大輿

和ろうそく

<h1>100%天然素材、一家相伝の和ろうそく作り。
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<paragraph>滋賀県高島市、琵琶湖の西側に位置し自然豊かな山地が広がるこの町に、日本でも数少ない手作り和ろうそくの「大與」があります。今から100年以上前の1914年（大正３年）に初代がこの地で創業して以来、国産で天然の櫨蝋（はぜろう）を100%使ったろうそくを手作りで生み出し続けています。<br />
長年にわたり、古くからの技法を守り続けた和ろうそく作りの功績が認められ、昭和59年に大與のろうそくは、滋賀県の伝統工芸品として認定されました。今では長男で４代目の大西 巧さんが家業を受け継ぎ、伝統のスタイルを守りながらも、時代と向き合いながら新しい商品作りにチャレンジされています。
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<paragraph>和ろうそくの特徴は、櫨（はぜ）の実を原料とする蝋を使うことで、パラフィン（石油系）で作られる洋ろうそくに比べて、少ない煙で燃焼することが挙げられますが、生産量が少なく貴重な材料となっています。しかし、手間をかけて作られる和ろうそくの炎は美しく揺らぎ、長年に渡って使う人に癒しを感じさせてきました。
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<h1>蝋の温度と向き合う、伝統の手掛け製法</h1>
<paragraph>伝統的な和ろうそくの作り方としては、まず蝋燭の芯を作るところから始まります。和紙を巻いた串の上に、イグサ科の灯心草を巻きつけて真綿で薄く止めます。芯の太さや巻き方によってはろうそくの火力が変わり、蝋の溶け方にも影響してくるので、商品の品質を安定させるためには長年培われた技術を要します。最終的に串は芯から抜かれてその部分に空洞ができますが、そのまま燭台の針に挿すための穴になります。</paragraph>
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<paragraph>大與の和ろうそくは古くから継承される「手掛け」という製法で作られています。芯に下地として蝋を塗った後「下掛け」「上掛け」と呼ばれる工程を経て作ります。<br />
芯を右手で回転させながら、およそ40度に溶かされた粘り気のある蝋を素手で塗り重ねていくのが下掛けの工程。<br />
次の上掛けの工程では、下掛けの蝋よりも溶けにくい蝋を使い、芯に近い内側と外側とで溶ける時間に違いを持たせて塗りつけていきます。<br />
こうすることで溶けにくい外側の蝋が堤防のような役割を果たし、一般的な洋ろうそくよりも蝋が垂れにくく、芯だけを残してきれいに燃え尽きます。
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<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/f06ba1bb-7cbb-43e1-b38d-720e46efa604-bPv7tab44QwehgcGEnrK26HZEKly01.jpg' caption='竹の爪を親指にはめて蝋を均一にかけていく。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/b3b86d44-a889-493d-9a30-ba214da1a0ae-N79EhizErEfFcPOlwUfmmBWizol6dx.jpg' caption='塗り終わったろうそく。工程を見ていると、ここまで太くするのに相当な時間がかかると想像できる。'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/60de7920-d5ea-4dd6-ada9-b66aa88644cc-x3IQgX389Ot0Huo22xgUJnakWqqpdg.jpg' caption='頭を切って芯を出した状態。ろうそくの断面はまさに年輪のような模様になっていた。'></photo>
<paragraph>手掛けの作業は芯に塗っては乾かす工程を繰り返し、求める太さに近づけていきますが、気温・湿度の変化や自身の体調までも出来栄えに影響するそうです。<br />
「何度も季節を経験しないと体得できない難しい技術、昨日良く作れたものを今日も同じように何百本作れるようになって、やっと一人前に認められる」と大西さんは言います。<br /><br />


大與には伝統的な和ろうそくだけではなく、気兼ねなく使える小さくて可愛らしい「まめろうそく」や、サステナビリティを意識した米ぬか由来の蝋を使ったろうそくも開発されています。<br /><br />
２０１１年にはこの「お米のろうそく」がグッドデザイン賞・グッドデザイン中小企業庁長官賞に選ばれており、大西さんの描く新しいろうそくのアイデアが、社会に知られるきっかけになりました。これまでニーズとして存在しなかった米ぬかでできたろうそくは、今わたしたちが使っているろうそくの材料について、考え直すきっかけになっています。パラフィン（石油系）でできたろうそくよりも、地球に少しでも優しいサステナブルなお米のろうそくを使いたい。そんな新たなファンに支えられ、お米のろうそくは開発から１５年近くたった今でもロングヒットしているそうです。
</paragraph><photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/9ccdd42a-329c-434f-9286-c5f0194f43c4-qaWJ47KgNTMpSsvqG2qQKj3AbLz2ah.jpg'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/27108275-6e8c-4e5d-b6b8-1b206947d721-Et36ERKECfkXYG2xfPf2yCvLJhzJvo.jpg' 「caption='米ぬかろうそく まめ カラーアソート アース'></photo>
<h1>自然と人が共生するために、ろうそくは先人の知恵の証。
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今の時代、家の中に自然の力を取り込まないような電化した生活になりましたが、自然を遠ざけ過ぎた生活はあまりにも殺伐としていて、ある意味で危惧する面もあると感じているそうです。大西さんはろうそくのことだけではなく、火についての様々な文化を調べていくうちに、古来から信じられてきた陰陽五行に触れることになります。<br /><br />

万物は「木・火・土・金・水」で構成され、さらにそれぞれ十干（じっかん）という陽と陰の相反する属性に分類されるといいます。<br />
火における陽と陰を示す漢字は「丙（ひのえ）」と「丁（ひのと）」と呼ばれますが、陽属性である丙は、太陽など人の手に負えない大自然の概念とされ、反対に陰属性の丁は人が操る小さい火とされています。この時大西さんは「火」「丁」を漢字の部首として並べると「灯」になるということに気づき、様々な思いが込み上げてきたと言います。<br />
先人が生活の中で火と共生するために、わざわざこの「灯」という漢字を作って後世に残したことを思えば、自分たちが営んでいるろうそく作りも後の社会にとって意味があるのではと、大きな自信になったそうです。
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<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/53d25cd4-c7b5-4893-8ea5-2b91c6bead9f-t62x8PyeiLShJKmB8gFFYxwB8Qipeg.jpg' caption='手掛け作業の途中に取材を受けていただいたので、左手にはまだ蝋がこびりついている。'></photo>
<paragraph>「木造建築が主流の日本において、人が知恵を出してろうそくを発明し、本当は怖い自然現象を小さくコントロールすることに成功しました。火という自然の力を安全に借りて室内に取り込むことができたんです。自分の声は小さくても、商品を作り続けていくことで、皆さんの生活に少しでも自然が取り込まれて、いい距離感で火を楽しんでいただけるようになれば嬉しいです」
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<h1>100% Natural Materials, a Family Tradition of Japanese Candlemaking.</h1>
<paragraph>Located in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, a town surrounded by abundant mountainous land on the west side of Lake Biwa, is one of Japan's few handmade Japanese candle makers, Daiyo. Founded by the first generation in 1914 (Taisho 3), over 100 years ago, the company has continued to produce handmade candles made from 100% natural, domestically produced haze wax.<br />
In recognition of their long-standing achievements in preserving traditional Japanese candle making techniques, Daiyo candles were certified as a traditional craft of Shiga Prefecture in 1984. Now, the eldest son, Takumi Onishi, the fourth generation owner, has taken over the family business, preserving the traditional style while also facing the times and challenging himself to create new products.</paragraph>
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<paragraph>A key feature of Japanese candles is the use of wax derived from the berries of the Haze tree (Japanese wax tree). This allows them to burn with less smoke compared to Western paraffin (petroleum-based) candles, though low production volumes make the material precious. Nevertheless, the flame of these painstakingly crafted candles flickers beautifully and has brought a sense of healing to people for many years.</paragraph>
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<h1>Traditional hand-made method that focuses on the temperature of the wax.</h1>
<paragraph>The traditional method of making Japanese candles begins with crafting the wick. Rush from the Juncaceae family is wrapped around a skewer that has been covered in washi paper and then thinly secured with silk floss. The thickness of the wick and the way it is wound change the candle's flame power and affect how the wax melts, so years of cultivated skill are required to ensure stable product quality. Finally, the skewer is pulled out from the wick, leaving a hollow core that serves as the hole for placing the candle onto the pin of a candle stand.</paragraph>
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<paragraph>Daiyo's Japanese candles are made using a time-honored method called "Tegake" (hand-dipping). After a base coat of wax is applied to the wick, the candle is formed through processes called "Shitagake" (under-coating) and "Uwagake" (top-coating).The Shitagake process involves rotating the wick with the right hand while using the bare left hand to apply layers of viscous wax that has been melted to about 40 degrees Celsius.For the next step, the Uwagake process, a wax with a higher melting point than the Shitagake wax is used. This is applied to create a difference in melting times between the inner core and the outer layer.By doing this, the slower-melting outer wax acts as a barrier, making the candle less prone to dripping than typical Western candles and allowing it to burn down cleanly, leaving only the wick.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/0e0c2cd6-cd26-4c49-bb32-28311f7a9353-ZDAXtOVc4eOtr9jx3M266UZlQekmJz.jpg' caption='A bamboo 'nail' is worn on the thumb to apply the wax evenly.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/b47ac093-c2c9-4381-a7dd-fe176640f4d2-WXX30RSDvyNETTiidnlGeXlB8JT6VX.jpg' caption='A finished candle after the coating process. Watching the process, one can imagine it takes a considerable amount of time to make it this thick.'></photo>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/211fe767-2c72-4c8e-9ec0-62e257585b3b-Chh1nl0IiAEjlrkBJMy8xLjkZWqOHO.jpg' caption='The top is cut to expose the wick. The cross-section of the candle revealed a pattern just like the annual rings of a tree.'></photo>
<paragraph>The Tegake work involves repeatedly applying wax to the wick and letting it dry, gradually building it up to the desired thickness. The outcome is said to be influenced by changes in temperature and humidity, and even the craftsman's own physical condition."It's a difficult technique that cannot be mastered without experiencing many seasons," says Mr. Onishi. "You are only recognized as a true artisan when you can make hundreds of candles today that are of the same quality as the ones you made perfectly yesterday."<br /><br />

Daiyo produces not only traditional Japanese candles but has also developed small, charming "Mame-rōsoku" (bean candles) for casual use, as well as candles made from rice bran wax, created with sustainability in mind.<br /><br />

In 2011, this "Rice Wax Candle" was selected for the Good Design Award and the Good Design Award - Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director-General's Award, which helped bring Mr. Onishi's new candle ideas to public attention. The rice bran candle, which met a previously non-existent need, has become a catalyst for rethinking the materials of the candles we use today. Supported by new fans who want to use sustainable rice wax candles that are a little kinder to the earth than paraffin (petroleum-based) candles, the Rice Wax Candle has remained a long-selling hit, even now, nearly 15 years after its development.</paragraph>
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<h1>Candles: A Testament to Ancestral Wisdom for the Coexistence of Nature and People.
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<paragraph>In today's world, we live an electrified life that doesn't allow the power of nature into our homes, but in a way, he feels that a life that is too far removed from nature is too brutal and in some ways dangerous. As Onishi researched not only candles but also various cultures related to fire, he came across the ancient belief in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements.<br /><br />

It is said that all things are composed of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, and each of these elements is further classified into the ten heavenly stems, which represent the opposing attributes of yin and yang.<br />
The kanji that represent the yang and yin aspects of fire are called "hinoe" and "hinoto," but hinoe, which has a yang attribute, is considered to be the concept of nature, such as the sun, that humans cannot control, while hinoto, which has a yin attribute, is considered to be a small fire that humans can control. At this time, Onishi realized that when "fire" and "ding" are arranged as kanji radicals, they form "light," and he says that many emotions began to well up inside him.<br />
Considering that their ancestors had gone to the trouble of creating the kanji character for "light" (灯) and passing it on to future generations in order to coexist with fire in their daily lives, they felt a great sense of confidence that the candle-making they were doing would also have meaning for future society.</paragraph>
<photo src='https://krlazajynxwq6dfb.public.blob.vercel-storage.com/maker/e47192b6-0d80-4e7d-9a0b-caab4e2d18d3-i1Yy8uNWaiwCM5kyRLADfZCV0KMPDU.jpg' caption='The interview took place while he was still in the middle of working, so there was still wax stuck to his left hand.'></photo>
<paragraph>"In Japan, where wooden buildings are the norm, people used their ingenuity to invent the candle, and succeeded in minimizing a frightening natural phenomenon. They were able to safely borrow the natural power of fire and bring it indoors. Even though my voice may be small, I would be happy if by continuing to make products people can incorporate even a little of nature into their lives and enjoy fire at a comfortable distance."</paragraph>

国産で天然の櫨蝋を100%使い、全て手作りで和ろうそくを作り続けている大與。伝統的な和ろうそくだけでなく、サスティナビリティを意識した「お米のろうそく」や、小さくて可愛らしい「まめそうろく」など新たな和ろうそくの可能性も生み出し続けています。

Daiyo is a traditional candle maker that has been crafting Japanese candles (warōsoku) entirely by hand, using 100% domestically sourced natural haze wax. In addition to producing classic warōsoku, the company continues to explore new possibilities, such as sustainable “Rice Wax Candles” and the charming, compact “Mamesōroku”, bringing fresh perspectives to this centuries-old craft.