As technology has advanced, many firms have had to adjust by developing new products. One such company in Kyoto has switched from the manufacture of metal molds for automobile parts to high-precision molds for integrated circuits. Mr. Ebata's job is "mirror polishing," and he employs a wide range of tools, including willow wood and bamboo skewers. His skills in precision processing are essential, and it's just one example of how skills from an earlier era are now being employed in new, cutting-edge technology.