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The Case Of Katsuoka Kazuo

He has made no less than 10,000 pair of straw sandals, called "Waraji" so far! "Waraji" is a Japanese traditional shoe that is weaved out of straw, and we Japanese have worn them habitually until the early 1990's. At present, the mechanization of farming is progressing and it is hard to get straw itself. In the process of westernization of the Japanese way of life, we can seldom see people wearing "Waraji". And there are more and more children suffering from flatfeet. Some researchers say that "Waraji" may possibly help in correcting this condition. Katsuoka learned about this research in the newspaper, and decided to send the researchers his hand-made "Waraji". Outwardly the making of "Waraji" looks an easy task is required, but the fact is that much power is needed to weave the straw, and a good command of every finger and toe. Sometimes Katsuoka must use his whole body. It is heavier labor than you might expect.

When he was young, he worked at an ironworks. In wartime he was on rations. This experience made him eat anything he was served on his plate. He has no favorite dish. After he retired from work upon reaching the retirement age of 63, he went back to his hometown in Hyogo prefecture. He has quit smoking and drinking.

He gets up at 4 in the morning at the latest, and reads the newspaper (which is delivered at 2:30) from cover to cover. He spends the daytime making six pairs of "Waraji" per day. This is his quota. It has been 13 years since he started this work. He works sitting down but even with these cushions cannot alleviate back and buttock pain. Though he has achieved his goal of 10,000 pairs of "Waraji", he is still getting many letters of request for more. He doesn't refuse the offers and keeps on making them since he couldn't study in his youth, he was reads books before sleep.

Once he sits at his workshop, he is quick in his actions. Power and speed are required to twist the straw.

The mechanization of agriculture makes it difficult to obtain so much straw nowadays. Sandal straps are made of pieces of cloth, a special product of "Banshu" textile.The color schemes are beautiful.

He is also a member of the Activities: "Research Institute for Lifelong Education & Small Town ". He takes pleasure in reading its bulletin, and letters of thanks from people to whom he sends his works of "Waraji". The letters are too many to put in order. He is concerned about the "Heso" park nearby.

He wishes the park to be kept clean at all the times. His remarks to the world are this; world peace, he longs for peaceful coexistence with neighbvoring countries and aid for people suffering from starvation. And his principles are "Not to tell lies" and "Feelings of gratitude".

He pounds the straw with this tool to make it soft so that he can work it easily.

This cat protects the straw against rats

The entrance of his home is decorated with cirtificates of merit and letters of thanks from people whom he has sent his work to.

He went to China in 1938 to fight a battle, and returned in September the following year. He had a hard time during the war. He lost his brothers in the war, and he once went through difficulties in farming, too. He said with a big smile, "I wish to go to the other world soon!" He lives in a favorable environment of rich nature with his wife, son and three helpful cats that guard his straw against rats.

He is 86 years old now

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The Case Of Katsuoka Kazuo He has made no less than 10,000 pair of straw sandals, called "Waraji" so far! "Waraji" is a Japanese traditional shoe that is weaved out of straw, and we Japanese have worn them habitually until the early 1990's. At present, the mechanization of farming is progressing and it is hard to get straw itself. In the process of westernization of the Japanese way of life, we can seldom see people wearing "Waraji". And there are more and more children suffering from flatfeet. Some researchers say that "Waraji" may possibly help in correcting this condition. Katsuoka learned about this research in the newspaper, and decided to send the researchers his hand-made "Waraji". Outwardly the making of "Waraji" looks an easy task is required, but the fact is that much power is needed to weave the straw, and a good command of every finger and toe. Sometimes Katsuoka must use his whole body. It is heavier labor than you might expect.
When he was young, he worked at an ironworks. In wartime he was on rations. This experience made him eat anything he was served on his plate. He has no favorite dish. After he retired from work upon reaching the retirement age of 63, he went back to his hometown in Hyogo prefecture. He has quit smoking and drinking.
He gets up at 4 in the morning at the latest, and reads the newspaper (which is delivered at 2:30) from cover to cover. He spends the daytime making six pairs of "Waraji" per day. This is his quota. It has been 13 years since he started this work. He works sitting down but even with these cushions cannot alleviate back and buttock pain. Though he has achieved his goal of 10,000 pairs of "Waraji", he is still getting many letters of request for more. He doesn't refuse the offers and keeps on making them since he couldn't study in his youth, he was reads books before sleep.

Once he sits at his workshop, he is quick in his actions. Power and speed are required to twist the straw.		The mechanization of agriculture makes it difficult to obtain so much straw nowadays. Sandal straps are made of pieces of cloth, a special product of "Banshu" textile.The color schemes are beautiful.
He is also a member of the Activities: "Research Institute for Lifelong Education & Small Town ". He takes pleasure in reading its bulletin, and letters of thanks from people to whom he sends his works of "Waraji". The letters are too many to put in order. He is concerned about the "Heso" park nearby. He wishes the park to be kept clean at all the times. His remarks to the world are this; world peace, he longs for peaceful coexistence with neighbvoring countries and aid for people suffering from starvation. And his principles are "Not to tell lies" and "Feelings of gratitude".
He pounds the straw with this tool to make it soft so that he can work it easily.	This cat protects the straw against rats	The entrance of his home is decorated with cirtificates of merit and letters of thanks from people whom he has sent his work to.
He went to China in 1938 to fight a battle, and returned in September the following year. He had a hard time during the war. He lost his brothers in the war, and he once went through difficulties in farming, too. He said with a big smile, "I wish to go to the other world soon!" He lives in a favorable environment of rich nature with his wife, son and three helpful cats that guard his straw against rats. He is 86 years old now
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