【己を律して歩む、堅忍不抜の道】
幼少の頃より彫剛氏の周りには伝統和彫りが溢れていた。父親を始め親戚縁者の身体を彩る刺青に、純粋な眼差しで憧れるようになったのは必然だった。その多くが昭和を代表する名人である初代彫德氏の作品だったのは彫剛氏にとって僥倖であっただろう。とりわけ叔父のまとっていた菊水には惚れ込んだと言う。
そして青年となった彫剛氏が父に刺青を入れたい旨を伝えると、二代目彫德氏を紹介された——。
Horigou grew up with his father and some close relatives having large scale motifs covering their skin, which intrigued him from a very young age. He spent hours admiring the intricacy of many of the designs and especially admired the chrysanthemums for their unmatched beauty.
Most of the people in his family circle were tattooed by master Horitoku the First, which proved to be a stroke of luck that inevitably became the catalyst for his own bodysuit and eventually becoming one of Horitoku’s most well-regarded apprentices.
しかし彫剛氏の背中に抱き鯉が完成する頃、二代目は急逝してしまう。氏は初代の元を訪ね引き継ぎを依頼するが、幼い頃から憧れ続けてきた雲上の存在ゆえ、あまりの緊張でこのときの記憶はないと笑う。快く引き受けてくれた初代の彫り場へと通う日々を送るうち、その職人としてのストイックな姿勢に感銘を受け、弟子入りを志願するに至った。
だが、早婚であった彫剛氏にはこのときすでに二人の子供がおり、家族を守るためにも職を替えることは現実的ではなかった。昼は前職を全うし、夜に睡眠を削って修行に励む。そんな苦行のような生活を数年続けたある日、初代から「そろそろお前も自分の客を取ってみるか」と声を掛けられた。
Horigou started his first tattoo, “Kintaro grapping a giant carp” with Horitoku the Second. Unfortunately, before being able to finish the entire tattoo, Horitoku the Second passed away, leaving Horigou with an unfinished back piece. Horitoku The First agreed to finish his tattoo and as Horigou first entered his shop, he felt a sense of awe. “I was completely nervous and excited that I can’t remember our first conversation.” says Horigou as he reminisced. Horigou was so impressed by his stoic attitude as a craftsman, he asked to become an apprentice and his journey as highly sought-after artist began.
In his first few years as a tattooer, he kept his day job and focused on tattooing at night. But after several years of hard asceticism, Horitoku the First remarked, “It’s about time for you to get your own clients”.
「ついに独立ですね」。インタビューの最中、そう言った筆者に彫剛氏はこう応えた。「独立というのはちょっと違うんです。彫り場を構えて十五代目 彫德、府中 彫剛を名乗ってやっていますが、自分は死ぬまで師匠の弟子ですから」。
この言葉に徒弟制度からなる伝統和彫りの美学が集約されている気がしてならない。一門の看板を背負うからには、それに恥じぬ彫り師であれ。そのためには日々の研鑽が必須であることは言をまたない。
“So you finally became independent?” I asked, as Horigou slightly looked down in thought. “It’s a little different than being independent. I run my studio and can now be called Horitoku the 15th, Fuchu Horigou.” he exclaimed. “But don’t get confused I’m a disciple of the First until I die.”
That last line resonated with me and really hit home the virtues of traditional Japanese tattoo culture and its apprenticeship system. It seems that one must be worthy of being a true tattooer in order to belong to a tattoo family. It is needless to say that daily self improvement is indispensable and one of the virtues that Horitoku the First holds and has passed on to Horigou.
そして2019年11月、アジア圏のみならず欧米やオーストラリアからも一流のアーティストが集まる世界規模のタトゥーの祭典、台湾“I LOVE TATTOO EXPO”に参加。自身初となるコンベンションであったが、花形とも言えるボディスーツ＆バックピースのフルカラー部門のコンテストにおいて数十人のエントリーの中から見事、優勝の栄冠に輝いたのだ。
長きにわたって積み重ねてきた、弛まぬ努力が結実した瞬間である。トロフィーを掲げる彫剛氏の隣には、辛苦を共にした最愛の妻が堪え切れぬ涙を拭う姿があった。
Horigou’s first major international tattoo convention was “I Love Tattoo Expo” in Taiwan. Artists from around the globe came to showcase their art in a diverse international setting. Although this was his first international convention, he placed first in the category, Full Color Body Suit and Back Piece.
With his wife weeping by his side, he raised the trophy symbolizing and cementing his spot as one of Japan’s elite tattooers.
世界に認められた彫剛氏だが、その姿勢はあくまで謙虚、そして勤勉である。府中という祭りが盛んな土地柄もあってか、彫り場のドアを叩く顧客の依頼は一様に大作が多い。甲羅彫り、胸割り、総身彫り——。
時間、金銭、痛み、それらに折り合いを付けて完成まで通ってくれるクライアントに対し、真っ直ぐに向き合える彫り師でいなければならないとの自戒があるのだ。そのためには己の芯を確固たるものにすべく、日々の精進は欠かせない。
After the win and recognition that followed, Horigou still keeps his humility and unrelenting dedication to his craft. His studio is located in Fuchu city, which has a very active festival and where a large number of participants have large bodysuits including kourabori, munewari and soushinbori stylings.
Having a full bodysuit himself, he realizes the time, financial and pain commitments that are required to finish such a large suit and realizes that he must also discipline himself in order to be the best artist to each client and their individual needs.
今、彫剛氏の下には3人の弟子がいる。学んで欲しいのは技術よりも主に心構えなのだと言う。アグラをかくことなく自らが成長を続ける、その背中を見せることこそが師の役割なのだろう。そしてそれは初代彫德氏から受け継いだものに違いない。
時代が流れ、社会が変わっても、揺るぎないもの、揺らいではいけないものがある。伝統とは様式も肝心だが、その精神性もまた守られなければならないのではないか。それが彫剛氏の弟子に伝わり、またその次の代へと継承されていくことを願って止まない。
Horigou currently has three of his own apprentices, and says that he prioritizes them learning the mental attitude of a tattooer, over tattooing techniques. He realizes that a master needs to continue to grow and instill in his apprentices not just art, but a way of life. This fundamental ideal was inherited from Horitoku the First.
In the world of a Japanese traditional tattooer, there is one thing that will never waver; an important dedication to not only the art, but the lifestyle that coincides with being an artist. This ideal is being passed down to Horigou’s students and will continue into many new generations of disciples in the Horitoku family.
Fuchu HORIGOU
住所: 東京都府中市清水が丘1-1-14
営業時間: 11:00〜22:00（火曜定休）
LINE: 15horitoku
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Address: 1-1-14 shimizugaoka, Fuchu city, Tokyo
Business hour: 11:00〜22:00（Closed on Tuesday）
LINE: 15horitoku
※Appointment only. Please contact via LINE or Instagram DM at first.