(Father)The name of the store is Dougin(Copper-Silver) Douko(Copperware) Ten(Store). The store was established in 7th year of Taisho-Era(1917) which was my father's generation. (Reason for starting the store?) It's the story of old days. My father was apprenticed to the copperware business called Otoshi, that is circular or square copperware you put into the Hibachi or charcoal brazier. He succeeded his Oyakata or master, and started the business. My father was called Ginjiro in Douko(Copper Pot)-Store. In old days, he was called by his nickname of Gin-Chan in Douko-Store. In those days, people were called by nicknames like Hei-Chan in Blacksmith's shop, Toku-san in Tinsmith shop,etc My father's real name was Hoshino, but people would not understand just by the name of Hoshino, so the store first was named Dougin(Douko-Ginjiro). But store name of Dougin(Copper-Silver) does not make sense. So as a result, the store was named Dougin(Copper-Silver) Douko(Copperware) Ten(Store).

(Father)Ever since I was child, with my father. I didn't work though. I was watching, but probably fooling around. It was after the aerial attack during World War that I started to work. I was in school at that time, but since my house was burned down, it wasn't a time to go to school. So I was helping the house works instead. And I started to work with my father since. I didn't graduate the school, it was more of like being kicked out of school.

(Father)I heard that copperwares existed from long time ago. Ever since when people still had Chonmage or Samurai hairstyle. In old days, there were two kinds of Hettsui or cooking stoves in general. You place a utensil with water in the middle of Hettsui and boil, or it will boil by remaining heat. People called this utensil Douko. That proves that heat conductivity of copper is high. In Meiji-Era, these types of cooking stoves decreased and that generalized the utensils using charcoal to boil water. I think that lead to the generalization of these charcoal type of utensils. To explain it as trace, method of using Koban(old Japanese oval coin) shaped utensil that uses heat from firewood or charcoal to boil water and even can cook became popular. Before the war, this kind of stove could be seen in front of Sushi restaurant as signboard and had huge pot called Edo Yakan on top of it. Non of the customers order them now, but we were making them right after the war if ordered. After that, Douko was introduced as utensil to place in the Hibachi for household use. But it was for heating purpose, so our business was only during winter. Usually, it was really busy during September till March, but rest of the year was spare time. In the spare time, some workers in old days played around, but my father didnユt. He was making Douko and Yakan(Pot) during summer till it gets cold. He wished to place them in front of the store to sell, and it was 7th year of Showa-Era that his wish came true. He bought a store just at the corner of this store, at that time it was site of Geta(Japanese traditional footwear or sandal)store. He was 27years old at that time. People in old days really made an effort. He displayed the wares in windows, and I heard that he was really pleased. These wares were sold really quickly since it was 7th year of Showa which was good time for the war that was to come. He expanded the store by purchasing the store next door the year after. I think owning and expanding the store at the age of 27 is splendid achievement.

(Father) A circular or a cubic thing to put into the Hibachi called Hibachi-Otoshi was sold well as heater in the earlier years. Some customers ordered saying メnumber unlimitedモ. We handmade them one by one, so we do have a limit of production. But still, we made 50 of them per day. My younger brother and young apprentices were there to help. About 4 employees total. (With few employees, you were able to produce this much amount?) Otoshi is easy to make. In old days, its shape was circular. Have you ever heard of Teaburi? Till recently, in Ryoutei or Japanese restaurant, they placed beside each customer this circular pot shaped like Seiro or steaming basket that is painted with Urushi or lacquer. It was 450yen when it was first sold. In 37th year of Showa it was 500yen and this price continued till 38th year of Showa. Soon, new type that has same appearance but used electricity(electric stove)for inside was released. This was not sold so well since people would not feel the mood by using the electricity. Nowadays, anyone hardly purchases Hibachi-Otoshi. We acquired a utility model on Haechou, or detailed net to keep leftover away from flies and this Haechou was sold pretty well, but making these bored us and we quit. Producing Haechou would not do us any good, and because we quit, some customers claimed.

(Father) We make pots and pans for household and business, and kettles throughout the year. Sales of Kyuusu or utensils to make tea, is good recently. These types of metal products are goods for winter. So when the cold season comes, each of our products are sold well.

(Father) Most of our products are made of copper and brass.

(Father) For example if you were to make a nozzle of Kyuusu, you first make a shape using pattern while it is flat. And then, you temper it. When you temper it, Copper Dioxide? adheres on the surface and it becomes black. This is washed away with Sulfuric Acid to clear up the surface. And then, you push flat brass plate to the shape of kyuusu mouth, stuff the gap with wax, temper it again, and wash it again. You temper it, the wax become brass and stuff the gap completely. Why tempering it? Because the metal will become tougher and tougher as you keep on processing it. Tempering it will make it softer. Steps beyond this will take time since we do it all by hand. We first shape it to the shape of finished product, and after that as finishing, we just keep on striking it. (All of these procedures are done in the workshop?) Yes, adding heat and tempering it, washing it, everything are done in here. (Son)We are currently making pan for stew. We strike it and put a hammer pattern on it. It is soft now, so this can be done by metal hammer. As we strike, it will become harder and tougher. But we must keep the hammer pattern clean or else the pattern will not be shown properly on pan when we strike.

(Son) Some of the tools are different depending on what to make, so we all make the ones that are different by ourselves. This is hard work. So when the customers ask for smaller size, we can't answer all of their requests since we have to start from making right size tools. We make tools that fits the materials for each of our product. We can use these tools for couple of decades. Of course, the tools are strongly made. (Is there tools from 1st generation?) Yes there is. (Father) I guess the ones from old days are made of materials with great quality. There is steel and raw iron, you know? Raw iron is soft, which means it is material with high malleability. We don't see these raw irons nowadays. Raw iron were used as cramps. You know, the parts that connect the wood pieces. They were used in huge structures like temples. Usually, these cramps were thrown away, but there are people who would like to purchase them if there is one. Copper shops will use this and steel to make blades. Raw irons are really cheap, but they sure do have a good weight. Much heavier than steel. That is why the shops that sale only raw iron are decreasing. Oh! Rat!! It sometimes sneak in from outside.

(Father) First of all, what's good about it is the shape. And handmade ones are tough, and easy to handle, useful. These are the three basic strong points. You know? There are not so many things that are made neat and tough compared to price nowadays. Even though something is handmade, if the price is extremely high, I don't think it is genuine thing. Appropriate price is essential. You pick any copperware, it can be used for about 30years. What do people do by purchasing all those robot dogs that we see on the news? Yes, they sure are something new. I might get it if it was like 20,000yen. Is there anything good for paying 250,000yen and purchasing it?

(Father) First, they have great durability. This I can guarantee. They really last long. They will not break by dropping, and they can be fixed anytime you want. They can be fixed from any damage. We sometimes tell customers "It is better to purchase a new one than to fix it", but in this kind of case, the copperwares are most likely used for 50,60years. They don't rub down. The dents in bottom half of the copperware can be fixed, but the flaws on upper half take hard work to fix. Also, copperwares are said to have sterilization effect, but we can't see that effect visually. Compared to other metals, copper have better impression.

(Father) Most of the customers are people who actually use copperwares, around middle age and up. Recently, young people purchase copperwares for Mother's Day, some purchased eggroll pan for a gift in wedding.

(Father)You can brush them with anything. For example, copper pot can be brushed using sand, brass cleaner, copper cleaner, silver cleaner, anything. You might not want to clean inside so often though. Just wipe outside with wet towels sometimes.

(Father)Getting older than 70years of age, and I'm getting tired. But if I'm at home, I work everyday. Do we call it active duty for life? Well, I wonder why is there such word like old age or after old age. I think there is no old age. When we are alive, each of us must work hard. So I like the word new young men. The world now is not so good. You must be thoughtful on everything, and also, the business condition is not good in Japan.

(Son)(Do you make products that your father doesn't?) Recently, I make this thing called Bokuchi which is used in Japanese calligraphy to store the ink. That kind of product is original. This keeps the ink from becoming rotten. Calligraphers who write huge letters preserve the ink in this. There is one that's made with earthenware, but the copper one keeps ink from becoming rotten. Sterilization effect, you know. (Dividing the work?) I can't make them unless I do all by myself on my satisfying way. There is no rule nor regulation that states the size in exact millimeter unit. If customers request the product to be circle or square shape, machine can do them. What we need is the original stubbornness.