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When you read the book "Viva! Artigiano"(in Japanese) by Mr. Takeshi Matsuyama or the book "Craftsmen in Florence"(in Japanese) by Yukio Kuchimi, you can realize that craftsmen in Italy have excellent skills and pride of their work. Also you will know that not a few masters have their own shops to sell their products and also that people around them assist their activities. I was also impressed with these books, and thought if I could see these masters. The dream was gradually expanding in my mind day by day.
However, the dream came true earlier than I expected. I could participate the special group tour to Germany and Italy. Firenze is also included in the travel course. This was a chance for me to realize the dream to meet masters in Italy. But also suspecting was it not so easy to find the master's store in Firenze, or even more difficult to meet the master himself.
In fact, I was so lucky, I could meet them much easier than I worried.

Il Maestro Mannina with his wife Inside of the shop (click here for movie: 1.3MB)	Mr. Mannina is a craftsman to manufacture hand-made shoes. His shop is facing the right side of the street when you go from Ponte Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. The location is not so difficult to visit, even for me, who visit Firenze for the first time. Entering the shop, many shoes, handbags and belts are displayed. When speaking to the madam of the shop, "I was informed this shop by the book published in Japan.", she replied with smile, "This is the book, isn't it?" with red-covered book in her hand. This madam was Mrs. Mannina.
This certificates the skill of Mr. Mannina, "Diploma di Antica Bottega Artigiana"	Mr. Mannina's home is the family of shoes artisans from Sicily. At first he was introduced by his grandfather into the world of making shoes. His skill ever has been creating so nice shoes for people. "Diploma di Antica Bottega Artigiana", diploma of the artisan's antique workshop, displayed in the shop certifies his ability to create wonderful shoes.
Mr. Mannina's photographs of younger age are also ornamented in the store.	Mrs. Mannina showed us the diploma and photographs of young Mannina ornamented in the store. Then she said to us, "Why don't you see my husband? It's OK to see him now." And she called Mr. Mannina for us from inner part of the shop.

p.2 (next page)