atomfoto
IMG_6449.jpg
sensei_factory_may3006 // photo by J. Adam Fenster // www.atomlove.com // may3006 // caption: Sensei Hashiguchi and son Ryo at work in their metal factory (or kajizya?) in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan. They measure, punch, cut and prepare for delivery "braces" for a construction project in Kumamoto City. The sophisticated $150,000 machine they use is the only one of its kind in Miyazaki. After working in Miyakonojo for 38 years, sensei moved his factory to its present location in the Minami Miyazaki area 8 months ago, eliminating a long daily commute. Sensei's father was a blacksmith who mostly made iron tools for farmers. Sensei builds houses (including the headquarters dojo of his karate, Shorinji Renshinkan), while Ryo manufactures "housing parts", like the braces. Plastic sumitobu, traditionally made of wood and used for centuries to make cutting lines using a paint-coated piece of string called a karuko and a small bamboo brush called a sumisashi. The tsuru (bird) and kame (turtle) on the device symbolize long life and are considered good luck in building endeavors. Closeup of the center punch hand-made by sensei: it's about 2" long now but was twice that when he forged it 30 years ago. Details of job order, screen of computer tethered to cut/punch machine, metal ID tags are used to match individual braces with the job order. WWII-era Japanese hand grenade discovered at Lake Miike.
IMG_6449.jpg
sensei_factory_may3006 // photo by J. Adam Fenster // www.atomlove.com // may3006 // caption: Sensei Hashiguchi and son Ryo at work in their metal factory (or kajizya?) in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki, Kyushu, Japan. They measure, punch, cut and prepare for delivery "braces" for a construction project in Kumamoto City. The sophisticated $150,000 machine they use is the only one of its kind in Miyazaki. After working in Miyakonojo for 38 years, sensei moved his factory to its present location in the Minami Miyazaki area 8 months ago, eliminating a long daily commute. Sensei's father was a blacksmith who mostly made iron tools for farmers. Sensei builds houses (including the headquarters dojo of his karate, Shorinji Renshinkan), while Ryo manufactures "housing parts", like the braces. Plastic sumitobu, traditionally made of wood and used for centuries to make cutting lines using a paint-coated piece of string called a karuko and a small bamboo brush called a sumisashi. The tsuru (bird) and kame (turtle) on the device symbolize long life and are considered good luck in building endeavors. Closeup of the center punch hand-made by sensei: it's about 2" long now but was twice that when he forged it 30 years ago. Details of job order, screen of computer tethered to cut/punch machine, metal ID tags are used to match individual braces with the job order. WWII-era Japanese hand grenade discovered at Lake Miike.