Made from willow (gekkiso) trees carefully grown in the garden of a charcoal artisan in Kanagawa. Willow is exceptionally soft and produces a deep, bluish black, allowing for smooth strokes that seem to sink into the paper. It offers a wide range of expression, enabling the creation of subtle gradations and soft blurs without damaging the artwork.
A single piece of charcoal is born through an incredibly long and arduous process, beginning with the cultivation of the raw wood. Each piece is imbued with the artisan's dedication; the foundation of this craftsmanship is aesthetic sensibility and love. This is what sets it apart from mass-produced products.
＜Manufacturing Process＞
1. Harvesting: After the willow trees have matured, they are cut down after their leaves have fallen. The wood is then stored in a water-filled vat over winter.
2. Bark Removal: In early April, when new buds appear, the bark is removed and the wood is dried.
3. Kiln Construction: The kiln is built using bricks, clay, and other materials. The combustion chamber is slightly larger than a 16-liter container.
4. Kiln Pre-firing: Once the clay has dried, the kiln is fired empty once.
5. Preparation for Firing: Wood is placed in the kiln warmed during the pre-firing, and the lid is secured with an iron plate.
6. Ignition: The kiln is lit, and the smoke, odor, and temperature are monitored. It is initially burned for approximately two hours.
7. Firing: Because conditions vary depending on the wind, humidity, and state of the firewood, the designated attendant adjusts the fire and maintains complete combustion for about seven hours.
8. Extinguishing: The kiln is left to cool naturally overnight.
9. Unloading: The 16-liter container is removed from the kiln. The charcoal is carefully gathered, checking for breaks and chips. A high-pitched sound when pieces of charcoal strike each other is a sign of well-carbonized charcoal!
10. Sorting: Pieces with severe breaks, bends, or twists are set aside, and the remaining charcoal is sorted by thickness to the nearest millimeter. Each batch yields 150 to 200 pieces.
