今日の「天職人」は、岐阜県飛騨市古川町の「和蝋燭職人」。（平成22年1月13日毎日新聞掲載）
川面浮かべた灯篭は 初雪よりも穢れない 芽生えた恋の渡し舟 三寺まいり雪の宵 瀬戸川揺れる恋灯かり 二人屈んで手を合わす 千の灯かりと千の恋 飛騨古川は雪の中
岐阜県飛騨市古川町で明和年間（1764―72）創業の三嶋和蝋燭店、七代目主の三嶋順二さんを訪ねた。
小さな灯明が瀬戸川沿いに揺れ、穢れなき真っ白な雪が、娘たちの晴れ着の肩へとそっと舞い降りる。
「嫁を見立ての三寺まいり」とまで小唄に詠われる、飛騨市古川町に300年以上前から続く三寺まいり。
今年も15日の夜に恋の灯明が灯る。
「本当は、親鸞聖人を偲ぶ仏事なんやに。それが明治・大正の頃からやさ。野麦峠越えて信州へ糸引きの出稼ぎに行った、年頃の娘たちが里帰りして、着飾って瀬戸川縁を歩いて参拝するようになってな。それでいくつもの恋が芽生え、小唄にまで詠われるようになったんやさ」。
作業場には、七輪で熱せられた大鍋から、白蝋の淡い匂いが立ち込める。
順二さんは昭和21（1946）年、4人兄弟の次男坊として誕生。
「戦後になると急速に家庭から和蝋燭が消え、西洋電灯に取って代わられて。父は自分の代で、店仕舞うつもりやったんやさ」。
だが高校2年の年だった。
「ＮＨＫの日本の伝統っていう番組で取り上げられて。日本から和蝋燭が消えてしまうから、資料に残したいと。そりゃあ父は複雑な思いやったやろな。でもそれが放送されると、全国各地から家を訪ねて来るようになって。それで父も辞めるに辞められず。だからそれからも細々と家業を守っとったんやさ」。
順二さんは高校を出ると、地元の製薬会社に入社。
製造に携わり10年が過ぎようとしていた。
「そろそろ手伝いせんと」。
昭和48年、会社を辞し家業に入った。
「子どもの頃から、父の手捌きを見てはおりましたが、見るとするでは大違い。完全に体が覚え込むまで、15年ほどかかりましたわ」。
店の入り口左手が作業場。
2㍍4方ほどの小間が2つ並んでいる。
「左が父、右の奥が私。平成12年に父が亡くなるまで、親子で並んで生掛してましたんやさ」。
昭和52年、隣町から洋子さんを妻に迎え、二男二女が誕生。
八代目はと問うた。
「一番下の息子が小学生の頃『俺が継ぐぞ』と言うとりましたが、どうなることやら」。
三嶋の和蝋燭作りは、毎年秋11～12月に九州・四国・近畿地方のハゼノキから取った実を乾燥させ、それを蒸してから搾り出した白蝋を、大鍋で溶かすことに始まる。
70～80度に熱せられた蝋液を臼に移し、擂粉木で1時間ほど練り上げる。
次に竹串の先に和紙と藺草の灯心を巻き付け、上から真綿を巻いて止め、蝋液の中を11～2回潜らせ1回で1㍉ずつ太さを出す。
そして先端部分を炭火で暖めた庖丁で切り落とし、芯を出して竹串を抜き取る。
最後に朱の顔料を混ぜた赤い蝋液を生掛すれば完成。
「和蝋燭の仄かな灯りは生きものやさ。家族の笑い声に合わせて揺れるんやで。まるでご先祖様が笑ろとるみたいにな」。
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三嶋和蝋燭店のご主人の、優しいお顔と 優しい語り口調が懐かしく思い出されます。
本当に温和な方ですものねぇ。
オカダミノルバスツアーで訪問しましたね！よく覚えています。
古川の町中を、みんなで漫ろ歩きましたよねぇ。
三嶋 和蝋燭さんの店頭には店主のお話に耳を傾ける方々 店内には『 どれにしようかな～ 』と、和蝋燭を選んで見える方々でいつも賑わっていますよね (◍•ᴗ•◍)
私も 三寺まいりライブの時に 店主のお話を聞いて実演を見て旅の思い出に、そして亡き両親へのお土産にと (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)
自分には赤白ランダムを 両親へは赤と白をペアで 写真の横に飾っています
( ◜‿◝ )♡
なんとも云えない 色、艶が素敵ですよね〜 ❣️
温和な語り口の飛騨弁がとってもいいんですよねぇ。
それとあの和灯りのほんわかとした明るさも！
写真から ご主人のお人柄が滲み出てますよ( ◠‿◠ )
この方が造る和蝋燭は きっと柔らかい灯りが灯るんでしょうね。
蝋燭の灯りって ずっと見てられます。
心が穏やかになるし 無にもなれる。
自分を写す(見つめ直す)鏡でもあるような気さえしてきます。
真っ暗な心の闇までも、明るく照らし出してくれるようですものね。
明日はきっと良い事が待ってるよと。
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