When Satake Yoshinobu, a general on the Toyotomi side who lost the Battle of Sekigahara, was relocated by the Tokugawa shogunate from his previous territory of Mito to Akita, the people of Akita were living in extreme poverty, some even struggling to find food for the day.
The Satake Nishi family, who became the lords of Odate Castle, encouraged lower-ranking samurai to produce bentwood boxes as a side business, utilizing the abundant forest resources in their territory to alleviate poverty. It is also said that they had farmers transport raw timber from the mountains to the castle town in lieu of their annual rice tax. The finished products were shipped to Sakata, Niigata, the Kanto region, and other areas.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. The woodworking process shall be carried out using the following techniques or methods:
  (1) The board material used for bending shall be straight-grained cedar board, and shall be planed to the finish.
  (2) When "stripping off" the bark, use a plane.
  (3) After boiling, the material is bent by hand.
  (4) When trimming the edges, use a small knife.
  (5) When performing "birch stitching," use a "eye-piercing awl."
  (6) If there is a lid, base plate, handle, legs, or spout, shape them using a plane, knife, or chisel, respectively.

   

  2. Assembly shall be carried out using the following techniques or methods:
  (1) The bottom plate shall be constructed using one of the following methods: flat bottom, raised bottom, or scooped bottom.
  (2) "Bent ring overlapping" shall be done by either "headband hanging", "sash hanging", or "overlapping".
  (3) Finish polishing by hand.

   

  3. When applying paint, the following techniques or methods shall be used.
  (1) In the case of "flower painting," a mixture of persimmon tannin and pine soot is applied, followed by a "ground coat," intermediate coat, and top coat using refined lacquer.
  (2) In the case of "shibaki lacquering," "bengara shibaki" is applied, followed by "shibu lacquering" using persimmon tannin, and then a top coat of transparent lacquer is applied.

   

  raw materials

  1. The wood used shall be cedar, cypress, magnolia, or a material of equivalent quality.

  2. The bark used for "birch stitching" shall be cherry bark.

  3. The glue should be applied directly.

  ４ 漆は、天然漆とすること。

• Work scene

  Work scene

  Here's a brief overview of the process involved in making a bentwood lunchbox.

  Process 1: Sawmilling and component cutting

  Only natural Akita cedar is used as raw material. The logs are sawn to bring out the beautiful straight grain. After sawing to a thickness of about 5 mm, both sides are planed. The edges of the boards that will be joined are thinly planed.

  Step 2: Boiling

  The thinly processed material is soaked in water for about a night, and then boiled in hot water for a few minutes before bending to soften the thin sheet and make it easier to bend.

  Step 3: Bending

   

  

   

  

  Step 4: Drying, bonding, and birch bark stitching (cherry bark binding)

  After drying, the overlapping parts are glued together and allowed to dry for approximately two days and nights. Using a flat-tipped needle, the joints are sewn together with birch wood.

  

  Step 5: Inserting the base, assembly, and finishing.

   

  

  For a more detailed explanation of the process, please visit the website of the "Odate Magari Wappa Cooperative Association".

  

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  Elegant wood grain, lightweight and warm ODATE Magewappa (Bentwood)

  ODATE Magewappa (Bentwood), sung about in the Akita Ondo folk song, uses only highly resilient natural Akita cedar that has withstood the harshness of nature. Its unique beauty comes from the fine annual rings, the bright and beautiful pale yellow grain, its strength, and its fragrance. Its lightness and ease of use make it something you want to keep by your side as an everyday container, rather than thinking of it as a stiff, traditional craft. We spoke with Kurimori-san, a bento craftsman who carries on the traditional techniques, about his thoughts on "Magewappa."

   

  The demand for containers for Tsugaru starch syrup preserves the tradition of ODATE Magewappa (Bentwood)

  Officially called "magemono," this tradition is scattered throughout Japan. In the 17th century, the Satake Nishi family, the then lords of Odate Castle, utilized the abundant forest resources in their territory and, in order to alleviate the domain's poverty, ordered lower-ranking samurai to encourage the production of "magewappa" as a side business, thus the tradition was passed down to this region. "In my father's time, demand plummeted due to competition from plastics and aluminum. However, it was valued as a container for 'mizuame,' a specialty product of Aomori and Tsugaru, and was able to maintain a certain level of demand and survive." Afterwards, there was a growing movement to "preserve it as a traditional craft," and it seems that the creation of products that also meet modern needs began.

  

  Mr. Kurimori, a bento box craftsman, speaks passionately about traditional techniques.
  Born in 1948, he is the sixth-generation owner of the long-established "Kurikyu" shop. Many fans are captivated by his lighthearted and engaging speaking style, which is unexpected for a craftsman.

  A single word from my wife that shaped me into the craftsman I am today.

  "We even invited a design professor from Tokyo to conduct research. One day, when we were entertaining a professor at our home, he asked, 'Why don't you use a bentwood lunchbox in your own home?' And my wife, unbelievably, replied, 'Because it's inconvenient to use. It's bulky and slips when you stack them...'" It was truly a bolt from the blue. "But that's when I realized what I needed to do." This incident led to the creation of the industry's first cone-shaped lunchbox and a lunchbox with a non-slip base that prevents slipping when stacked. Since then, they have made many improvements from the user's perspective, creating many new lunchboxes that are easier to use without compromising the design or traditional beauty.

  

  Small plates that have been improved by adding another ring to the bottom so that they can be stacked.

  Working together as a family can lead to arguments!?

  Mr. Kurimori is the sixth generation of the long-established "Kurikyu" company. "I've always loved making things since I was little. I went to a local high school specializing in woodworking, and that's when I learned about woodworking." He says this knowledge is useful in creating and improving new products. "My father was a craftsman of 'kaba-zaiku' (Kaba Zaiku (Cherry Bark Work) craftsmanship), not bento boxes. My father's younger brother, my uncle, was the one who made bento boxes. I started making bento boxes partly out of a sense of rivalry with my uncle. Looking back, I think it was a good thing that my father and I never clashed..." Incidentally, Mr. Kurimori has a son who is currently a university student, but he didn't say anything about whether he wants him to take over the bentwood box business.

  After use, be sure to dry it upright.

  "Just make sure you follow this one rule. It's the secret to keeping it beautiful and long-lasting." People tend to treat them like plates, but if you leave them upside down for a long time, the moisture won't evaporate properly, and the corners in particular will turn black. "In the old days, everyone knew that even if you turned a bucket or anything else upside down for the first few minutes to let the water drip off, you should turn unpainted wooden items right side up. It's in things like this that you can feel Japanese traditions disappearing from everyday life." If treated correctly, they can easily last 20 years. Of course, they also offer repair services if they get damaged.

  Using traditional methods helps protect the mountains and water resources of the region where the products are made.

  "The characteristic of bento boxes is that only the straight grain of the wood is visible. Since the end grain (the cut end of the wood) is not exposed, it doesn't darken and is less prone to damage. Also, because the wood is used in thin planks, it is light." Taking advantage of these characteristics, he is currently prototyping a "bath tub." "A craftsman listens to the customer's needs, then thinks about how to make it using their skills and brings it to life. It's not about just making all sorts of things haphazardly." With that in mind, Kurimori travels all over the country to hear customer needs. "However, the natural Akita cedar, which is already becoming scarce, will no longer be available from 2007. Planted trees cannot be used to make wide, straight-grained planks, so it will become impossible to make long cylindrical items. How to deal with that is the current challenge. If we don't properly protect the mountains and forests, we won't be able to make good bento boxes anymore." Many people, for example, by reconsidering and using this "magewappa" (bentwood box), may also contribute to protecting the forests of Akita.

  

  A salad bowl made from a cone-shaped wooden box, a source of pride for the artist.

  Anecdotes

  ODATE Magewappa (Bentwood) has made a comeback amidst a trend towards seeking authenticity.

  The resilience of ODATE Magewappa (Bentwood) (bentwood lunch boxes) and the beauty of natural Akita cedar have made these works a popular choice, and their elegance has led to their renewed appreciation in various contexts. Tableware and containers include bento boxes, sushi bowls, and rice containers. Familiar table items like fruit bowls and salad bowls are also available. Furthermore, trays such as handled trays, round trays, and square trays are offered. Surprisingly, sake vessels like beer mugs, ice buckets, and sake cups are also popular. Teacups, tea caddies, and hand towel holders have also become standard items, and this wide range of products has permeated every aspect of daily life. The gentle scent of cedar from their hometown soothes the soul, and the bright, even wood grain beautifully complements modern sensibilities.

  • 

    A table and coffee set that everyone would love to gather around.