When I first joined the family business, my days were spent steadily following my father’s guidance. About six months in, I was entrusted with serving tea to customers and gradually began taking on small tasks around the shop. My parents ran the store together, and in those early days, many of our customers were close to us as a family. It was the year 2000—the millennium year. The internet had yet to fully permeate everyday life, but one of our regular patrons offered a suggestion: “Why not create a website and start selling nationwide? I think it would be interesting.”
At the time, only a handful of dealers in the antique art world had launched websites, making it a rare and forward-thinking endeavor. Though I was still in an apprentice role, I approached my father with the idea of creating a homepage. True to his Shōwa-era sensibilities, he firmly replied, “Antique art is not something to be sold on the internet,” and was reluctant to give his approval. It was my mother who gently intervened, saying, “Takashi is thinking creatively and trying something new—why not let him give it a try?” Her words helped persuade my father to consider the possibility.
The website began as a handmade project, and about six months in, we gradually began connecting with a wide range of customers. Many of those who supported us in the early days remain close to us even now. I truly believe that the foundation of our current website was made possible thanks to my warm-hearted and flexible mother. Even after my father passed away, our family trips with my wife’s parents have become a cherished tradition. My mother, always the mood-maker, lifts everyone’s spirits—dancing with funny faces, hosting playful karaoke contests, and making us laugh more than any professional comedian could. My father, who had a calm and composed presence, would watch her with a mix of amusement and disbelief. That gentle smile of his as he looked at her is still vividly etched in my memory.
Today is Mother’s Day—please stay healthy always, and continue being the heart and joy of our family.
“The Wind of Tenpyō” is a column written with heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been part of Tenpyodō’s journey. Each encounter, each memory—gently accompanied by a quiet breeze.