In his workshop in Shimada City, Shizuoka, stone sculptor Seiichi Tsuchiya carves Jizo statues entirely by hand, using only a chisel and hammer — no machines. He believes almost no one else in Japan still works this way; most stone craftsmen today rely on machinery or imported, factory-made pieces.
Tsuchiya leaves his chisel marks unpolished. Polished stone turns cold in winter, but his rough-textured surfaces stay warm to the touch — a quality he feels resonates with something distinctly Japanese.
Many of his customers come to him some time after losing someone close — a parent, a sibling, a close friend, or an unborn child. Whether through a custom order or a chance encounter at an exhibition, each piece seems to become a stand-in for someone they've lost. He's helped grieving families choose where to place a statue in their home, staying to listen as they shared memories through tears.
He has exhibited abroad in Florence and Boston, once explaining his work to curious tourists with an improvised phrase: "Japanese Small Buddha." He also offers hands-on stone-carving experiences, welcoming visitors to his studio or traveling to meet them.
Calling hand-carving craftsmen a "critically endangered species," Tsuchiya hopes to keep sharing the healing spirit of Jizo, in Japan and beyond — he's committed to carving until age 90, and does daily jump-rope training to keep his legs strong.
