久しぶりに京都へ旅行に行ったときに新京極で民芸品などを見ていたら、職人ぽい刃物屋さん（源久秀）が目について、中に入ったら小笠原先生の使っている木彫りの刀に似ているものが幾つもありました。話し出したら店主の久世芳弘さんがすごく優しくて、いろいろ教えてくれました。私にとっては刀の世界は全く未知の世界なので、何を質問していいのかも分かりませんでした。すぐに小笠原先生にメールを書いて、アドバイスを求めました。先生は幾つのポイントを教えてくれましたが、決め方としてはやはり手で持っていいと思うものが良いと言われました。その通りにしてみたら、写真のものが一番自分の手に合うと思いました。選んだものは重房作の切出小刀の６分のもので、鋼が炭素鋼のものでした。
店主の久世さんによると重房作のものは高額の包丁がほとんどで小刀は珍しいみたいです。有名の刃物の工房なのでしょうが、私にとっては自分の刀を持って自宅でも木彫できるのをすごく楽しみにしています〜！
正面 | Front side of knife
店主の久世さんによると重房作のものは高額の包丁がほとんどで小刀は珍しいみたいです。有名の刃物の工房なのでしょうが、私にとっては自分の刀を持って自宅でも木彫できるのをすごく楽しみにしています〜！
正面 | Front side of knife
裏面 | Back side of knife
As I was walking and browsing the different souvenir shops at Shinkyogoku in Kyoto, I came across a professional, honest-looking knife specialty store and stepped in. On display were quite a number of woodcarving knives like the one that Ogasawara Sensei uses, so I stood and studied them for a while before approaching the store owner, a man in his late 50s or early 60s, for some advice. Being a complete novice, I was at a loss as to even the questions to pose to him, but he very patiently gave me a brief explanation about the different kinds of knives, and allowed me to test them out on a piece of Japanese cypress which he has behind the counter for this very purpose.
My attention was drawn to a particular knife, so I immediately emailed Ogasawara Sensei on his cellphone and gave him the details of the knife and asked for his opinion. He gave me some pointers, but said that I should choose one that feels right in my hands. I followed his advice and picked the one in the photos. It's a rather heavy knife and felt just right. I look forward to being able to spend time at home carving little Buddhist figures!
As I was walking and browsing the different souvenir shops at Shinkyogoku in Kyoto, I came across a professional, honest-looking knife specialty store and stepped in. On display were quite a number of woodcarving knives like the one that Ogasawara Sensei uses, so I stood and studied them for a while before approaching the store owner, a man in his late 50s or early 60s, for some advice. Being a complete novice, I was at a loss as to even the questions to pose to him, but he very patiently gave me a brief explanation about the different kinds of knives, and allowed me to test them out on a piece of Japanese cypress which he has behind the counter for this very purpose.
My attention was drawn to a particular knife, so I immediately emailed Ogasawara Sensei on his cellphone and gave him the details of the knife and asked for his opinion. He gave me some pointers, but said that I should choose one that feels right in my hands. I followed his advice and picked the one in the photos. It's a rather heavy knife and felt just right. I look forward to being able to spend time at home carving little Buddhist figures!
