菅谷 和巳
すがや かずみ
Japanese-style Room Hardware
Japanese-style room hardware refers to specialized fittings used to hang picture frames, hanging scrolls, and bamboo blinds from transoms, crossbeams, and door lintels. This includes hooks for hanging items in areas where nails cannot be driven, as well as brackets for adjusting the angle of picture frames, all of which serve to display decorations without detracting from the traditional atmosphere of a Japanese-style room.About the Craftsman
Mr. Sugaya is a door-handle craftsman in Minami-Senju, Arakawa Ward, who continues to preserve traditional techniques. He specializes in crafting “door handles” for sliding doors—an essential element of Japanese architecture found in shrines, temples, and the sliding panels of traditional Japanese rooms. His ability to balance delicate design with functionality is backed by years of experience, and his work truly deserves to be called master craftsmanship.However, there are currently only a handful of specialized craftsmen in this field in Japan, making the preservation of traditional techniques a major challenge. In addition to a shortage of successors, he faces the harsh reality that the specialized tools essential for production are also disappearing year by year. Nevertheless, he continues to approach his craft with sincerity every day, striving to pass on the skills and spirit inherited from his predecessors to the next generation.