An Analysis of Body Movements to Sharpen Cutlery by Kyoto Bow Artisan: Pause and Power Distribution Adjustment in Traditional Skills

To preserve and success craftsman\´s skills with traditional and special techniques is important. However, in Japan, the critical state occurs called "only one master", and there are many indications that problems would be reflected on to hand down his special technique in near future. Particularly, it is serious problem that there is not a pupil for inheriting master\´s skill. The aim of this paper is to measure the movement of master and his pupil for preservation and succession of high skills, and to examine pause and power arrangement of master\´s body movement. In this study, the movement of craftsman of traditional Kyoto bow making is measured. We examine the skill to sharpen cutlery that is indispensable to make the bow. His body movement in sharpening cutlery was measured in three dimensions and analyzed. Results showed some differences of moving area and speed of hand movement of forward and back course between master and his pupil in sharpening cutlery at his workplace. In addition, characteristics of speed and acceleration of his waist and wrist were clarified. Furthermore, we considered an interval time and power arrangement using speed and acceleration in sharpening his cutlery.