雪が舞う輪島には不思議な空虚感が漂っていた。ここには、兄弟のように親しい塗芸作家がいる。
輪島塗を生業にする知人の中には、負傷した方、家屋や工房を焼失や全壊してしまった人達もいる。
今となっては、金沢や富山などに疎開し、また輪島に戻らない決心をした人もいるそうだ。
寄り添うなどと簡単に言うが、街が壊れてしまっている中で、そんな言葉は適切でないことを実感した。
街の復旧復興、そして作家仲間の創作魂が蘇ることをひたすら祈りたい。
There was a strange emptiness in Wajima as the snow danced in the air.
There are lacquer artists here who is as close to me just like brothers.
Some of my acquaintances who make their living from Wajima-nuri have been injured,
and others have had their houses and workshops burned down or completely destroyed.
Some of them have now decided to evacuate to Kanazawa or Toyama and not to return to Wajima.
It is easy to talk about “staying close,” but I realized that such words are not appropriate in the
midst of a city that has been destroyed.
I pray for the recovery and reconstruction of the town and the revival of the creative spirit of my fellow.
