今日の「天職人」は、岐阜県関市の「柄巻師」。(平成22年8月7日毎日新聞掲載)
商店街の玩具屋で あれこれいじり品定め 今度貰えるお年玉 指折り数え胸算用 やっぱ目当てはチャンバラの 玩具の刀赤い柄 ショーウィンドーのガラス越し 指を咥えて眺めてた
岐阜県関市の柄巻師、遠山康男さんを訪ねた。

「何せ刀の3分の1は柄やで。戦国時代の斬った張ったが終わると、鞘から飛び出して誰でも目にする柄巻は、その意匠で侍の地位から人格までを表現しとったんやろな。特にお城に上がる殿中差しとかは。武骨さを好む者もおれば、ちょっと歌舞伎者気取りに、粋を好んだ者もおったやろし」。康男さんは、天正拵の革巻きが施された、打刀の見事な柄を握った。

康男さんは昭和21(1946)年、3人兄弟の末子として、刃物洋食器製造の家に誕生。
大学を出ると、家業の手伝いを始めた。
昭和46年、名古屋から美智子さんを嫁に迎え、一男一女が誕生。
「親父の友人に鎺師やら鞘師がおって、その人らんとこで見聞きしとるうちに、いつの間にか虜になったんやて。それで昭和53年から柄巻師の山田先生を師と仰ぎ、休みのたんびに師匠んとこ訪ねては、師匠の仕事ぶりを見て盗むようになったんやわ」。

昭和63年、ついに家業を辞し職人の道を目指した。
「ちょうどその頃、天皇の即位礼の太刀60振りを、師匠が請け負い、それを手伝っとったんやて。でも師匠は既に癌に蝕まれとって、亡くなる1週間前にどうにかその仕事をやり終えたとこやった。今思うと、それが柄巻1本でやってくことになった転機やね。でもやっぱ大変やって。2~3年は、さっぱり食えなんだんやで」。
柄巻は、鞘師から託される棒柄を採寸し、柄下地を巻くための図面を起すことに始まる。

そして下地となる鮫皮を裁断。
「鮫皮と言っても、柄巻の場合はエイの皮を言うんやて」。

そして鮫皮の厚みの分だけ、棒柄を鑿と鉋で削り落とす。
次に鮫皮が大きく突起した親粒・二之粒・三之粒を、柄の頭側から1直線に並べて仮着せし、寒梅粉を練り上げ糊付けして本着せへ。
それを糸で縛り、風の当らぬ場所で2~3日陰干し。
「鮫皮の突起は、目から尾の方へ滑るようになっとるで、柄に巻くときは逆さに貼り付けんといかん。刀を抜いて激しく斬り合った場合、両手が柄を滑って刀が抜け飛んでまうやろ」。
柄下地が完成すると、仕上げの柄巻へ。

「柄巻の種類は様々やわ。諸捻り巻、ガンギ巻、庄内巻と。好みもあるでな。毛穴がつんどる、小鹿の傷のない皮を藍で染め、くすべて鶯色に発色させた革紐や、蛇腹糸を組紐にしたもんとか」。
鍔の方から途中で目抜きを入れながら、専用の手止りと呼ぶ装飾用の釘で、表裏一箇所ずつかしめ、頭に向かって柄巻を施す。
「手止りには、肥後のオタマジャクシや、美濃の秋虫なんかがよう使われる」。

気の抜けない作業が続き、月8本を仕上げる。
真ん中の一部だけを柄用に刳り貫き、放置された大きな鮫皮。
あまりにもったいないとつぶやいた。
すると、「ええんやて。山葵卸しの職人が、残った皮を使うんやで」と。
このブログのコメント欄には、皆様に開示しても良いコメントをドンドンご掲示いただき、またその他のメッセージにつきましては、minoruokadahitoristudio@gmail.comへメールをいただければ幸いです。
ひとえに『刀』と言っても、部位によって作り手が違うのですね。知らんかったわぁ。
そうなんです。
全てが分業制で、各々の極めた技を結集するものなんですよねぇ。
刀シリーズ第三弾かな⁈
これまた奥が深そうなお仕事ですね。
細かな細工などに惹かれるのが 少しわかる気がします。
鮫皮で山葵をおろすと 細かくてまろやかになるみたいですね( ◠‿◠ )
美術工芸品が発展する背景は、やはり平和で安寧な日々が不可欠と言う証のようなものですね。
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