🪨 From Stone to Sacred Guardian: The Making of Japan’s Komainu Lion-Dogs
In Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, one of Japan’s three major stoneworking regions, a square block of stone slowly becomes a sacred guardian. This time, I follow the making of komainu, the lion-dog statues that stand at the entrances of shrines and protect sacred grounds.
The workshop is Ishibori no Tomatsu, a stone sculpture studio with more than 120 years of history. Fourth-generation master Masahiro Tomatsu and craftsman Yuta Nagai carve every detail by hand, from the powerful face and watchful eyes to the flowing tail and delicate fur patterns.
Stone dust fills the air. The sound of chisels echoes through the workshop. What begins as a rough block gradually takes on expression, presence, and life.
This is the story of Japanese craftsmanship, patience, and the hands that continue to shape the guardians of Japan.
In the end, I only took the initial measurement and didn't use it afterward.
While looking at the photos, I glanced through several, placing them together one after another.
Since weaknesses freeze, you must properly address them beforehand.
because infections can occur very soon after exposure
Tall and rising upward
From here, 110 times
149th
This size
I'll put my full effort into it.
You're right, I'll put in effort, but I won't include clouds.
Black pork, you know, it's a natural product.
There are these big, dark clumps of clouds appearing, you know.
It's over if it shows on your face, that's why.
Lately, I've been making faces.
One more
This photo, too, is taken from a slightly overhead angle.
Because the depth is hard to perceive,
Cut it down to just this.
It feels like we're gradually getting there.
Now I can see the balance between the body and the head's size, and so on.
I wonder if I can come up with something from the parts that are a bit unclear.
I'm not really a person from the Ishiya family to begin with.
When entering the stone house, the sensitivity toward creating things or the like
Being told, after all, that it's different from what Mr. Ishiya makes
Maybe because I've also done various other things like that elsewhere.
You get tired if you keep using your arm like that for a long time, after all.
I've gotten quite used to it by now.
It doesn't hit right away when you tap it.
Why are you beating yourself up so much?
I hear they have hands like a baseball.
I entered the stone mason's trade at the age of 20.
Maybe the year I turn 20?
Since it's the year I turn 20 and reach 50 years old
About 28 years ago.
It's the mechanical engineering department at a vocational high school.
I intended to become a stone mason normally.
I joined the mechanical engineering department, but...
Emotionally, it's not the kind of era that exists anymore.
Since it's been two generations already, you'd better hand it over to the stonecutter.
I decided to enter a stone shop around third year of high school.
Begun to feel emotions
There were only about two years when you could take the general entrance exam for the mechanical engineering department, right?
Same grade level
Entered after a year of retaking the exams.
The part that I have created
Create a similar method while measuring the dimensions.
I measured the dimensions while making the method.
A place where we can tease each other
Aren't they just doing it while thinking about it?
Fold this side over here.
In this connection
Could you please show me the connected parts?
Anyway, just show me the photo.
As if there were no corners
Just make it look like you're coming around from the side.
I think that's fine.
The foreman is a really kind person.
You're right, there's no reason to get angry.
They are someone who works silently and diligently.
I often hear interesting stories as well.
They call him Lishan.
Finish it neatly.
It has a soft feel to it.
There are several levels of detail.
There's also the idea of finishing it off with five, you know.
After roughly dropping it with five pieces
Beautifully, even with just 8 pieces
