundaries of traditional Japanese clothing and become integrated into various lifestyles.

-----It was a valuable time in which Maizuru-san's determination and will to carry on the tradition were transmitted to us as well.

I feel that this interview really made me realize how thoughts can connect in this way. -----