The Passion for Ancestral Antiques
There may be occasions when we need to part with antiques that our ancestors held dear, such as hanging scrolls or ceramics, due to various circumstances. However, even after passing into the hands of others, these items may be revived and cherished anew by their new owners. For this reason, a meeting between a good seller and a good buyer becomes essential. Our shop's fundamental concept is to facilitate these meaningful encounters through mediation.
The History of Ondakakkutsu-do
Our establishment dates back to the Meiji era. Originally starting in Asikaga city,Tochigi Prefecture. we were a well-known antique shop in the Ryomo region (southwest Tochigi Prefecture and southeast Gunma Prefecture). The founder, Hannosuke Onda, was a disciple of the painter Tasaki So'un, who was active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era (Hanun Onda). His son, Ginzou, took on the name of the second generation Hannosuke and started the antique business. Ginzou's child led an ordinary salaryman's life, but it was this descendant who revitalized the store as "Kakkutu-do" in the Reiwa era, becoming the third generation Hannosuke as an antique dealer.
The meaning of "Kakkutsu"
The term "Kakkutsu" (蠖屈) consists of the character "蠖," which means "lacewing larva" or "caterpillar. It symbolizes "the act of a lacewing larva bending down; an analogy for someone temporarily retiring and waiting for another day." This phrase is found in "the "I Ching" (Book of Changes) Commentaries on the Appended Phrases(xicizhuan), where it states "尺蠖之屈、以求信也" (The bending of the lacewing larva is an anticipation of future growth). (Taken from the Gakken Kanwa Daiziten - A Comprehensive Kanji-to-Kanji Dictionary). The concept of enduring patiently, seizing opportunities, and leaping forward suggests the very essence of this shop's rebirth.