niime 百科
Encyclopedia of niime
玉木新雌のルーツ、福井・勝山を巡る。
〈前編〉
Visiting Katsuyama in Fukui, the roots for Tamaki Niime
〈 part 1 〉
〈前編〉
〈 part 1 〉
2024 . 05 . 06
福井県勝山市。玉木や酒井が生まれ育ったまち。周囲を山々に囲まれ、福井県を貫く九頭竜川が流れる広やかな盆地に位置する歴史豊かな城下町は、現在、「恐竜のまち」としても知られている。
2月の下旬、唯一無二の「一点モノ」作品を日々新たに量産し、ファッションの枠組みを超えて「Nature Brand」を掲げる「tamaki niime」の代表・玉木新雌そして酒井義範を豊かに育んだ故郷を訪ね、この“特異な”ブランドの根源を探る旅に出てみた。
折しも、江戸時代より300年以上の伝統を誇る郷土の一大祭である「勝山左義長まつり」がコロナ禍を経て4年振りに完全復活し開催されるという絶好のタイミング。
「勝山に行くなら左義長の時期が良いですよ。」玉木の実妹である睦美からもそうおススメされていた。
地元市民が自ら「奇祭」と呼び、玉木が幼少期から櫓(やぐら)に登り心弾ませ演じ、酒井が“クレイジー”だと誇らし気に笑みを浮かべるこの祭をぜひとも体感してみたい…今から8年前に雑誌『暮しの手帖』の特集記事を目にして以来、「左義長」に心惹かれていただけに、遂に念願叶った私だった。
玉木家が長年経営する洋装店「ボンタマキ」を訪問し玉木の母である和美さん、兄である大輔さんにインタビュー取材もさせていただいた。
景観・風土・祭・食・織物・寺院・恐竜・文化…そして、何より人。実り多かった今回の旅ですっかりこのまちに魅了されてしまった私。今も滞在の日々が鮮やかにフラッシュバックし興奮と感動がぶり返す、そんな“かっちゃま”(勝山)訪問記を、ここにお届けします!
2月23日午前10時12分。大阪発金沢行きの特急サンダーバードに乗り込み、私は一路福井へと向かった。
この日は天皇誕生日で祝日、3連休のスタートとあって自由席はほぼ埋まっている。湖西線周りの列車は琵琶湖を右手に観ながら快調に走って日本海側の港湾都市・敦賀へ。3月16日のオープン間近、北陸新幹線の高架新駅の威容を見上げる。
新幹線の敦賀~金沢間の開業後は敦賀止まりとなるサンダーバード号は名残惜しい線路をひた走り、12時過ぎに福井駅到着。目指す勝山へはここでえちぜん鉄道に乗り換える。和美さん、大輔さんにボンタマキでの取材を申し込んだ約束の時間は午後3時。
腹ごしらえに駅を出た。3頭の福井産恐竜の実物大モニュメントが県の玄関口である駅前広場でお出迎え。振り返ると駅ビルの壁面にも巨大な恐竜が。「DINASOUR KINGDAM FUKUI」の文字が輝く。福井県立恐竜博物館はこれから向かう勝山にある。玉木の故郷は県イチ推し、振り切った恐竜観光の目玉スポットを持つ街でもあるのだ。
新幹線開業に向けたリニューアル工事が大詰めのJR駅に隣接してえちぜん鉄道の駅もあった。ローカル鉄道らしからぬ、モダンにデザインされた構内。改札で駅員さんに切符にハサミを入れてもらうアナクロ感との落差が愉しい。そしてエスカレーターで高架ホームに登ると待っていた電車は1両のみ。…何やら、西脇市へと走るJR加古川線を彷彿とさせるではないか!
12時55分に各駅停車の勝山行は福井を出発。数駅を過ぎて高架から地表に降りたえちぜん鉄道は途端にローカル線の趣きに。ひなびた無人駅を結んで福井平野をコトコトと走る。若い女性の車掌さんがアナウンスや運賃清算など車内業務を担当している。乗客対応も親切丁寧でほっこり。
名刹・永平寺の最寄り駅・永平寺口の辺りから九頭竜川に沿った谷を一両電車は辿り、白く雪を戴いた峰々が雄大な姿を現した。ダイナミックな景観に目を奪われる。ネットで下調べした時に勝山は日本有数の豪雪地帯とあった。幸いにも平野部に雪はない。明日のお祭り一日目は快晴の予報だ。
やがて緩やかなカーブを描いて流れる九頭竜川に並走する電車の窓から丘陵地にある白銀の巨大な卵型のドームが見えてきた。車内アナウンスはそれが恐竜博物館だと教えてくれる。
午後1時48分勝山着。小一時間の電車旅。ホームへ降りて出迎えてくれたのはレトロな木造の駅舎。年輪を刻んだ勝山駅の建物は大正3(1914)年に旧越前電気鉄道が開通した当時からの歴史ある建築で、国登録有形文化財。勝山市がえちぜん鉄道から駅舎を無償譲渡され改修、2013年に完成したものだそう。昔ながらの改札に面した駅員室や窓口、待合室から漂うなんとも言えない懐かしさといったら!
整備された駅前のロータリーには恐竜博物館直行バスを待つ人の列。駅の施設とバス乗り場の他にはほぼ、なんもない。だが、その簡素な風情が逆にまた郷愁をそそるのだ。勝山の市街地は川向こうにある。グーグルマップで確認すると、市の中心部に位置するだろう目指すボンタマキまでは目の前の広い通りを一本道で、歩いても15分ほどの距離だ。
恐竜の背中をイメージさせる緑色の曲線がうねるデザインの勝山橋へ向いて歩く。堤防に出た。目の前に雪山のパノラマと川幅広くゆったりとくねるような九頭竜川の雄々しい流れ、そして川に沿った段丘に広がる勝山のまち。四方を山に囲まれながらも広々と、悠々とした大地と川面。シンプルこの上ない駅前からの動線の先に展開するこの素晴らしい景観に、私はすっかり魅せられてしまった。ここが玉木や酒井のふるさとなのか!!
歩道の幅もゆったりな橋の上からの眺めがまた素晴らしい。前方左手奥に電車からも見た建築家・黒川紀章が手がけた卵型の恐竜博物館。反対側の右手には仏殿のような大きな建築と五重塔が。ネット検索してみると、大師山清大寺の建物で「越前大仏」を安置する、東大寺を上回るスケールの大仏殿と高さ日本一の五重塔であるとのこと。太古の恐竜化石を展示するモダンアート建築と巨大な寺院建築を両端に置いて、勝山のまちはあるのだった。
橋を渡り切ると恐竜像がお出迎え。目の前の広い通りのあちこちに緑・黄・赤の3色の短冊が吊り下げられ風に揺れている。左義長の飾り付けだ。通りの右側を更に歩くと収納庫から出された櫓(やぐら)のそばを通った。背が高く見上げるほどに立派な舞台だ。駅で手に入れた祭りのガイドパンフレットによると各区ごとにそれぞれの櫓があるようだ。
なお進むと広い通りが急に坂道になり、台地の上に出た。左手にはショッピングセンターが現れた。もうすぐ約束の時間・午後3時。再びグーグルマップで確認するとそろそろボンタマキのお店がある地点。趣きのある瓦屋根が特徴的な2階建ての町家風の建物が目に入る。側面は白く塗られている。店の傍らに立ってこちら方向を見やる男性と目が合った。もしかして…。そう、待ってくれていたのは玉木のお兄さん・大輔さんだった。
営業中の店内へと招き入れられる。入ってすぐ、梁を出し全体が白塗りされた吹き抜けの天井が高い。右手にtamaki niimeのロゴを鮮やかにあしらった大きな白布、その下にショールをはじめ色とりどりの作品たちがレイアウトされている。お母様の和美さんとスタッフの方お二人も待っていてくださった。白を基調に明るくアットホームな空気が居心地良い洋装店の店内。取材中もお客様が切れ目なく訪れる。
「“さぎっちょ”の準備をちょっと抜けて来たんですよ。」柔かにそう話す大輔さん。
「明日あさってが本番で、月曜はまた片付けだから。「左義長」気狂いなんで(笑)。」と、テーブルの隣りで和美さん。
お店もあるし無茶お忙しいタイミングだったな…と、まずは恐縮と反省。汗)
大輔「だいじょうぶだいじょうぶ。うん。」
和美「賑やかで…。一度祭りに西脇の皆んなを招待したいなと思うくらい。」
大輔さんがおもむろにスマホの写真を差し出す。
「これ、新雌。小学生の頃ですね。」
「かわいいでしょ?」とお母様。
大輔「家にあった写真を最近見つけてね。画像データにして取り込んで。」
—— ご本人見てないでしょう?
大輔「見てないけど平気ですよ。これが睦美。」
—— 似ておられますね、やっぱり。
「niime百科」をはじめ数々の取材の機会に玉木が語った勝山での子ども時代のこと。印象的なエピソードについて、ご家族にも聞いてみたかった。
—— 赤ちゃんの頃お店に寝かされていて、お客様に可愛がってもらってた記憶があると聞きました。
大輔「元々はここの場所じゃなくて実家の方で店をやってたんで。ちびっ子の頃ですね、きっと。」
和美「金沢にもお店があったので、籠に入れて連れて行って。そういえば台の上にいましたね。一年ほど。静かなおとなしい子だったから。」
—— 大阪・船場の問屋街への仕入れに一緒に連れて行ってもらい、お気に入りの服を選びコーディネートを愉しんでいたというお話も。
大輔「あれってなんでやろう?学校がない時やったんか?」
和美「春休みだとか、学校がお休みで行ける時に連れてったんだと思います。こっちが商談してる間に勝手に好きなものを選んでたみたいです。」
大輔「いろんな服を売ってる。大西衣料さんとか、プロルート丸光さんとか。」
和美「好き嫌いがはっきりしてて嫌なのは着ないとかね。朝、服を着る時に重ね着でダブつくのがイヤで。ほんとにちっちゃい時から、着心地というか着やすさとかにこだわりがあって朝大変でしたよ、学校に出すのに。」
—— モッサリしてるのがイヤだったと。
和美「そうなんです。スッキリしてないと。」
—— (笑)。お兄さまの方はどうでした?
大輔「僕はそんなこだわりはないです。もうなんでも。」
—— 睦美さんも?
大輔「睦美もこっち寄りかなぁ。」
和美「皆さんからどうやって育てたの?ってよく訊かれるんですけど、なんにもないね…。(笑)。」
—— 自立しているような子どもだったと。
和美「3人兄妹の真ん中だったから、どうしても。世話を焼かない。長男は…。」
大輔「焼かれたな。」
和美「一番下(の睦美)もだいぶ歳が離れてるから焼かれて。真ん中だけほっとかれたもんだから。今にして思えばそれがよかった、って言ってくれてますけれどね。」
—— 私もやっぱり長男なんですが、長男ってわりと大事にされて…
大輔「そう。ねぇ?」
和美「一から十までねぇ。」
大輔「でも…(新雌は)子どもの頃はもうちょっともの静かな人間だった気がする。まぁ、アタマの中は何考えてるのかわかりませんでしたけど。」
金沢に新しい店舗を構えた時に、玉木の亡き父・達雄さんは片道1時間半以上の道のりを勝山から車で通う毎日を始めたという。兄妹が小学生だった頃のことだ。
大輔「朝早く家を出て夜帰って来てまた朝早く出てゆく。小学校から中学、高校…もうずっとです。小学校の頃にワゴンの後ろにマットを敷いて我々子どもたちはそこに寝ながら金沢に連れて行かれた記憶もありますし、それで大阪まで服の買付けに行くみたいな(笑)。今でこそ道が良くなってますけど、昔は山道長いな~と思いながら乗ってた覚えもあります。」
—— もともとはおばあさまがお店を始められたと伺ってますが。いつ頃のお話なんでしょうか?
大輔「どうだろう…80年くらい前になるのかな。」
—— 老舗ですね。
和美「それくらいになるやろね。」
大輔「オカンで50年くらい?」
和美「ちょうど50年目!お祝いせないかんね(笑)。紅白のおまんじゅう?」
—— この場所に移って何年くらいですか?
大輔「ここは僕が小学校の頃やでぇ…42年ってとこやな。金沢はいつやった?」
和美「新雌がまだ生後半年くらいの時にカゴに入れて、そのまま商品の棚に置いてました。だからもう46~7年だと思います。」
—— もともとの始まりはやはり洋装店だったんですか?
和美「衣料と…もともとは“何でも屋さん”やった。昔でいう「百貨店」。家族経営の。」
大輔「今でいうとホームセンターみたいな。色んなものを置いてた。」
和美「毛糸から靴下から、のし紙まで。」
—— おばあさまはどんな方でしたか?
大輔「細かいっていうか…何て言うんやろな?」
和美「おばあちゃんはしっかり者だった。」
大輔「家系やな。ばあちゃんの親から商売を始めて。」
和美「古物商みたいなの始めて。おじいちゃんの方は魚屋さん。おじいちゃんは大人しい人で、言われたまま。」
大輔「そうそう。仕事を手伝う的な(笑)。どっちかって言うとオヤジとオカンもそんな感じやったし(笑)。」
和美「そんなアホな(笑)。私はやさしいよ。」
—— 女性が強いという(笑)。
和美「その血を引いてるんじゃないの?」
—— 子どもの頃の新雌さんてお兄さんから見てどんな風に映ってましたか?
大輔「僕的には静かなヤツだなぁと思ってましたけどねぇ。その頃と比べたらなんかアグレッシブになったなぁとは思いますけどね。内面的にしっかりしてる感じはありました。」
—— 内に秘めたものが。
大輔「そう!やることが細かいというかね。何やるんでもけっこう、キッチリキッチリやってたと思います。勉強とかも。…誰に似たんだろう?」
—— お店のお手伝いでDMの封筒入れをしたとかご本人から聞きました。
大輔「そうゆうのは手伝ったんじゃないかな。僕はやったことない(笑)。まぁ、そうゆう細かい作業とかは好きでしょうね、きっと。」
—— お手伝いしながらお店の様子を観察してたとも仰ってました。
大輔「だから、昔からそんな感じだったんじゃないですかね。絶えず色んなモノをじっくりと観てるからこそ、もの静かにしてるってゆう。」
—— 色々と吸収してたんでしょうね。
大輔「そうそう。そんな感じなんじゃないかな。」
大学の家政学部~服飾専門学校を卒業、大手繊維商社を経て独立、自らのブランドを立ち上げた玉木は西脇へとやって来る以前の一時期、酒井とともに故郷・勝山に拠点を置いていた。20年前に父・達雄さんに請われて東京から戻りボンタマキを手伝っていた大輔さんはその頃にデザイナーとなった妹と再会する。
大輔「勝山に戻って来て、実家の隣に空家があったのでそこで服づくりとかやってたんですよ。どこから戻ったのかな…大阪やね。一番大変やった時なんじゃないかな。」
—— なるほど。試行錯誤の時期ですね。
大輔「そうそうそう。1年か2年くらいかなぁ、酒井くんと二人で帰って来て、家の隣りに古い3階建てのビルがあるんですけど、その1階でやってましたよ。シャツを創ってたんじゃないかな。あの頃は…売れてたのかどうか。毎晩遅くまでやってたけど、これでやって行けるのか…と思う感じでしたね、うん。」
—— 西脇に来られて播州織の生地を使った最初もシャツ路線だったと思います。
大輔「そうやね。それでショール創って、って流れですよね。昔は内向的ってゆうんじゃないけど、もの静かで、人に心を開く感じじゃなかった。あんまり人前で話すタイプじゃなかったもんね。“かっちゃま”(勝山)に帰って来た頃もやっぱり静かであんまり話もせんかったし。酒井くんが社交的な人間やで、その辺は任せてたんじゃないかな。」
—— 役割分担というか。新雌さんは創る人で。
大輔「そうそうそう。今は違うと思うけど、人と積極的に交わるようになったのもそんな昔の話じゃなくて。何年か前に本人が話してたけど、“出る”ようになったと。講演なんかも頼まれるようになって外向きな人間になっていったんじゃないかなと思うんやけどね。」
—— これからの新雌さんに期待することはありますか?
大輔「好きなようにやってください。兄が言えるようなことは何もないんで(笑)。」
—— 勝山のまちで今、新雌さんが関わっておられることとかあるんでしょうか?
大輔「市で講演とかやってるんじゃないかな。市長と話したり。この前帰って来た時は母校の勝山高校に呼ばれて授業のアドバイザーをしに来てましたね。」
—— それはお一人で?
大輔「仕事じゃないから連れて来れん、って言って(笑)。昔は必ず睦美を連れて帰って来てたけど、今や一人でどこへでも話しに行くんじゃない?」
—— 語るのにも慣れて(笑)。インスタで拝見しても日本全国北から南からドバイへと、あちこち飛び回ってらっしゃいますものね。…本日はお祭りの準備もあって大変にお忙しい中、どうもありがとうございました。
大輔「全く話せるようなことなかったんですけど。」
—— いえいえ、貴重なお話をお聞き出来ました。…あ、どこかお勧めのお店とかありますか?
大輔「勝山で?勝山は蕎麦(そば)ですね。おろし蕎麦!どこでも美味しいと思うけど、(お祭り前の)今日行くのが一番いいと思います。」
インタビューに一区切りついたのが4時半頃。その後大輔さんのご好意で日本一の大きさを誇る越前大仏を観に連れて行ってもらったが、残念ながら冬季は午後4時までということで門が閉められた後だった。
ボンタマキに戻り、先ほどの取材途中接客で席を離れた和美さんにお話の続きを聴き、再び大輔さんになんと今度はお勧めの「のむら屋」さんまで食べに連れて行ってもらって、お店の名物・ふわっとろ玉カツ丼とおろし蕎麦のセットをご馳走になってしまった。。
晩7時からまた左義長祭りの準備へと舞い戻った大輔さん。お忙しい最中にも関わらず色々とお世話になり、本当にありがとうございました。そしてご馳走さまでした。
更に玉木家にお世話になりっぱなし、、なんと和美さんがあくる日午前中に越前大仏を案内してくださることになったのであった。
玉木新雌のルーツを探る「niime百科」勝山紀行。
母親ならではの“玉木新雌深掘り”、和美さんインタビューの続きとともに越前大仏、心浮き立つ「奇祭」左義長祭りの模様に、今や福井県随一の観光スポット・恐竜博物館、地場産業・絹織物の展示が素晴らしい「はたや記念館 ゆめおーれ勝山」も贅沢に巡る、続編へと続きます!!
書き人越川誠司
Katsuyama City in Fukui prefecture is where Tamaki and Sakai were born and raised. It is surrounded by mountains along the Kuzuryu River across Fukui Prefecture, where it used to be a castle town. Today, it is also known as a ‘dinosaur town’.
Tamaki Niime represents ‘tamaki niime’, the nature brand company whose concept is beyond fashion, creating and producing new ‘only-one-item’ products daily. At the end of February, I visited the homes of Tamaki Niime and Sakai Yoshinori, where they were abundantly nurtured, to search for the roots of their peculiar brand.
Luckily, it was the best time to visit Katsuyama because the ‘Katsuyama Sagicho Festival’ was to open four years after the pandemic. It is the largest local festival, with over 300 years of tradition since the Edo era.
Mutsumi, Tamaki’s sister, once told me that if I go to Katsuyama, it’s best to go during the Sagicho Festival.
About eight years ago, since I read a particular article in the magazine ‘Kurashi no Techo’ (the Life Notebook) about the festival, I was attracted to it and wished to experience it. The residents call this festival ‘a crazy festival’. When Ms Tamaki was a little girl, she was excited to get on the yagura, a raised wooden stage, to dance or play, and Mr Sakai smiled proudly and called it crazy. Finally, my wish to visit here came true.
I went to Bontamaki, a clothing store that the Tamaki family has long run, and interviewed Kazumi, Ms Tamaki’s mom, and Daisuke, her brother.
I was fascinated with its landscape, climate, festivals, foods, weaving, temples, dinosaurs, and culture. More than anything, I was attracted to the people on this trip. Even now, I flash back to memories of my journey and am excited again. I will send you my Kacchama (Katsuyama) visit article.
On February 23 at 10:12 a.m., I got on the Express Thunderbird train for Kanazawa from Osaka to head for Fukui. All the unreserved seats were filled because it was the Japanese Emperor’s birthday, which was the first of three consecutive days off. The train around the Kosei line runs along the Biwa Lake on your right and heads for Tsuruga, the harbour town on the Sea of Japan side. I looked up the tremendous elevated new bullet train station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which would open very soon on March 16.
Tsuruga station on Thunderbird Express would become the last stop after the Shinkansen opened, running between Tsuruga and Kanazawa. It ran on that route melancholy and arrived at Fukui station in the afternoon. I had to transfer to the Echizen railroad for my destination, Katsuyama. I had an appointment with Kazumi and Daisuke at 3 p.m. at Bontamaki to interview them.
I got out of the station to fill my stomach. The monument of three real-size Fukui dinosaurs welcomed me at the station square, which is the entrance of Fukui Prefecture. When I turned back, I saw a big dinosaur drawing on the wall of the station building. The letters of DINOSAUR KINGDOM FUKUI were shining. There is the Fukui Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama, where I am heading now. Tamaki’s hometown has the number one tourist spot, the main dinosaur sightseeing the prefecture recommends.
There is Echizen railroad station next to the JR station, which has been under last-minute completion of renewal construction for the opening of the Shinkansen. They have a modern-designed campus that doesn’t resemble local railroad stations. It’s enjoyable to feel like it is back in time when station attendants clip tickets at a ticket gate. Upon reaching the top of the escalator to the elevated platform, only one train car was waiting for us. Wow! That reminds me of the JR Kakogawa line in Nishiwaki.
The local train left Fukui for Katsuyama at 12:55. After passing a few stations, the Echizen railroad train that went down from the elevated bridge suddenly became more like a local line, which connects between rustic unmanned stations and runs quietly on Fukui plain. A young train clerk made announcements and took care of fare settlement. She smiled politely and was kind to customers.
One car train ran along the valley on the Kuzuryu River near the station of Eihei-Ji temple, a very famous temple. The great mountain peaks appeared before me, covered in snow. I was attracted to the dynamic view. When I searched for information about it online, I learned that Katsuyama is one of the areas with the heaviest snowfall in Japan. Luckily, there was no snow on the plains. The weather report said the festival’s first day would be fine tomorrow.
From the train window, I saw the colossal silver egg dome on the hills along the Kuzuryu River, slowly running parallel on curves with the train line. The announcement on the train said that it was the dinosaur museum.
I arrived at Katsuyama at 1:48 p.m. It was only an hour’s trip. Getting down from the platform, I was welcomed by a retro wooden station building. The wood has rings of history and was built in 1914. Since the old Echizen Electric Railway was opened, it has been registered as a national tangible cultural property. The station was given to Katsuyama City by Echizen Railway, and they renovated it, which was completed in 2013. Facing the ticket gate, there’s an old-fashioned station staff room with reception windows and a waiting room; oh, how nostalgic they are!
In front of the organized station rotary was a line of people waiting for the bus to the dinosaur museum. There was nothing except the facility of the train station and bus stops, but that modest simplicity made me feel more nostalgic. The downtown area of Katsuyama was on the other side of the river. I confirmed the location via Google Maps; there’s only one wide street to go to Bontamaki, my destination, which is in the city’s centre, and it would take me about 15 minutes.
I walked towards the Katsuyama Bridge, which was designed with a winding green line that looked like a dinosaur’s back. I came out at the embankment. In front of my eyes was a panoramic view of snowy mountains and a great stream of the slow, winding, wide Kuzuryu River. Katsuyama is located in the hills along the river. Even though surrounded by mountains on all sides, the land and river are spacious and peaceful. I was impressed with the beautiful view that developed after leading the straightforward station front. Wow! This is the homeland of Mr Sakai and Ms Tamaki!
The view from the bridge with wide-pedestrian space is lovely as well. Front left back, as I saw it from the train window, there’s an oval dinosaur museum created by the architect Noriaki Kurosawa. On the right side is a vast building resembling a Buddhist statue and a five-story pagoda. Searching it on the internet reveals that it is the Daishizan Seidaiji Temple & Echizen Great Buddha, which is larger than the one in Todaiji Temple. The five-story pagoda is the highest in Japan. In Katsuyama, modern art buildings display ancient dinosaurs and massive temples on both sides.
As I Crossed from the bridge, dinosaur statues welcomed me. On the wide street in front of me, green, yellow, and red striped paper are hanging and swinging in the wind, which are decorations of the Sagicho festival. Walking on the right side further ahead, I went by the scaffold of the festival that was taken out from storage, which is a very tall, gorgeous stage. According to the festival guide brochure I got at the station, each city district owns a scaffold.
Further along, the broad street suddenly became hilly, and I came out of the table-land. The shopping mall appeared on the left. It was almost 3 p.m. when I had an appointment. When I checked the location with Google Maps again, I found that I had nearly reached the Bontamaki store. I looked at the second-story, long family-style building with a distinctive, attractive tiled roof. The outside walls are painted white. My eyes met with the man standing by the store and looking toward me. I wondered if he was the one…That was right. The one who was waiting for me was Daisuke, Tamaki’s brother.
He invited me into the store, which was open. Getting inside, you could see the high open ceiling painted white with an extended beam. On the right side, there’s a large white cloth with a bright logo of ‘tamaki niime’; underneath it, colourful products such as shawls are displayed. Kazumi, Tamaki’s mom and two staff members waited for us. It’s comfortable to be inside the clothing shop, which has a bright and homey atmosphere based on white. Even while we were interviewing, customers came in without stop.
Daisuke said quietly, “I sneaked out while working on preparations for the Sagicho festival.”
Kazumi, beside the table, said, “Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow are festivals, and Monday is cleaning up. The Sagicho festival is crazy (laugh).”
They were super busy with the shop at that time… it was not a good time. I felt so bad and regretted it. (sweat)
- Daisuke
- That’s okay. That’s okay. Yeah.
- Kazumi
- It’s so lively that I invite people from Nishiwaki.
Daisuke suddenly showed me pictures on his smartphone.
“This is Niime when she was in elementary school.”
Her Mom asked, “She was so cute, right?”
- Daisuke
- I found pictures at home recently. I put them in the picture database.
—— Ms Tamaki hasn’t looked at them yet, right?
- Daisuke
- That’s no problem. This is Mutsumi.
—— As I thought, they looked alike.
Tamaki talked about her childhood in Katsuyama in several interviews, such as in the ‘Encyclopedia of niime’. I also wanted to ask her family about some impressive episodes.
—— She remembers sleeping at the store as a baby, and customers cared for her.
- Daisuke
- We originally had a store not here but at my grandparent’s house. I think she meant when she was little.
- Kazumi
- We also had a store in Kanazawa and took her there, carrying her in a basket. Come to think of it, she was sitting on the counter. For about a year. She was a quiet child.
—— She told me that you took her to a wholesaler town in Funaba, Osaka, and she enjoyed picking up her favourite clothes and coordinating.
- Daisuke
- I wonder what it was. Was it when school was out?
- Kazumi
- I think we took her when her school was out, like spring break. While we were negotiating on business, she chose her favourite clothes.
- Daisuke
- They sold various clothes, such as Onishi Clothing or Purorutomarumitsu.
- Kazumi
- She was very clear about what she liked or disliked and didn’t wear what she didn’t like. She hates wearing layers of clothes and looking bulky in the morning. Ever since she was little, she had a preference for comfort and ease of wearing, so it was hard to let her go to school in the morning.
—— She didn’t like to feel heavy.
- Kazumi
- That’s right. She had to feel simple.
—— (laugh) How about you, Daisuke?
- Daisuke
- I didn’t care. Anything was fine.
—— How about you, Mutsumi?
- Daisuke
- Mutsumi is like me.
- Kazumi
- Many people asked me how I raised them. I don’t think I did anything special…. (laugh)
—— She was very independent, right?
- Kazumi
- She was the middle of three siblings, so we didn’t take care of her much, but the oldest boy was…
- Daisuke
- I was well taken care of a lot.
- Kazumi
- We took care of Mutsumi, the youngest, a lot because she was much younger. The middle child was left alone. Thinking about it back now, she said it was good for her.
—— I am the oldest as well. The oldest boys are well taken care of …
- Daisuke
- Yeah, right?
- Kazumi
- Yes, they are well taken care of each thing from 1 to 10.
- Daisuke
- But I think Niime was a quiet child. I don’t know what she was thinking in her mind, though.
When Tamaki’s late father, Tatsuo, opened his new shop in Kanazawa. He began commuting from Katsuyama to Kanazawa, which was a one-hour-and-a-half drive one way. It was when his children were still in Elementary school.
- Daisuke
- He left home early in the morning, came home at night, and did it again the next morning. This pattern continued all my days from elementary school through middle school and high school. I remember that when we were in elementary school, he took all the kids to Kanazawa in the wagon truck, and we slept on the mat in the back. Then he went to buy clothes in Osaka. (laugh) The roads are much better now, but I remember they used to be long, rough mountains.
—— I heard your grandmother started opening a store. When was it?
- Daisuke
- I wonder if it was about 80 years ago.
—— It is a long-established store.
- Kazumi
- It would take such years.
- Daisuke
- Mom has run a store for about 50 years, right?
- Kazumi
- It’s just the 50th anniversary. We have to celebrate it. (laugh) With red and white steamed buns?
—— How long since you moved here?
- Daisuke
- We came here when I was in elementary school, about 42 years ago. When did you live in Kanazawa?
- Kazumi
- I put Niime, about six months old, in a basket and placed it on the counter of the products, so it was about 46 to 47 years ago.
—— Did you initially start from the clothing shop?
- Kazumi
- Clothing and… it was originally a Jack-of-all-Trades, like a family-run department store in the old days.
- Daisuke
- It’s like today’s home improvement store. We had various things.
- Kazumi
- We had yarn, socks, and even Noshi ceremonial gift paper.
—— What kind of person was Grandmother?
- Daisuke
- She was very picky…umm, how can I express this about her?
- Kazumi
- She was a very reliable person.
- Daisuke
- That’s genetic. Grandma’s parents started the business.
- Kazumi
- She started a business as a curio dealer. Grandfather sold fish. He was quiet and obeyed everything he was told.
- Daisuke
- That’s right. He liked helping her work. (laugh) Mom and Dad were somewhat similar in that way. (laugh)
- Kazumi
- Don’t say that, (laugh) I am nice.
—— Women are strong in your family. (laugh)
- Kazumi
- We must have that DNA.
—— How did you see Niime when she was a child?
- Daisuke
- I thought she was quiet. Compared to her childhood, she has become more aggressive. I felt she was strong internally.
—— She has something determined inside.
- Daisuke
- Right! She did everything in detail. Anything she did was precise, such as studying. Who did she resemble?
—— She told me she helped put DM letters in the envelopes at the store.
- Daisuke
- I think she did. I have never done that. (laugh) I am sure she likes such small tasks.
—— She told me she was observing the store while helping.
- Daisuke
- So, she has been like that since she was little. Because she was always observing well, that’s why she was quiet.
—— She was absorbing many things.
- Daisuke
- Yeah, yeah. It seemed like that.
After graduating from the Department of Home Economics at college and finishing at a fashion dressing school, she worked at a significant textile trading company. After launching her own brand, she was based in her hometown, Katsuyama, with Sakai for a short while before coming to Nishiwaki. Twenty years ago, Daisuke was asked to help his father’s business and came back to Bontamaki in Katsuyama from Tokyo. There, he met his sister, who became a designer.
- Daisuke
- When I returned to Katsuyama, there was a vacant house next to my parents’ house where she used to make clothing. Where did she come back from? …that was Osaka. It was the most challenging time.
—— I see. It was the time she did try and make errors.
- Daisuke
- Yeah. She returned with Mr Sakai, and they worked on the first floor of a three-story building next to our parent’s house for one or two years. I think they made shirts. I am trying to remember if they were sold then, even though they worked until late at night. We doubted if they could keep doing it. Yeah, I doubted.
—— When she came to Nishiwaki to use the fabrics of Banshu ori, I think she made a shirt category.
- Daisuke
- That’s right. And then next, she made shawls. She was not introverted but quiet and not open to other people. She was not the type of person to talk in front of people. When she returned to Katsuyama, she was quiet and didn’t talk much. Since Sakai is a friendly person, she depended on him for it.
—— Division of roles: Niime is the creator.
- Daisuke
- That’s right. I think she is different now. She became actively interacting with people. She had not been like that for a long time. A few years ago, she said that she appeared more to people. Since she was asked to talk in lectures, I think that made her more active.
—— Do you have anything you expect from her in the future?
- Daisuke
- I want her to do what she wants to do. I have nothing I could say to her as her older brother. (laugh)
—— Right now in Katsuyama, does Niime have things she does for the city?
- Daisuke
- I think she lectures in the city and talks to the mayor. When she came back last, she was invited to her alma mater, Katsuyama High School, and helped classes as an advisor.
—— Did she do it by herself?
- Daisuke
- She said, “I can’t take anyone with me because this is not a job.” (laugh) She used to take Mutsumi with her, but she now goes anywhere to give lectures alone.
—— She got used to talking (laugh). Looking at her Instagram, I see that she goes everywhere, from northern to southern Japan and even to Dubai. Thank you for taking the time today for me while you are busy getting ready for the festival.
- Daisuke
- I couldn’t give you much information, though.
—— Well, thank you so much for sharing valuable stories. Ah, do you know any good restaurants you recommend?
- Daisuke
- In Katsuyama? Soba noodles are great in Katsuyama. Specifically, Soba noodles with grated radish! I think any restaurant should be good. It’s better to go today before the festival.
It was about 4:30 p.m. when I reached to the end point in my interview with him. After that, with Daisuke’s courtesy, he took me to Echizen Daibutsu, the biggest in Japan. However, it was closed after 4 p.m. during winter.
Returning to Bontamaki, I continued interviewing Kazumi, who had to leave during the interview to serve customers. After that, Daisuke took me to the restaurant Nomura that he recommended, and he treated me to the shop’s specialty: a pork cutlet rice bowl with soft, melty egg and soba noodles with grated radish.
Daisuke went back to prepare for the Sagicho festival at 7 p.m. I thanked him so much for taking care of me even though he was very busy, and thanks for treating me to great food.
And even more, I am always indebted to the Tamaki family; surprisingly, Kazumi took me to see Echizen Daibutsu the following day.
This is a Katsuyama Travelogue where I search for the roots of Tamaki Niime.
Only her mother knows how to dig to know Tamaki Niime. I will still keep interviewing Kazumi and tell you about Echizen Daibutsu, scenes from the exciting ‘mysterious’ Sagicho festival, the dinosaur museum, which is Fukui’s best tourist spot, and the ‘weaving memorial museum Yume ore Katsuyama’ where they wonderfully display the local industry products of silky weaving. Please look forward to the next one!
Original Japanese text by Seiji Koshikawa.
English translation by Adam & Michiko Whipple.