i haven't gone out of bed so i'm pretty sure i'd be talking to more people today other than myself and partner. but i know no one would be as interesting as mr. masa inokuchi, the violion maker, whose shop i visited yesterday morning. so let's pretend that today is yesterday because this is one photograph i want to show you, my great 365 friends.
i was taking a photograph of the two bows hanging inside a glass cabinet in masa-san's workshop when i noticed his reflection in the glass. he apologized but i told him i thought it would make a nice photograph with his reflection. (quick thinking on my part for once. i was really excited yesterday that of the many photos i took, only a few really came out well. it was quite dark inside the shop - raise the flash, woman! - and i was more excited to talk to masa-san than use the camera.)
masa-san is very proud of his craft. he makes violins for the national symphony people and his violins are made to order for them. he used to make guitars and violas, too, but he now makes just the violins. in his other shop located northeast of where his shop, he told me he also makes planes, the light small ones. he showed me a picture of his wife standing beside one of the airplanes he'd made. beautiful elegant woman with an engaging smile. he and his wife came to canada in 1968 with their two daughters and a son. the son now helps him run the bigger shop. they have several grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
and, i scored an invitation to see the big shop next weekend.
How wonderful!! Now I would buy a new camera card just so I could take pictures non-stop!! I love the casual candid feel of this shot- and his fantastic smile!
@olivetreeann - good idea. actually, since masa-san is from the old school, i opted to listen to him talk rather than take photos, because i was afraid he might get offended if he'd think i wasn't paying attention to what he says. i had to say excuse me every time i clicked on the camera. but he was a very soft spoken (unusual for a japanese man) and gentle person and yes, he had this fantastic smile all the time. but next time, if i make it to his other shop, i will definitely use a new card just to make sure there would be no problems. thank you, ann.
It must have been fascinating talking with him! How wonderful, to get an invitation to visit the big shop. You must be looking forward to it so much. I like this capture--he looks so relaxed and friendly. 8)
@myautofocuslife - livia, i was like a kid in the middle of a candy store. amazing what excites old people, hey? i'll take him up on that invite, definitely. thank you, livia.
@beba8162 - thank you, roberta. i guess we could say he is an artist, in fact he is. it takes a lot of skill and passion to make custom violins, or any other thing for that matter.
Great capture and what a happy friendly new friend you've made ..i would certainly class his craft as an art form more than a skill.. I bet each instrument he produces is a fine work of art
Wow . . you got yourself an amazing new friend there, summerfield. How kind he looks in the reflection. And I'd love to hear his stories from the time he came to Canada. He's made quite the name for himself to do such fantastic work for these people. What a thrill for you. Thanks so much for sharing.
@danig - thank you, DG. stories in my head about this shop are scrambling inside my brain.
@cscecil - thank you, CS.
@meoprisan - thank you, mihaela