Total:131items
- Pottery & Porcelain (18)
- Lacquerware (4)
- Glasswork (2)
- Wood & Bamboo Work (19)
- Hakone Yosegi Zaiku: Hakone Marquetry
- Boshu Uchiwa: Boshu Fans
- Nikko-bori: Nikko carving
- Sasebo Koma (Sasebo Spinning Top)
- Shimoda Yanimatsu Zaiku (Shimoda Joinery of Oily Pine)
- Echizen Takeningyo (Bamboo Dolls)
- Osaka Senshu Kiri-dansu: Paulownia chest of drawers or wardrobes of Senshu, Osaka
- Kitayama Maruta: Japanese cedar logs
- Yodoegasa: Yodoe umbrella
- Atami Kusu Zaiku: Atami Camphor wood crafts
- Kawatsura Kokeshi Doll
- Itaya Zaiku: Itaya Bark Craft
- Yokohama Classic Furniture
- Hinaga Uchiwa: Hinaga Fan
- Torafu Takezaiku: Tiger Bamboo Work
- Tsuruzaiku: Woven Vine Craft
- Okawa Kumiko: Okawa Kumiko Wood Joinery
- Shuro Houki: Hemp-palm Broom
- Furyumen: Wood Carving Mask
- Leather Work (1)
- Papermaking (13)
- Textile (20)
- Dyeing products (5)
- Masonry (1)
- Metal Work (11)
- Stationery (4)
- Accessory (4)
- Livingware (3)
- Toys & Entertainment (14)
- Interior (2)
- Other crafts (10)
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Main Production Site：Akita |
《Characteristics》Itaya craft is one of Akita prefecture designated traditional crafts, which is made in Kumoshikari District, Kakunodate Town, Semboku City.
Their characteristics are lightness, strength, and their color, which will gradually change to beautiful amber over time.
In the making process, Itaya Kaede (mono maple) is used in the shape of strip and is woven into products by hand. Applying the technique of basket making, products like trays, Tsuzura (box for clothes) and screens are also made and further development of new products are expected.
At this moment, they have developed products made of other materials such as walnut, wild vine, and soil dyed mono maple, which are gaining good reputations.
[Akita Prefecture Designated Traditional Handicraft]
Source: Industrial Development Promotion Division (Akita Prefectural Government)
Translation by: Aki Tobayama
| Materials | Young mono maple, bark of walnut and wild vine, etc. |
|---|---|
| Crafting Processes | The process can be divided into 2 parts. One is making narrow strips from raw wood and the other is weaving.
First, they slit the material into narrow strips. Their thickness will be less than a millimeter. The careful work of experienced craftsmen will make them into pliant strips with the same width and thickness suitable to each product. Finally, the strips will be woven into products by hand. Mi (an agricultural implement used for threshing) and baskets have been the common products of Itaya craft and they have been commonly used from old times as daily necessities. |
| History | There are several opinions about its origin, but it seems to have developed from farmers' side job in the winter agricultural off-season.
The district has abounded with materials and been close to consumers in the city. This environment helped Itaya craft flourish. |
◆Exhibition / Showcase
Kakunodate-machi Itaya Zaiku Kumiai
(Itaya Craft Union in Kakunodate, located in the building of Mingei Itaya Koubou, Itaya Folk Craft Workshop)
231-1 Arayashiki, Kumoshikari, Kakunodate-machi, Semboku-shi, Akita 014-0341
TEL: +81-(0)187-53-2609 (Japanese Only)
Kakunodate Itaya Kougei
(Itaya Craft in Kakunodate)
182-7 Arayashiki, Kumoshikari, Kakunodate-machi, Semboku-shi, Akita 014-0341
Tel: +81-(0)187-55-4367 (Japanese Only)
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