SAKAN is such a traditional Japanese occupation; people may wonder why he goes overseas to work. "I want to learn more from overseas projects. There is much to learn from building projects abroad, since there are many old things left especially in Europe, and unbelievable effort is made for renovation. There are new large projects in emerging countries that you won't be able to experience in Japan too." While most craftsmen of Japan tend to keep their field within Japan for language barriers and traditional ways of thinking, Naoki's mentality to “learn more” just doesn't fit him within the small country border. A big issue about wall plasterer craftsmanship in Japan is automation, and too much labor division. Less building projects allow slow and handicraft process. Naoki’s long term dream is to learn how the Meister System works in other countries and bring it back to Japan to recover the thinning stream. When asked for a comment to following SAKANs and other craftsmen who are struggling, he shyly shrugged and said "I can't say anything special when I am still a learning person. I want people to feel from my works". Now this is the soul of Japanese craftsmanship. (Shokunin-damashii)So the last question. What Kanji character will best express your relation with nature?
After thinking for a while, he smiles and answers "土" (earth). Well of course! We wish a good breeze will blow for our SAKAN Naoki Kusumi.
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