After the Interview - I happened to notice the flower arrangement.
What I Discovered During My Visit to Ichirindo
To be honest, when I first started this assignment, all the tsumami zaiku hair ornaments looked like "similarly beautiful flower decorations" to me.
They came in various colors and shapes, and all were gorgeous. But if you had asked me where the differences lay, I don't think I could have answered well.
After visiting Ichirindo several times and listening to the owner's stories, my perception slowly began to change.
The Words: "Look at the Center"
The turning point was a single comment from the owner.
"Look at the center of the flower. That's where the craftsman's skill is most truthfully revealed."
Until then, when looking at hair ornaments, I had only focused on the overall color and shape. But when I looked closely at the center of the flowers as instructed, I saw that each one indeed had a completely different character.
Some had petals neatly packed all the way to the center. Others had a small decoration placed in the middle, obscuring what lay beneath.
I was genuinely surprised that such a difference could exist in a detail I had previously overlooked.
Developing an Eye for Detail
It's strange, but once I noticed it, I naturally started paying attention to hair ornaments I saw around town.
I'd find myself peering into the center of the flowers in display cases. I'd get closer to examine the transparency of the silk fabric. Before I knew it, I was looking at them in a completely different way than before.
Here, I want to be honest about one thing. I'm not trying to judge the superiority or inferiority of tsumami zaiku in the world. Things made from various materials and at various prices each have their own merits and roles.
However, once your eye develops, the differences become clear. And when viewed with such an eye, the flowers from Ichirindo reveal their quality more and more as you get closer.
What is Conveyed as You Get Closer
They might not be the kind of flashy flowers that immediately catch the eye. But when you happen to get close and peek into the center, when you feel the transparency of the fabric, the effort and skill put into them are quietly conveyed.
Why do they insist on using the non-distorting fabric from Kawamata, Fukushima? Why do they still adhere to the time-consuming starch paste? Why do they value pricing that allows artisans to make a living?
As I continued my research, when all these reasons connected, the small, single flower from Ichirindo began to look very different to me. It wasn't just a flower that looked "pretty" from afar, but one that made you think "how wonderful" the closer you got.
Conclusion
Tsumami zaiku are flower ornaments that adorn life's milestones. Coming-of-age ceremonies, Shichi-Go-San, weddings — these celebratory days remain in photographs, in memories, and are sometimes passed down to the next generation.
That's why I believe that the single flower accompanying such a special day should be something that makes you think "how wonderful" when you look at it up close. That's how I feel now that my research is complete.
If you have the chance, please do take a close look at the center of a flower. When you do, I'm sure you'll understand what's imbued in that flower ornament.