From Tokyo Preschool Teacher to Joining a Family of Traditional Crafts

In 2013, before getting married, Hisako visited her husband Takao’s family home in Ishikawa for the first time and toured the workshop.

"I’d only ever heard he was 'self-employed and made things,' but this was my first time actually seeing it. It felt like stepping into the pages of a social studies textbook—I was amazed to discover that jobs like this existed!"

At that time, her husband was still a salaryman. Watching him work in a demanding environment, Hisako offhandedly suggested, "Why don’t you take over the family business?" That casual remark became the turning point for both of them. They began to seriously consider inheriting the family trade, which eventually led them to move to Ishikawa.

Having majored in English and American literature at university and worked as a preschool teacher, the world of lacquerware was totally uncharted territory to Hisako. Nonetheless, bolstered by her confidence that "I can work anywhere as a preschool teacher" and her dream of "someday working abroad," Ishikawa didn’t feel all that far away.

"The language is still Japanese and compared to moving overseas, Ishikawa felt much closer! (laughs) To be honest, I was running on pure energy at that point."

But soon after relocating, she found out she was pregnant and gave birth. Her involvement in the family business started gradually and almost naturally, and she often found herself thrown by the cultural differences between Tokyo and her new home.

"In Tokyo, it’s normal for both partners to work, and child-rearing is a shared responsibility. Here, there’s still an old-school mentality—'dangerous jobs are for men,' 'clerical work and serving tea are for women.' At first, I was surprised and thought, 'Ah, so this is how it is.'"

As she navigated local customs and dialect, Hisako also grappled with her place as "the Tokyo-born bride in a family of traditional crafts." During this journey, she grew to understand words a senior teacher told her when she quit: “It works better if you don’t overdo it. Take off your armor from the start—it’s easier that way.”

Mother of Four: Letting Go to Gain New Perspective

Now handling a wide array of tasks—sales, PR, retail planning, and negotiating exhibitions—Hisako’s journey was not without its struggles. After the birth of her third child, as she took on more responsibilities like sales and social media for the workshop’s newly launched retail business, she landed her first project as the main person in charge.

"I went to a meeting with my newborn in a carrier, but during the meeting my baby started feeling unwell and I had to leave in tears. Both my husband and the clients kindly said, 'It’s okay, you can head home for today,' but I was so frustrated that I cried the whole way home."

This was the moment she clearly realized—she was a mother, a wife, but also someone who genuinely wanted to work. Gradually, she began voicing her opinions, actively contributing ideas for product improvements and new business strategies.

At the time, the workshop had just started exporting overseas. Since Hisako was fairly proficient in English, she became the driving force behind their export operations—self-teaching through books and seeking advice from experts to gradually master the process.

The birth of her fourth child brought a major shift.

"With three kids, I could just push myself to make it work. But with four, it was simply impossible."

She gradually started entrusting tasks she previously felt were "her responsibility" to younger staff members, and on social media, rather than aiming for "perfection," she posted based on whether she herself was satisfied in the moment.

"I used to brush off compliments with a 'no, no, not at all,' but after my fourth baby, I started saying 'thank you' honestly. I became more relaxed, stopped comparing myself to others, and started genuinely feeling comfortable with who I am."

Passing Down Tradition: Carving Out Her Own Unique Role

"Right now, raising my kids keeps me busy so I don’t really have time for what you’d call a break, but I find hands-on work really engaging. I’m not involved in lacquerware production every single day; I step in when we’re short on help or facing a tight deadline. Maybe that’s why I love being able to totally immerse myself in the craft when I do—it's truly fun. Traveling solo for business trips or negotiations still feels new and exciting, too.

"If I hadn’t started this job, I probably wouldn’t have had four children. If my husband and I had worked in separate fields, figuring things out between us might’ve been tough. Sometimes, events overlap with things like Golden Week, but we just bring the kids along, stay at my parents’ place, and take turns managing the event. That kind of flexibility is a real plus."

This family-centered, flexible working style—blurring the lines between on and off hours—really reflects her approach to life and business.

When asked, "Are there moments you’re glad to have married into this family?" she answered, a little shyly:

"I grew up in a regular salaried household, so I always thought traditional Japanese crafts had nothing to do with someone like me. But just by chance, I married into a family involved in this field, and I get so much joy from thinking, 'Maybe I’m helping society and Japan’s traditional crafts, even just a little.'"

Recently, she’s had more and more chances to interact with international visitors in English. The English she studied during her university days is now a tool for carrying tradition forward.

"I used to think the only way I’d ever use English was by working overseas, but I ended up marrying into a traditional crafts family, and now I get to share the appeal of the craft in English. I never expected this—it's strange and fun at the same time. I still can’t speak all that well though (laughs)."

Passing along the craft through English has become something she feels might be “a job only I can do,” and it’s given her a new sense of confidence.

Showing What It Means to Work

When asked about her outlook for the future, Hisako smiled and said:

"I’d love to travel abroad for work at some point. And if my kids think, 'Mom’s pretty cool when she works,' even for just a moment, that would make me really happy. Maybe that’s what drives me these days."

Diving into the world of traditional crafts while navigating her own doubts and challenges, she’s been steadily forging her own path by doing whatever she can.

"I was raised in a totally ordinary family, so when I was job hunting in college, I never even considered ‘traditional crafts’ or ‘self-employment’ as options. But if I’d known those paths were out there, maybe I would’ve had a broader perspective. That’s why I want to let university students and younger generations know: 'There are so many more choices out there than you think.'"

In her community-based life, building ties with other women in similar situations has been a real source of support for her.

"I’m deeply grateful for my current environment, where I can easily talk over little worries about self-employment and everyday life. But it wasn’t easy to build these connections. That’s why, now, whenever I hear about ‘people who married into families of traditional craftsmakers’ anywhere in Japan, I really want to meet and talk with them."

From her upbeat voice and energetic expression, you can tell that even in tough times, she’s honestly enjoying herself. She’s no longer just "the wife who married into a traditional crafts family." As someone carrying tradition into the future, Hisako continues to stand at the very heart of her craft—one player among many, making her own mark.