A Passion for Creation Opened the Door to Becoming an Artisan

Born into a family of music lovers, Emi played the violin as a child and later studied foreign languages in college. It was during her senior year, she says, that she stumbled upon the path to becoming a metalwork artisan.

"When I tried to picture a future working at a company, it just didn't feel right. I remembered how much I loved creating things and all things sparkly, and I suddenly thought, 'I want to try metalworking!'"

But with no artisans in her circle, the path wasn't clear. She considered saving up after graduation for a vocational school, but her eagerness to "start immediately" pushed her to get a corporate job and attend metalworking classes in the evenings.

"I got completely hooked, very quickly. I was taking classes at two different schools, visiting all sorts of tool shops and artisans—I just absorbed everything I could, relentlessly."

She would study after work until the last train home. She used her paid holidays and summer vacation to travel, even going to Bali to learn silver filigree techniques. Her salary and bonuses were spent on tools until she had built a small, three-tatami-mat workshop in her own home. Her passion bore fruit; she started selling her creations at exhibitions, and the path to becoming a professional artisan slowly opened up.

"If you pour your heart into something, someone will eventually give you a chance. About three years after I started learning, I got offers to join a designer's studio in Kamakura and a lost-wax casting team in Okachimachi. I decided then to quit my corporate job and commit to life as an artisan."

There, she met her future husband, Shinichi, who was a teammate. Shinichi, who came from a family of metalworkers and was apprenticing as a lost-wax artisan, became someone Emi could always turn to for advice.

"When I was working late into the night to meet a deadline, he would often call, worried, and ask, 'Are you okay?'. We discovered we clicked in surprising ways, like our taste in food. We started grabbing dinner after work or taking strolls through Ueno Park, and we slowly became close."

Juggling Childcare, Eldercare, and Craftsmanship: Building Experience Through Interrupted Moments

Eventually, the two married. Emi joined a family of third-generation metalworkers in Koto Ward. It was a household where everyone, from immediate family to extended relatives, was a metal artisan.

"I had always needed to create my own workspace, but his family's home already had all the tools. And since it's a metalworking household, I don't have to worry about the neighbors complaining about the noise. It’s a dream come true, right? Still, they're a family with deep, long-standing roots in the community, and everyone knows them, so I sometimes felt a bit on edge, thinking I couldn't mess up."

The Sashous were soon blessed with three children. But, as Emi shares, juggling parenthood and her profession was far from easy.

"My second daughter developed a heart condition called Kawasaki disease. Then, no sooner had my eldest son been hospitalized right after birth for meconium aspiration syndrome, he needed emergency surgery for an eye injury, which meant endless hospital visits. I was in a constant state of worry about my children."

To make matters more challenging, her father-in-law, who had been the driving force behind Jewelry Sashou, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was later diagnosed with lung cancer.

"My father-in-law was in and out of the hospital. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, hospital visits were restricted, so we ended up caring for him at home until the very end. My husband was working from dawn till dusk to manage the business he'd inherited, but whenever my father-in-law's condition worsened, he would ride in the ambulance late at night and stay by his side at the hospital. I did my part by visiting suppliers and handling work-related errands. That period was incredibly tough."

Emi's hectic life continued. She would work as an artisan while also preparing meals, bringing in the laundry at the threat of rain, helping the kids with homework, and catching bugs with her son at the park. But she explains that through these fragmented days, where deep focus on her work was impossible, she honed a valuable skill.

"I used to get so frustrated when I had to constantly interrupt my work. But now, I can get into the zone much faster, switching gears to focus intensely for short bursts of time. I've even gotten better at multitasking. Now I can work in my studio every day while listening to my children tell me about school."

The Joy of Handiwork: A Common Thread in Engraving and the Violin

When asked how she unwinds from her busy schedule, Emi replies, "I don't really need to." For her, "the work of an artisan is simply too enjoyable."

"With craftsmanship, you make a new discovery every time, and that experience builds within you. That's what I love. Take stone setting for jewelry, for instance. If you don't set it securely, the stone will fall out. But if you apply too much pressure, it will crack. Finding that perfect balance is the challenge. There's no 'undo' button like on a computer. The feeling of struggling with a problem and finally getting it right is an irreplaceable experience."

This joy of handiwork, where experience accumulates to create something tangible, also resonates with her passion for the violin, which she has played since age three. Now, just as her parents did for her, Emi carves out time from her hectic schedule to teach her own children to play.

"The violin is just like metal engraving. The more you practice, the more techniques you master, and the better you become. That moment when you finally master a difficult phrase is pure joy. I believe that's the special kind of satisfaction that comes from creating something with your own two hands.

These days, more and more pieces are made using computer-aided design (CAD), and generative AI is becoming widespread. But there are absolutely things that only human hands can achieve. I'm not ready to be outdone by machines yet. I plan to put all of my skills and abilities on full display."

I Want to Show My Children the Rewarding Life of a Dedicated Artisan

In 2022, Jewelry Sashou underwent a makeover, introducing chic displays and a welcoming interior that invites customers to step inside. While honoring the legacy of the previous generation's metalworking studio, the couple has embarked on a fresh start that is uniquely their own.

When asked about her relationship with her husband, Shinichi, with whom she shares both her personal and professional life, Emi replies, "He's the person who is always right there beside me."

"We've been through thick and thin together. My husband always offers words of encouragement, assuring me that we can overcome anything as a team. We have a deep respect for each other as artisans, which creates a wonderful synergy. He carries on a craft passed down for three generations, while I learned with a hungry spirit, so we can offer different perspectives. I believe our bond is incredibly strong."

As their children have grown and become more independent, the household dynamic has shifted. Shinichi has recently taken over breakfast duties, giving Emi a little more time for herself. We asked her what new challenges she's eager to take on.

"As an artisan, I'm passionate about mastering the art of decorative metal engraving. It's an incredibly advanced and delicate skill, one that requires meticulous attention to even the sharpening of one's tools. I've always loved engraving, but I had to take a break and couldn't focus on it while raising my children and providing care for family. Now, I want to hone my skills and expand the scope of my own creations."

Watching his parents thrive as artisans, their third-grade son has even said, "I want to work with Mom and Dad when I grow up." Emi shares, "I want to lead by example and show my children how fulfilling it is to live a life dedicated to mastering something you love."

From preservation to innovation. The years of dedicated handiwork she has accumulated are now beginning to shine in a new light.