Ms. Ishizuka, the first woman to win the Honorary President's Award for her craft confectionery, ``Lively and Delicate'' - A contemporary master craftsman

Hisako Ishizuka (48), the third-generation owner of the Japanese confectionery shop Kikuya, which was selected as a ``Modern Master Craftsman,'' from Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, has excellent skills in making ornamental sweets called craft confections. Her work, which focuses on ``vivid and delicate finishing,'' was highly praised, and she was the first woman to receive the Honorary President's Award at the National Confectionery Exhibition (Confectionery Expo).

Ms. Ishizuka was born as the only daughter of a Japanese confectionery shop owner, and naturally aspired to become a confectionery maker after watching the example of her father, who was a second-generation confectioner. I started making craft sweets when I was at a vocational school studying confectionery. After seeing the work of senior craftsmen, he decided he wanted to make his own, so he joined an industry group aimed at improving techniques and honed his skills.

At the 27th Confectionery Expo in 2017, she became the first woman to receive the Honorary President's Award, the highest award, in the craft confectionery category. He also received the same award at the 28th time in 2015.

The work that won the same award last year was themed on flowers such as the long-tailed lily and peonies. When creating the pieces, they visit the Nagao Chicken Center in Nankoku City, Kochi Prefecture to observe the actual pieces. I decided that I had to recreate this beauty and strength, and spent about four months making it after closing my Japanese sweets shop. The petals of the peonies were made so thin that you could read the newspaper placed on the other side.

"Develop your individuality and make sure that your work is recognized as your own even if your name is not written on it." He still values ​​the teachings of his late master, who worked in an industry association. ``I want to continue to improve my skills and become a good craftsman,'' he says with emphasis.