高橋工芸が産声を上げたのは大正14年。現在、代表を務めている高橋亮成さんの曽祖父が、木工所として創業しました。しかし、時代とともに取り扱うものが変化。現在では、茶道具や節句人形などの漆を使った製品の製造や販売を手掛けています。4代目である亮成さんが事業を引き継いだのは2018年とごく最近ですが、ものづくりに対する心構えは4代にわたって変わらず。「100年後の未来に残る製品を」をモットーに、確かな技術を駆使して、時を経ても色褪せることのない製品を生み出し続けています。未来に受け継がれる製品に仕上げるためには、見た目をキレイに整えるだけでなく、製品ごとの使用シーンまで考えながら塗装することが大切。利便性を高めるためにはどうすればいいか、触れたときの感触をよくするためには何が必要かまで考えながら、一つひとつ丁寧に作っています。

Takahashi Kougei was born in 1918. The great-grandfather of Mr. Akinori Takahashi, who is currently the representative, was founded as a woodworking factory. However, what we handle changes with the times. Currently, we manufacture and sell products using lacquer such as tea utensils and festival dolls. Akinori, the 4th generation, took over the business only recently in 2018, but his attitude toward manufacturing has not changed for the 4th generation. With the motto "Products that will remain in the future 100 years from now", we continue to produce products that will not fade over time by making full use of reliable technology. In order to make a product that will be passed down to the future, it is important not only to make it look beautiful, but also to paint while considering the usage scene of each product. We make each one carefully, thinking about what to do to improve convenience and what is needed to improve the feel when touched.

ものづくりへの熱い情熱を抱いている亮成さんですが、実は、昔は家業を引き継ぐことなど考えたことがなく、実際に一時期は別の仕事をされていたそうです。しかし、いざ事業を継承することに決めた後、漆の産地の職人や地元の方などさまざまな方とのコミュニケーションを通して、曾祖父から受け継がれてきた歴史に触れ、感極まることに。みんなが聞かせてくれた話の中には、それまで知らなかった2代目（祖父）や3代目（父）のエピソードもあり、4代目としてどんな心構えを持つべきかが見えてきたのだとか。また、長く地元を離れていたことで、地元への愛もさらに深まったという亮成さん。「自宅周辺の田んぼ道や山沿いの道を散歩するのがとても好きなんです。なぜか心が安らぐんですよね」と教えてくれました。

Mr. Akinori has a passion for manufacturing, but in the past he had never thought about taking over the family business, and he actually did another job for a while. However, after deciding to take over the business, I was impressed by the history inherited from my great-grandfather through communication with various people such as craftsmen in the lacquer producing area and local people. Among the stories that everyone told me, there were episodes of the 2nd generation (grandfather) and the 3rd generation (father) that I had not known before, and I heard that I could see what kind of attitude I should have as the 4th generation. In addition, Akinari says that his love for the local area has deepened because he has been away from the local area for a long time. "I really like walking along the rice fields and mountains around my house. For some reason, I feel at ease," he told me.