Shikkui has been used in Japanese architecture and daily life for over a thousand years.
It has not simply endured over the long years. As architectural styles, people’s lifestyles, and the desired functions and aesthetics have changed, it has been chosen time and again, in each era.
Things that remain popular over the long term possess qualities that endure even as times change. At the same time, the techniques, applications, and ways of conveying those qualities have undoubtedly evolved with the times.
Simply preserving what we’ve inherited in its original form is not enough to pass it on to the next generation. We must discern what is truly important, strip away the superfluous, and refine it into a form that meets the needs of today’s society.
We view this as “polishing.”
In plasterwork, there is a technique known as the “polished finish (Migaki shiage).” It is a finish in which the craftsman applies repeated, meticulous strokes to the surface, bringing out the inherent beauty of the material.
It is not a process of merely embellishing the exterior. Rather, it is a process of engaging with the material, recognizing its inherent qualities, and elevating them to a higher state.
We believe the same applies to a company.
The products, markets, technologies, applications, and roles demanded by society are constantly changing. We must adapt flexibly, transforming ourselves in response to these changes. At the same time, if we were to change everything, we would lose sight of the very things we have inherited.
We do not change the essence. We continue to refine our approach.
When we tackle new materials, applications, and markets, it is not because we seek novelty for its own sake. Nor is taking action an end in itself.
It is to discover the potential within the materials and technologies we have inherited and refine them into forms that can be put to use in today’s world. And beyond that, it is to create roles and options that have never existed before.
The century since our founding is not something we have built alone. It has been passed down through our interactions with many people, including our employees, business partners, and members of the local community.
That is why we do not view this century merely as a record of past achievements; rather, we see it as a responsibility for the future.
What can Tagawa Shikkui Labs offer to our employees, business partners, the local community, and society as a whole?
As we grapple with this question, we will refine our materials, our technologies, our people, and our company. We will elevate the legacy we have inherited into forms needed in today’s world, and from there, create what does not yet exist.
Just as shikkui has been used for a thousand years, changing its form to suit the times, we aspire to be a company that will continue to be needed in the future.
To that end, we will continue to refine every single task we undertake.
