大地潤い、光深まる、水無月の頃。日本では古くより、六月の終わりに「夏越の祓」を行い、半年のあいだに身に受けた穢れを祓い、残る半年の無事を願ってきました。茅の輪をくぐり、心身を清め、また新たな日々へ歩み出す。水無月の「無」は、水が無いという意味ではなく、「水の月」ともいわれます。田に水を引き、命を育む季節。降る雨に清めを感じ、満ちる水に次の実りを託す。その感性こそ、日本の伝統に宿る美しさ。私たちのものづくりもまた、日々、刃先を整え、心を澄ませ、一つひとつの形に向き合うことから始まります。半月一枚刃と共に、その先の繊細美へ。日本国「現代の名工」三代目赤坂兵之助─── The Purification of Minazuki,and the Spirit of the Blade.As the earth is nourishedand the light deepens,the season of Minazuki arrives.Since ancient times in Japan,people have observed Nagoshi no Haraeat the end of June,cleansing the impuritiesof the first half of the yearand praying for peacein the months to come.Passing through the sacred ring of grass,one purifies body and spirit,and steps forward once again.Minazuki is not a month without water,but a month of water.It is the seasonwhen water fills the rice fieldsand life begins to grow.In the falling rain,we sense purification.In the water that nourishes the earth,we entrust our hopesfor the harvest to come.This sensibility is the beautythat lives within Japanese tradition.Our craftsmanship, too,begins by refining the cutting edge,clarifying the spirit,and facing each formwith quiet devotion.Together with the HANGETSU Single Blade,toward the next realmof delicate beauty.Contemporary Master Craftsman of JapanThird-Generation Hyōnosuke AKASAKA




