[Takaoka Castle Town (③ Polishing by craftsmen and artisans)] (Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, former province name: Etchu)

Toshinaga (1562-1614), who succeeded Maeda Toshiie (1538-1599), the founder of the Kaga (present-day southern Ishikawa Prefecture) clan, led the family through the difficult times before and after the Battle of Sekigahara. After seeing the establishment of the shogunate-han system, he retired and moved to Ecchu (present-day Toyama Prefecture) and built his own retirement castle in Sekino in the west of the country. Soon after, he renamed Sekino "Takaoka" and took control of water transportation on the Oyabe River, and settled down to protect Kanazawa, the clan's base. In addition, he invited a diverse group of merchants and craftsmen to develop this emerging city. Among them were seven "casters." By order of Toshinaga, the casters, that is, the technicians who process copper and iron to create metal products, were concentrated in a corner of the castle town. For this reason, the area was called "Kanayama-cho" (photos 2 and 3), and a streetscape with a unique structure and atmosphere was formed. When you stroll through the town, you will see metal wind chimes hanging from rows of houses carved with fine wooden lattices, which make a pleasant sound every time the wind blows. Among them are galleries and shops where you can actually touch and purchase the castings, and experience the cool touch and weight unique to metal products. The craft techniques accumulated over hundreds of years have driven Takaoka's economy, and as a culmination of this, the "Takaoka Great Buddha" (photo 4) was built near Kojo Park, and now one of Japan's leading craft cities has been born, producing approximately 90% of the copperware in the country in terms of sales value. There are many manufacturers active in Takaoka city, but one of the most well-known is "Nosaku" (photos 1, 5-10). Although it was founded in 1916, it is relatively new, inheriting the traditional Takaoka casting method and casting Buddhist altar fittings, which were mainstream in Takaoka at the time. However, when the demand for castings as a whole decreased, Nosaku's business also faced a major crossroads. This is when they set their sights on "tin." Tin has a low melting point and high thermal conductivity, making it relatively easy to process, and it is a metal that has been used for sake ware since ancient times. On the other hand, since the material is extremely soft and highly elastic, its uses are limited, and it was common to mix it with other metals that are harder when processing it. However, Nosaku decided to take the path of making metal products made of "100% tin." Behind this lies a major shift in Nosaku's business policy, which shifted from metal products for everyday use to the manufacture of interior products such as wind chimes and luxury items, and aimed for highly designed products that would be displayed in select shops. Nousaku took advantage of the softness of tin, which had previously been considered a weakness, and produced "ultra-soft" miscellaneous goods that allowed users to freely change the shape of the product. This series, later called "KAGO," attracted attention as a successful example of combining traditional techniques with originality, and Nousaku made a name for itself as a manufacturer leading Takaoka's metal processing industry. In 2017, Nousaku moved its headquarters and factory to an "office park" about 10 km south of Takaoka's downtown area, aiming to further expand its business and develop "industrial tourism." Industrial tourism is a form of tourism themed on industries that have been passed down in a specific region, and by opening its own factory to the general public, Nousaku promoted Takaoka's proud metal industry technical capabilities as a tourist content. When you actually visit the company building, you will be surprised by the "wooden molds" lined up neatly on the wall. Nousaku's craftsmen have used these molds for over 100 years, and their sooty color and distorted form give them a unique presence. The wall lined with approximately 2,500 of these molds is considered to be a symbol of Nousaku's history, pride, and high technical skills, and there is no end to the things to see, large and small. And when you visit Nousaku, you should definitely apply for the "Factory Tour." The employees themselves will guide you through the core facilities of Nousaku, including the workshops that are normally off-limits. Since the workshops and explanations are separate for each process until the product is completed, you can experience the true value of the "division of labor" that was the driving force behind the company's development, and you will be touched by the breath of the craftsmen who are dedicated to their respective roles. In particular, in the polishing workshop, which is the final process, you can witness the precise work that does not allow for even the slightest error. In a tense atmosphere that had everyone holding their breath, when a product was finally completed, the craftsman and the visitors looked at each other with expressions of relief, and I was able to savor the strangely awkward joy and sense of unity that is unique to traveling. Recommended for solo travelers: ★★★★ (There are people, but not many. You can enjoy sightseeing in peace!) Visit date: Around 4pm on the second Friday of April Access: About 5 minutes by car from Takaoka Tonami IC (to Nosaku) #Takaoka #Kanayamamachi #Nosaku #ToyamaTrip #ToyamaTourism #TakaokaCity #HokurikuTrip #HokurikuTourism #toyama_next #ToyamaTourismNavi #TakaokaDaibutsu