It all began about a thousand years ago when raw quartz crystals were discovered deep within the "Ontake Shosenkyo" gorge, known for its beautiful scenery.
When they were first discovered, the raw stones were highly valued as ornaments and other decorative items. However, in the mid-Edo period, Shinto priests began bringing the raw stones to "Tamatsukuri" in Kyoto to have them processed. In the late Edo period, the craft of KOSHU Suisho Kiseki Zaiku (Crystal Carving) to polish the gemstones.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. The notching is done by roughly and finely notching using a chisel and a small hammer.

  2. The carving shall be done by one of the following methods, and the bottom of the product shall be "flat-ground".
  (1) For vessels, the carving shall be done using "deep relief carving" and "flat pressing carving" with iron sesame seeds.
  (2) For items other than vessels, at least two combinations of the following iron carving techniques must be used: deep relief carving, raised relief carving, openwork carving, line carving, and flat-pressed carving.

  3. Polishing should be done using a paulownia wood spit, paulownia wood stick, etc., to ensure no sand marks are left.

   

  raw materials

  The raw material must be quartz, agate, jade, obsidian, or jasper.

• Work scene

  Work scene

  Process 1: Raw stone sorting

  From dozens of types of raw stones, we select the one that best suits the piece. It takes years of experience and intuition to determine whether there are any scratches or cloudiness inside the stone that are not visible from the surface.

  

  Step 2: Drawing lines and cutting

  Once the general area to be used is determined, lines are drawn on the stone, and it is cut using a large machine designed for cutting raw stones.

  

  Step 3: Painting

  After measuring to ensure the Buddha statue has a six-head proportion, the first step is to position the face in the best spot on the stone.
  Next, we'll draw the shoulders, hands, arms, and legs in a way that makes it easier to visualize.

  

  Step 4: Small division

  The large rough stone is then cut with a high-speed rotating diamond. The excess material is removed to make it as close to a human shape as possible.

  

  Step 5: Rough grinding

  A circular iron spinning top is rotated at high speed, and the raw stone is placed against it while switching between different types of spinning tops to grind it into a precise shape. During this process, an abrasive called carborundum is applied to the stone. The grinding is done four times, starting with larger particles and gradually changing to finer particles, with the fourth grinding being the final step.

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  工程6： 磨き

  This time, instead of iron, we'll use a wooden slab to rub and polish it. The areas rubbed with iron are rough, so we'll polish all of the same areas. After using hard wood, we'll rub it with softer wood like willow or paulownia.
  Finally, it's finished with a fine sand called Alexandrite.

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  工程7： 仕上げ

  The artwork is placed in a barrel (rotary polishing machine) filled with chipton (round polishing stones) and chromium oxide (blue-green polishing powder), and the container itself is rotated to bring out the shine. The final fine details are then finished by hand.

  
• Close-up

  Close-up

  The harmony between the craftsman and the stone: KOSHU Suisho Kiseki Zaiku (Crystal Carving)

  Buddhist sculptures made with precious stones. Beyond the allure of the completely different processing method compared to wood carving, the relationship between the stone and the craftsman reveals a profound depth, much like that of crystal.
  We spoke with Mr. Ozawa and Mr. Takuma, traditional craftspeople who have been captivated by the allure of stone for decades.

   

  They have been making sacred things since ancient times.

  A five-minute walk from Minami-Kofu Station on the Minobu Line leads to a building with large stones piled up in front of the eaves. This is the workshop of Mr. Ozawa, who KOSHU Suisho Kiseki Zaiku (Crystal Carving). Upon entering the workshop, one is greeted by a mountain of raw stones far exceeding expectations. These are transported from as far away as Africa, Brazil, and Madagascar. "After the war, almost all of the raw stones came from abroad. It started with crystals from places like Shosenkyo, but recently they can no longer be found in Japan," says Mr. Ozawa. Although foreign stones are used now, crystal and gemstone craftsmanship itself has been practiced here in Kofu since the Edo period.
  "Initially, I made jade. People would admire it, treasure it, or donate it to temples," Takuma explains. From there, his carving techniques developed, and now he produces not only Buddhist statues, but also lucky charms such as zodiac animals and Daikokuten (god of wealth), tea ceremony utensils, and accessories.

  Rocks are things that were formed together with the Earth.

  "Crystals are found deep in the mountains, and by chance, they get trapped in rocks with water and grow for thousands of years. Then, one day, an earthquake or something causes the water inside to gush out, and the crystals sparkle and glitter from within. It's supposed to be an amazing sight," Ozawa says, his eyes shining. "Stones are things that came out when the Earth was born 4.6 billion years ago. Because nature has nurtured them over such a long period of time, it's natural that they have scratches and cloudiness. No matter how advanced science becomes, you can never plant a stone and have it grow. Once you dig it up, that's it, and that's the preciousness of stones."

  

  Select just one from among many raw gemstones.

  KOSHU Suisho Kiseki Zaiku (Crystal Carving) that shines brightly on its own.

  These precious stones have grown over such a long, long period of time that even the history of humankind seems insignificant in comparison. Shaped by the accidents of nature, they are breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing the raw stones in Mr. Ozawa's factory, listening to his stories, and viewing his finished works, one can understand why these precious stones came to be objects of worship.
  This Buddha statue, crafted from stone, possesses a charm entirely different from that of wood carvings. It's not coated with lacquer, gold leaf, or paint. Yet, what is this incredible radiance? Without any external intervention, the statue itself seems to glow from within. This "divine" brilliance isn't simply due to the quality of the raw stone. Before carving, the craftsman must compose themselves, concentrating intensely, and carve in one swift motion. Then, waiting for a moment of calm, they smoothly add the eyes and nose. In this way, new life is breathed into the stone.
  Humans, drawn to the mysteries of the natural world, pour their hearts into polishing and carving these statues. Only through the interplay between the stone and the craftsman does a Buddhist statue truly come alive.

  

  A Buddha statue carved from tiger's eye. It emits light from within.

  One day, you suddenly understand. "Oh, I see."

  However, not just anyone can carve such Buddhist statues. "Even if someone has been doing it for 10 or 20 years, it often doesn't turn out to be a Buddhist statue," says Takuma. "The facial expression is difficult. It's not something you understand after 50 years. You have to attain enlightenment. One day you suddenly have that 'Ah, I see' moment. Until then, no matter how much you carve, you just don't understand it. No matter what you do, it just doesn't work out." Even Ozawa, who has been doing it for 31 years, says he only "understood" it 7 or 8 years ago.

  First, learn about it, and once you do, take a look.

  Stones have held a mystical aura since ancient times. What will become of gemstone craftsmanship in the future? Ms. Takuma sees a bright future in the internet. "We just make things, we don't do any sales or marketing. So we never had the opportunity to show our work to people. But with the internet, our work can reach people all over the country, and we can deal directly with customers, so we don't have to pay a margin to a dealer, and we can sell it much cheaper." Ms. Takuma's son also entered this field last year and is currently creating a website for crystal craftsmanship. The day when the previously unknown charm of gemstone craftsmanship becomes known to people all over the country is not far off. However, the charm of gemstone craftsmanship is something that can only be truly appreciated when viewed up close. Please do take the opportunity to enjoy the real thing up close.

  

  A raw tiger's eye gemstone that shines from deep within.

  Craftsman Profile

  Shichiro Ozawa

   

  

  Etsuji Takuma