Meeting Master Artisan of Traditional Crafts - Akita Sugi Oke Taru

At the lumber mill company Kutsuzawa Seizaisho, the only practicing Master Artisan of Traditional Crafts of Akita Sugi Oke and Taru in Odate-city, Akita, Hisanori Tanaka san works.

Tanaka-san learnt the techniques by his grandfather and father, and has been making traditional Oke and Taru for 40 years.
He received the national qualification of Master Artisan of Traditional Crafts when he was 32 years old.

There are only three practising Master Artisan of Traditional Crafts of Akita Sugi Oke and Taru in Akita prefecture as of today.

At Kutsuzawa Seizaisho, there are two other younger craftsman who make Oke and Taru.

Tanaka-san says with smile that he is so glad that he has been engaging himself in the making of traditional Akita Sugi Oke and Taru.

I am going to ask more questions and have chat with him during my stay in Odate!