Traditional Crafts Made from Natural Materials and Their Super Hand-Weaving

Unique Region on a Beautiful Local Train Line along with Traditional Crafts Made from Natural Materials and Their Super Hand-Weaving
Ms. Tsunoda, who has done this job for seven years and is still doing it every day even at age 71 in hopes that the craft will not be forgotten and still be promoted by the younger generation.

Matatabi (Okuaizu Basketry) Master Craftsman: Igarashi Bungo - 五十嵐文吾さん
The man who still love this work though have walked to the age of 89.


► Where to Buy & More Information

Oku-aizu Mishima assortment product promotion meeting

Address: 〒969-7402
It is 395 in character Suwa no with Mishima-machi, Onuma-gun, Fukushima capital letter name
The Mishima-machi life industrial arts building

TEL: 0241-48-5502
FAX: 0241-52-2175

WebSite: http://www.okuaizu-amikumi.jp/
Mishima Town area is located in the western portion of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture.
This mountainous area in the Okuaizu region has much snow and during winter farmers are unable to work in the fields; as handwork in the snowy season, the craft of basketry has been handed down from olden times.
Okuaizu Basketry is distinguished by the use of local natural materials and their superb hand-weaving, which although simple, has a distinctive delicacy.
Production is centered on the town of Mishima and one of the particular features of this craft
It is said that skills and techniques already existed in the area as far back as the Jomon period (14,000 to 300 BC).
Three plants growing in this region are used for basket making and give rise to three different types of products: they are the Hiroro Craft made from sedge grass; Yamabudo Craft made from crimson glory vine; and Matatabi Craft made from silver vine.

General Production Process
1. Harvesting
There are three types of Okuaizu Basketry: Matatabi Craft, Hiroro Craft, and Yamabudo Craft. The following production process is for a Matatabi Craft basket.
The thick and mature silver vines are harvested from November onward until the first snows fall.

2. Peeling
The silver vine bark is peeled off.

3. Splitting
The remaining vine is split vertically into 4 or 5 strips.

4. Core Making
A knife or similar tool is used to shave off the soft parts and make even thinner strips. The process from harvesting to core making must be carried out straightaway before the vine dries out.

5. Weaving the Bottom
Uniformly wide strips are woven to make the basket bottom. The techniques used are the nihontobi-ajiro-ami (two strip herringbone pattern weaving) and yotsume-ami (open lattice weaving).
6. Weaving the Sides
When the bottom is completely woven, the strips are bent up to form sides and weaving continues. The techniques mainly used are either nihontobi-ajiro-ami or zaru-ami (colander style weaving).

7. Finishing the Rim
When the sides are woven to the prescribed height, the strips are rolled over and a rim fastened in place.

8. Reinforcing the Rim
The rim is reinforced using the kumagotsuru or other plants.

9. Drying
Traditionally under the airy and sunny eaves of a house, the basket is exposed to cold weather or snow to dry; exposure to cold wind increases its strength and reflections from the snow will bleach it. ► Become a member of this channel to get access to perks:
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