今日の「天職人」は、愛知県一宮市の「木魚職人」。（平成22年11月27日毎日新聞掲載）
母の命日仏壇に おはぎを供え香を焚く 娘は膝に腰掛けて 両手合わせて南無南無さん テープの経に口合せ 和尚の節を真似てみる 娘は撥でポクポクと 木魚叩いてご満悦
愛知県一宮市の加藤木魚工房。二代目木魚職人の加藤保さんを訪ねた。
「木魚作りはなんちゅうても、座るが修業の第一や」。
男は板木と呼ぶ作業台の、煎餅座布団の上に座し、両足で大きな木魚の頭を押え、中彫り鑿で孔を穿つ。
保さんは昭和22（1947）年、４人兄弟の末子として誕生。
「親の影響か、もう小学校の低学年の頃には、ナイフでコケシなんかの木彫りをしとったでなあ」。
高校を出ると、姉の嫁ぎ先でアクセサリー製造に携わった。
しかし３年後、好きだった木彫りが忘れられず、父と兄の元へと戻り、木魚職人としての修業を始めた。
「最初の2～3年は、在家用の小さい木魚の中彫りばっか。そんでもこれが一番難しいんだって。あんまり力任せに彫ると、穴が開いてまうし。弱気でやっとると、今度は十分に彫れんでかん」。
苦節10年。
一端の木魚職人として、昭和53年晴れて独立。
その年、知人の紹介でみどりさんを妻に迎え、一男一女を授かった。
「まあ今では、木魚に手を当てただけで、孔の厚みまでわかるって」。
一宮の木魚製造の歴史は、明治時代に京都市で修業した職人の手によってもたらされたとも。
また第二次世界大戦中、名古屋鶴舞の師匠の元で、一宮の者が修業し持ち帰ったとも、諸説ある。
しかしいずれにせよ、国内で木魚を手作りしているのは、もう愛知県だけとか。
その大半が一宮近郊で、1軒だけ西三河地方に残る。
尾張特有の木魚の鯱彫りは、まず樹齢何100年という楠や桑の原木を、2～3年寝かせることに始まる。
そして輪切りに木取りし、当て木をしながら平鑿で全体を丸く彫り出す。
さらに豆鉋で全体を丸く削り出す。
そして縦挽き鋸で孔の口を挽き、中彫り鑿で丸1日掛かりで中を彫る。
それから自然乾燥で１年。
乾燥を終えると、再度豆鉋で丸く仕上げ。
次に型紙を当て、渦や鱗の細工を写し、外側に鋼が付いた丸鑿で細工彫りへ。
「普通の鑿と違って、鋼の位置が逆なんやて」。
親からの形見分けという15～16本の丸鑿で、約１週間を掛け、最大の見せ場である鱗が、見事に彫り上げられて行く。
そして粗い目から細かい目へと、3種類のサンドペーパーで磨き上げ、油性ワックス掛けへ。
それが乾燥すれば、柔らかい束子と布で磨き上げる。
「こっからが肝心の、最後の音付けやわ。孔の口をあんまり切り込むと低温になるで、口の厚みを削りながら音を付けてかんと。それに乾燥が足らんと、音が上がってまって皹が入るで」。
こうして口に玉を咥えた鯱彫りが完成する。
「木魚はええ出来でも、新品の撥やと音が硬なっていかん。人間も撥も、石頭じゃいかん。やっぱり木魚は、ボワンボワンと、包み込むような音がせんとな」。
静謐とした本堂に響く木魚は、浄土と俗世を繋ぐ祈りの音色。
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。
上下とか左右とかを合体して作るのだと思っていたので、外から中を彫って空洞にするのだと知った時は驚いたなぁ。
ちゃんと音響工学に基づいているんじゃないでしょうかねぇ。
ぼくもトント分かりませんが・・・(とほほ)
昔、兄貴が小学生の頃、版画を鑿で削っていた時に
左人差し指を鑿で切ってしまい、血がどばぁ～～っと出てビックリ！
親が居なくて私と二人、父親が吸う「いこい(タバコ)」があったんで
ぼくチンは、タバコの葉を傷口に当てて止血をした覚えがあります。
今は学校で鑿、使う事ってあるんでしょうか？
確か？当時は木の箱に6種類ほど鑿がセットだったねぇ！
中学の頃、大工セットのような物を、学校で買わされた覚えが！
そう言えば、家のお父ちゃんもプラスチックのケースに「いこい」を入れて、いつも胸ポケットに入れていたものです。
” 座るが修行の第一や”
作業中ずっとあの姿勢だなんて。私なら 腰を痛めるだろうし すぐ足がつっちゃう(笑)
木魚の音色って 高くもなく低くもなくて なんとなく丸っこい感じがします。
来週の朝 お参りに行った時に 観察してみようっと( ◠‿◠ )
ぼくも同じ姿勢で、座敷や板の間に座り続けるのは、とても無理です(汗)
whoah this blog is excellent i like reading your articles.
Stay up the good work! You know, many persons are searching round for this information, you can aid them greatly.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Please drop in again.
I have read so many articles or reviews concerning the
blogger lovers except this paragraph is actually a pleasant paragraph, keep it up.
Hey there! I simply want to offer you a big thumbs up for the
excellent info you’ve got right here on this post.
I am returning to your website for more soon.
My brother suggested I would possibly like this website.
He was once entirely right. This put up truly made my day.
You cann’t believe simply how so much time
I had spent for this information! Thank you!
I am not positive where you’re getting your info, however great topic.
I needs to spend some time studying more or figuring out more.
Thank you for great information I was on the lookout for this info for my mission.
Greetings from Los angeles! I’m bored at work so I
decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break.
I love the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a
look when I get home. I’m surprised at how quick your blog loaded on my
phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, superb site!
Wonderful website. A lot of helpful info here. I am sending it to some
buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks on your effort!
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you design this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from.
appreciate it
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it,
you happen to be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and may come
back at some point. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your
great job, have a nice weekend!
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire actually enjoyed
account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement
you access consistently fast.
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you can be a
great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and will often come back from now on. I want to
encourage you continue your great writing, have a nice weekend!
We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your site provided us with useful information to work on. You’ve done an impressive process and our entire community can be thankful to you.
I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website.
I really hope to check out the same high-grade content by you in the
future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged
me to get my own site now 😉
Somebody essentially assist to make significantly
articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far?
I surprised with the research you made to make this actual post amazing.
Magnificent job!
Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you, However I am encountering
troubles with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I can’t
join it. Is there anybody else getting the same RSS issues?
Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond?
Thanks!!
Informative article, exactly what I needed.
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment.
I do believe that you need to publish more on this topic, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people do not talk about such issues.
To the next! Cheers!!
I have read so many articles or reviews on the topic of the blogger lovers except this article is genuinely
a fastidious post, keep it up.
My brother recommended I might like this web site.
He was entirely right. This post actually made my day.
You cann’t imagine just how a lot time I had spent for this info!
Thank you!
Hello there! I just want to give you a huge thumbs up for the great info you’ve got here on this post.
I will be returning to your blog for more soon.
Post writing is also a excitement, if you be familiar with afterward
you can write otherwise it is difficult to write.
Hey there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest
to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.
I do not know if it’s just me or if everybody else encountering problems with your blog.
It seems like some of the written text on your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else
please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
This might be a issue with my web browser because I’ve had
this happen before. Appreciate it
It is truly a nice and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you simply shared this useful info with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for visiting us.
Please feel free to drop by again.
Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative.
I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future.
Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Thank you for visiting us.
Please feel free to drop by again.
There is certainly a lot to know about this issue.
I like all of the points you made.
Thank you for visiting us.
Please feel free to drop by again.
You actually make it seem so easy along with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be actually one thing that I believe
I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely huge for me.
I am taking a look ahead to your subsequent submit, I’ll attempt to get the dangle
of it!