A chochin(a Japanese lantern) is a lighthouse for a lost-traveler

If you come to Tokyo for sight-seeing for the first time, probably you will go to see Sensoji in Asakusa ward. Then a super-big red chochin (a Japanese lantern) under the gate of Sensoji precinct welcomes you. You will take photographs and enjoy your traveling time around it, moreover you will feel somehow happy.

How big it is! Why is it so big?

Why is it so red?

Why is its form thick and round?

What are the two kanji characters? (The answer is “thunder” and “gate”. It reads “Kaminarimon”.)

You will be sure that it is a traditional one as old as Sensoji because of the strong presence, but in fact, it has a short history from 1960. It’s a fact that it was presented by Shonosuke Matsushita who was the founder of Panasonic Co.,Ltd (the global electronic company), but why it was made is not distinct. Setting aside the reason of its birth, it makes you happy, and that is the reason of its existence. The super-big chochin and the gate are in a state of balance and equilibrium.  

The picture above is a photograph of the Gion Yamagasa Festival in Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka prefecture. It is held for the avoidance of plague, a lot of pyramid shaped chochin structures are popular for spectators . As you see, chochins give you a strong impact and make you happy. If you see the festival from a neighboring place, you would want to participate in the festival.

The picture above is a photograph at Gion Hanamikoji, where maiko-han is popular for travelers, in Kyoto. This chochin shows the event of Miyako-Odori (many maiko-Han and geiko-han show Japanese dances with a historical story on stage for one month in April). Miyako Odori makes spectators happy, and the chochin introduces the happiness and enjoyment to people.

My friend, Frank, said; “ Many foreigners know a chochin as an icon of Japan, and it gives them a sense of security. A chochin is round, foreigners sense peace with security from it and they think that it is just Japan. They assure that a restaurant under red chochins serves foods, drinks or alcohol. A red chochin is like a lighthouse for a lost-traveler with hunger as if a lighthouse which seamen in the troubled water found in the distance.”

A chochin will make you happy

Originally a chochin was a lantern. However hand-held chochins were changed to electronic torches. If chochins have only practical usage to light up, these had to disappear in the face of the momentum of the industrial theory. These have some reasons of the existence except the practical usage, one reason of them is that it gives happiness or pleasure (in Japanese distinctly “yukai “ ) to you.

The form of chochin is funny, furthermore, many chochins are made by the hands of craftsmen (“shokunin-tachi” in Japanese).

Now, I want to bring you to the room of the hook-line about the world of shokunin-tachi.

Ikigai of shokunin-tachi

Most shokunin-tachi aren’t to be known widely in the society of Japan, but the meaning that they have lived in this society comes to life in the crafts carefully made by syokunin-tachi. That meaning is said “ikigai” in Japanese.

A popular psychologist, Kenichiro Mogi, wrote as follows in his book,”Ikigai”.

“Ikigai is a Japanese word for describing the pleasures and meanings of life. The word literally consists of iki (to live) and gai (reason). In the Japanese language, ikigai is used in various contexts, and can apply to small everyday things as well as to big goals and achievements. It is such a common word that people use it in daily life quite casually, without being aware of its having any special significance. Most importantly, ikigai is possible without your necessarily being successful in your professional life. In this sense, it is a very democratic concept, steeped in a celebration of the diversity of life. It is true that having ikigai can result in success, but success is not a requisite condition for having ikigai. It is open to every one of us.”

The beauty of handmade crafts

I want to describe from the other view point about handmade works by shokunin-tachi. Souetu Ryu who wrote the works of shokunin-tachi in his book published in 1946, “Japan of handmade crafts “.

“The difference between a handmade craft and production by a machine is obvious, a handmade craft is always connecting directly with the heart of shokunin. A machine has no heart. This is the reason that a work by hands adds somehow mysteriously effective. The hands of shokunin are not only working on his crafts but also keeping his heart in the background. This heart lets him create crafts, shows the pleasure of his working or keeps him moral. Furthermore this heart is why the beauty of work dwells in the handmade craft. As a result in my view, a handmade craft-work is a work by the heart of a shokunin. “

Compared with the time of the aforementioned notes the present time has fewer handmade crafts, but a chochin is the one of handmade crafts and you can feel some hot emotion of a shokunin in it.

Let’s go to the workplace of a handmade craft

You can see the workplace of chochin. This is the Kobishiya Chubei craftsmen shop in Kyoto, which is open to visitors. The owner, Shun Kojima, says; “we want to be seen by a lot of people. A matter of course for our shokunin-tachi is not common for many people. It is an experience of unique sensation for visitors. The present situation of the traditional chochin crafts is not easy. Shokunin-tachi have to do something more than the traditional craft-work, opening our door to visitors is a challenge for them. The unique sensation of visitors intrigues their buying chochins. Moreover, seeing the happy smiling faces of visitors gives a light to the ikigai of the shokunin-tachi in this shop.”