灯り Akari
12月に入りようやく冬の寒さを感じるようになりました。
今年の春に美容師として独立した事に始まり、夏のサロンの立ち上げや新しく頂いたお仕事のオファーに応える為に、達成する日々を過ごしてきましたが、冬はクールダウン。ずっとサロンの為に費やしていたエネルギーを少し住まいの方に向ける事にしました。
As December begins, the chill of winter has finally arrived.
This year has been a whirlwind, starting with my decision to go independent as a hairstylist in the spring. Summer was marked by launching my salon and taking on exciting new work opportunities, keeping me in a state of constant achievement.
Now that winter is here, it feels like the perfect time to cool down and shift gears. Instead of focusing all my energy on the salon, I’ve decided to dedicate some attention to my living space.
こちらは故人の彫刻家イサム・ノグチによるAkariという作品です。
2021年に東京都美術館で開催されていた展覧会をきっかけに、2022年に休暇で訪れていた香川県で偶然アトリエを発見し、予約者限定のガイドツアーに参加しました。
These are “Akari”, the work by the late sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
In 2021, I came to know about it through an exhibition held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. The following year, during a vacation in Kagawa Prefecture, I happened to stumble upon his studio. I joined a reservation-only guided tour, which turned out to be an unforgettable experience.
ふと彼の作品を思い出し、手に入れられる場所は無いかとインターネットで調べたところ、現在も岐阜県の職人さんが彼の意志を継ぎAkariが生産されているとの事。東京にも営業所があるとの事で人形町に出向きましたが、既に全商品SOLD OUT。
偶然にも入荷日がすぐだったのでオープン時間に合わせてお店に出向きましたが、既に長蛇の列。予定もあったので、泣く泣く諦め、一か月後にリベンジしました。
オープンに1時間の到着を目指して、冬の寒空の下で2時間半待ち。そして幸運にも最後の1点を手に入れました。
One day, I suddenly recalled his work and wondered if there was anywhere I could purchase it. After searching online, I discovered that Akari is still being produced by craftsmen in Gifu Prefecture, continuing his legacy. I also learned that there was a showroom in Tokyo, so I headed to Ningyocho, only to find that all the items were already sold out.
As luck would have it, a restock was scheduled soon after. I visited the store at its opening time, but there was already a long line. Since I had other plans that day, I had to give up reluctantly and decided to try again a month later.
This time, aiming to arrive an hour before the store opened, I ended up waiting in the cold winter air for two and a half hours. Fortunately, I managed to get the very last piece.
和紙を通した光が部屋を優しく照らします。
他の電気は点けず、ぼんやりとした灯りの下、読書をしたり、音楽を聴いて過ごしています。
昨年旅したヨーロッパや、ヨーロッパ出身の友人宅にお邪魔すると、部屋が薄明りだという事に気が付きます。
それとは対照に東京の照明はピカピカに明るい。日本というよりは、アジアの文化なのでしょうか。
ヨーロッパはピカピカの照明やエアコンが無い代わりに暮らしを心地良くするインテリアなどのアイディアが豊富で、アジアは便利で実用的な住まいの造りになっているように分析しています。
The light filtered through the washi gently illuminates the room.
Without turning on any other lights, I spend my time reading or listening to music under this soft, dim glow.
When I traveled to Europe last year or visited the homes of my European friends, I noticed that their rooms were often lit with subtle, low lighting.
In contrast, Tokyo's lighting is dazzlingly bright. Perhaps this isn’t just a Japanese trait but part of a broader Asian cultural tendency.
I’ve observed that while European homes may lack bright lighting or air conditioning, they are rich with creative ideas for making living spaces comfortable. On the other hand, Asian homes often seem designed with practicality in mind.
前述した通り、今年は達成の連続でそれはそれで充実感がありましたが、その先に安息の地があるかと思いきや、実際には休日も達成し続けなければという衝動に駆られていたような気がします。これからは「達成」と「充足」のバランスを取れるように。
狩猟→農耕→工業→インターネットを経て物理的なインフラは整った現代。これからはこころの時代だと感じています。
心を満たす技術を身に着ける事が、人生を豊かにする。
それはもしかしたらこれまでの時代を生きてきた先人達ですら知らないのかもしれません。
As I mentioned earlier, this year has been filled with accomplishments, which brought a sense of fulfillment. However, I’ve realized that I was caught up in a compulsion to keep achieving—even on my days off—as if rest was something to be earned through more achievements. Going forward, I want to find a better balance between “achievement” and “contentment.”
From the era of hunting, agriculture, and industry to the age of the internet, our physical infrastructure has been established. Now, I feel we are entering an era of the heart.
Mastering the art of fulfilling the heart is what makes life truly rich.
Perhaps this is something that even the predecessors who have lived through past eras may not know.
坂元千夏 Chinatsu Sakamoto
