Akiyama Woodworking: How is a qualified craftsman tempered?

Li Hui Akiyama, the founder of Japan's "Akiyama Woodworking", said that in recent years, in order to reduce costs, Japanese enterprises have moved their factories to China and Vietnam where materials and manpower are cheaper, which may result in short-term profits, but it may lead to a decline in Japanese personnel training.

Akiyama Woodworking, which is famous for its high-quality furniture technology, is praised by the outside world for its original talent training system, and enterprises from China, the United States and Russia have come here to learn from it.

After graduating from high school, Li Hui Akiyama embarked on the road of furniture specialty. At the age of 26, he began to accept the task of making furniture for the Japanese royal family. At the age of 27, he founded the "Qiushan Woodworking" school. At present, customers of Japanese imperial palace halls, guesthouses, national assembly halls, high-end hotels, department stores, high-end brand stores, art galleries, hospitals and even ordinary families are all made by first-class craftsmen with reliable technology and can use furniture for one or two hundred years.

Moreover, Akiyama Woodworking has formulated a set of "eight-year academic system", and young apprentices must complete ideological preparation, attitude towards life, basic training, methods and techniques as subjects for a qualified craftsman to learn. In order to let the disciples remember what a first-class craftsman is, Li Hui Akiyama compiled the slogan "30 rules that craftsmen should know", and through repeated recitation, the standards of first-class craftsmen went deep into the subconscious. Etiquette, gratitude, respect, concern, modesty ... these are the most important things in life, and each one is a seemingly simple basic truth, but it can effectively hone the mind and character and awaken the first-class spirit in everyone's heart.

No matter what industry, every worker has a professional skill in his hand. Do not forget to practice basic skills hard and take the initiative repeatedly, so as to make continuous progress and become an indispensable first-class talent in the eyes of enterprises, bosses and customers. These ideas are all contained in the Thirty Training of Artisans. Everyone has the potential to succeed. If you want to be a first-class talent, you have to believe in your ability and exercise your strength while sweating. What you learn by sweating will become a lifetime treasure. After completing my academic independence, my life will go to a brand-new road. I will work hard for myself, others and society, and my life will shine.

For example, the law "before entering the workplace, you must be a diligent letter writer", hoping that craftsmen can express their gratitude through their own words and better convey their ideas; The rule that "before entering the workplace, you must be able to be a self-slow person" illustrates the importance from the thoughts and things you spend on customers; The rule "Before entering the workplace, you must be a fast eater", because there are ways to eat, you should thank farmers and people who cook for people, and you should form the habit of not wasting and eating with relish, which will affect your work.

These 30 rules seem simple, but they contain the most basic attitude towards people. Akiyama Li Hui believes that if the character is not first-class, no matter how superb the technology is, it is not a first-class craftsman.

Strictly abide by the 10 rule and practice it in life. Woodworking in Akiyama, as long as you want to be a furniture craftsman, you have to go to Akiyama School to complete an apprenticeship for a whole year. After the end of this year, you can be hired as a formal apprentice, and then start a four-year basic training, work planning and various craftsman guidance. From the sixth year to the eighth year, as a craftsman, I kept improving while working.

In other words, it takes eight years to cultivate the qualities that a qualified craftsman should possess. Akiyama Li Hui issued the 10 rule for all trainees and apprentices, and strictly implemented it:

1. If you cannot introduce yourself correctly and completely, you will not be accepted.

2. The apprentices admitted to Akiyama School are all bald, regardless of gender.

3. It is forbidden to use mobile phones, and only communication is allowed.

4. During the one-year study period, you can only meet your family during the Bonihara Festival in August and the holiday in the first month.

5. It is forbidden to accept the living expenses and pocket money remitted by parents.

6. During the training period, dating is absolutely forbidden.

7. Start with the marathon in the morning.

8, everyone cooks together, and it is forbidden to be picky eaters.

9. Clean up before work.

10, at the morning meeting, they shouted "30 craftsmen" in unison. Through repeated recitation, let the standards of first-class craftsmen enter the subconscious.

There is no doubt that Li Hui Akiyama is definitely a strict tutor and coach. At first glance, there are some "inhuman" norms, and there are actually his ideas and reasons behind each one.

He described his teaching style in the book "Craftsman Spirit" as follows: "Enthusiasm", "meddling" and "cheekiness" are all aimed at me. The so-called "entanglement" means insisting on not giving up; "nosy" is interested in other people's affairs and wants to make others happy; "Cheeky" refers to the positive meaning of "greed". If I "pester", "meddlesome" and "cheekily" to guide students, it will be effective.

Li Hui Akiyama believes that it is the responsibility and obligation of operators to cultivate useful young people. So every time he reprimanded his disciple, he held a "desperate" attitude. Because in his eyes, this is not only to cultivate a craftsman, but also to be responsible for each other's lives. Conversely, what kind of people can grow up? Besides "people who don't give up even if their hands are not dexterous" and "grateful people", Li Hui Akiyama pointed out that "people who can be good at accepting criticism". Even if they are also scolded, first-class people know how to absorb nutrition from it and turn other people's criticism into a driving force to push themselves forward.

So he observed that being a first-class person was "scolded" like this:

1, it is best to be scolded when you are young-if possible, it is best to be before the age of 20.

2. Being scolded when the critic still has energy-because it takes 10 times more courage to curse than to be scolded.

3, it is best to be criticized earlier than others-the work progress is ahead of schedule and you can encounter problems before others.

Don't always be scolded for the same thing-others don't have that much time to talk to you.

5, criticized by people with high personality charm-it will be more effective to be criticized by respected people.

6. The people who can guide us are not dead yet-they won't wait there forever.

7. The sooner you get criticized, the better-a minute earlier is good.

8. Being criticized is of high quality.

9. You should know that being scolded will cost you.

10, being criticized is better than watching others be scolded-if you do nothing, you won't be criticized.

In the face of criticism, don't drown in emotional counterattacks, but should have a clear and rational consciousness. Li Hui Akiyama believes that no matter what was criticized three months ago, a week ago, yesterday, an hour ago, or even just now, you should remember it and confirm whether you have been making progress after these criticisms. Were you criticized for the same thing yesterday and today? "If you can thank even if you are criticized, your strength will definitely increase."

Before the establishment of Akiyama Woodworking, Akiyama Li Hui himself experienced a strict apprenticeship system, so he made a blueprint of "artisan training system" for Akiyama Woodworking. Now, from the perspective of a strict teacher, looking back, I have my own experience and expectations for the younger generation. This spirit is not only applicable to the cultivation of top craftsmen, but also a template that workers from all walks of life can use to encourage themselves on the road of pursuing Excellence.