Читать книгу Wonder Man-A Memoir of a Craftsman Who Is Recognized As an Artist - Hannah K - Страница 4

Edo Period(1603~1868), when the Tokugawa Shogunate ruled Japan, Masaaki Hiroi’s ancestors served as doctors for the Tokugawa Family. During Edo period, when every ancestor passed away, Masaaki Hiroi’s family was ordered to build one temple from Tokugawa Family. Some of those temples still exist in Tokyo area.

It was close to the end of Edo Period that his great-grand father started making Edo Koma, Edo tops, as part of his hobby. The first person, who started making Edo tops out of curiosity, served as a doctor for the last Shogun of Tokugawa Family and took his Edo tops to the family as tributes. Masaaki Hiroi’s family started making Edo tops as a hobby for the purpose of playing in the rooms, not outside.

After the Meiji Restoration, Mr. Masaaki Hiroi’s grandfather served as one of the doctors for Meiji Emperor. His grandfather was the last person to serve for the imperial family as a doctor in Masaaki Hiroi’s family. Masaaki Hiroi’s grandfather’s hobby was also making Edo tops. Later, from his father’s generation on, making Edo tops became his family business.

His family root is in the public historical records including the record called Kanei Sho-Kakei-Zu Den, which holds the record of 1,400 families who served for the Tokugawa Family. Kanei is the name of the last era of Edo period. Sho means “various”, Kakeizu, “family tree.” Masaaki Hiroi’s family was recognized as one of the great families in Japan during Edo Period.

The interest thing is…

He is never proud of his family roots. His passion is to devote his whole life to making people happy come before his prominent family ancestor’s story. He keeps on evolving various kinds of tops seriously. Probably, the personal character of sincerity and seriousness runs in his family. I sincerely hope you will understand why his desire and passion to make Edo tops and toys never subside through reading this Masaaki Hiroi’s memoire…