［Unit Project 1］The Story of My Important Glass

     

     My artifact is a glass. It is transparent. It is smaller than 10 cm. The shape expands toward the top. The surface is thicker than 100 Yen Shop’s glass. The design is white polka dots which are various sizes are on it. The small polka dots range like wave. Also, each three bigger dots gather in one place.

 

     When I was in sixth grade, I went to Asakusa for my school trip. We went there in order to experience making Japanese traditional crafts. We could choose what we experience making either Edo Kiriko which is a glass craft and Sensu which is a holding fan. I wanted to make Sensu because my friend said, “I want to make Sensu. Let’s make it together!”

     My twin brother also thought wanted to make it. He said, “I want to make Sensu too!”

     We should have made the same thing, but we didn’t want to be together at that time, so we have to decide which one we would make. We didn’t hand over our opinion because we were young and not generous. In the end, I thought I have to became adult and handed over my opinion. I decided to make Edo Kiriko after our argument.

     After that, I went to a work shop where Edo Kiriko was made with my teacher and classmates. A man who would instruct us greeted there. He showed around his work shop. There were many them of various colors and various designs. I thought that they were shining like jewelry and I said, "They were very beautiful." I was impressive by them. At first I didn’t know about Edo Kiriko very well, but I got excited about making it.

     The instructor taught us how to make Edo Kiriko. He told us, "There are machines that spin and carve surface of the glass. If we press the surface to the machine, the patterns are created on it."

     First, I received a glass and thought what kind of design I would carve to it. When I was worrying about that, the instructor told me, "It's easy to carve round shape and even just it is beautiful." I decided how to design by his advice.

     When I tried pressing the surface of the glass to the machine, white round shapes naturally became on it like water ripples. I thought that it was so fun to carve. The way of design is that anyone can do it, and the kind instructor taught me every time, so I could enjoy making it without many troubles. But it still was a little awkward as I made, so the teacher helped me to finish it. I could finish making the glass that I was satisfied.

     At first I didn’t want to make Edo Kiriko, and I had a conflict of opinion with my twin brother. However, I could enjoy making it, and I thought I was glad I could make Edo Kiriko. I learned that there is something I don’t know unless I actually try doing. I had never touched Japanese traditional crafts, so it was a valuable time for me to experience making it. I was glad I could leave my memories in form. The experience became one of my precious memories.

     When I took the glass I made home and showed it to my family, they said, "The glass is beautiful.” They praised me. I was glad. Also, the Sensu my twin brother made was great. We could make good things on a school trip.

     I don't usually use the glass in my life, but I display it with care because it has my precious memory which is my treasure. 

 

     Japanese traditional crafts such as Edo Kiriko face a problem. The production Japanese traditional crafts are declining. There are various reasons. First, the demand of Japanese traditional crafts is decline. Now most people live with something such as plastic dishes, steel furniture and home appliances. I often use that things which are not Japanese traditional crafts in my life. Second, the number of their craftsman is decreasing, and the successor is lack. I think that there are not many young people who want to work as craftsman of Japanese traditional crafts, and they are not familiar with them. I think there should be opportunities for young people to be related Japanese traditional crafts. When I experienced making Edo Kiriko, I could know about it and enjoy making it. Young people might be interested in Japanese traditional crafts through these opportunities. 

     The coronavirus situation has settled down, and most school can go to school trip now. However, there is a problem related to school trip. The problem is that leisure industry is facing a lack of manpower. The number of tourists decreased in 2020 and 2021 because of the coronavirus, so many people left their job in leisure industry. That effect is still now. When we need a sightseeing bus and many people stay at hotel, there are not many people who work for them. Also, the same can be said for school trip. When travel agency has to provide school trip's plan and guide students, there are not many workers of travel agency who work for school trip. For this problem, I think there is a possibility that the school trip is scaled back. I could enjoy school trip and learn important things, so the school trip was important for me. However, if the school trip is scaled back, students might not be able to make precious memories. I want students of nowadays to experience a meaningful school trip. I think that it's important for the future to solve the lack of manpower or look for the best way of school trip for the students in hard circumstances.