What are wood and bamboo crafts?

Japanese wood and bamboo crafts refer to traditional furniture, tools, containers, and other items made from various kinds of wood such as cedar, zelkova, paulownia, and bamboo. Traditional Japanese woodworking techniques include "sashimono" (joining wood pieces together without using nails), "hikimono" (wood turning on a lathe), "kurimono" (hollowing out wood using blades), and "magemono" (bending and conjoining thin pieces of wood). For bamboo work, many techniques involve the weaving of bamboo strips, making use of the bamboo's natural flexibility.

Craft History

CRAFT HISTORY

Wood has been used in Japan since ancient times to make various tools and containers. Woodworking techniques developed dramatically with the arrival of Buddhism as works focused on temple furnishings, Buddhist statues, and altar equipment. With the rise in popularity of the tea ceremony during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the crafting of tea utensils using bamboo flourished.

Modern Craft

MODERN CRAFT

Today, aside from artistic handicrafts, traditional wood and bamboo working techniques are used to make various everyday items with modern designs suitable for the current age.

Craft List

CRAFT LIST

Akita cherry bark work Odate bentwood Hakone wood mosaic Beppu bamboo crafts

Nibutani wood tray

Iwayado chests

Sendai chests

Akita ceder tub and barrel

Okuaizu braided crafts

Kasukabe paulownia chests

Edo fishing rods

Edo joinery

Kamo paulownia chests

Matsumoto furniture

Nagiso wood turnery

Suruga bamboo lattice ware

Inami wood carving

Ichii wood carving

Nagoya paulownia chests

Echizen chests

Kyoto joinery

Osaka transom panel carving

Osaka karaki joinery

Osaka senshu paulownia chests

Osaka kongo bamboo blinds

Toyooka willow crafts

Takayama tea whisks

Kishu chests

Kishu fishing rods

Katsuyama bamboo crafts

Miyajima wood crafts

Miyakonojo longbow

Return to list of crafts