It began in the early Edo period, primarily as a side job for samurai.
In the mid-19th century, a samurai from the Okazaki domain who possessed bamboo crafting skills taught his techniques to Ihei Shimizu. Using these skills, Shimizu began to create confectionery containers and insect cages, selling them as crafts to travelers going up and down the Tokaido road.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. "Sen-suji-higo-zukuri" shall be performed using the following techniques or methods:
  (1) When peeling, leave the sweet skin part intact.
  (2) After "spraining", perform "rough cutting", "double cutting", and "finishing cutting".
  (3) After boiling, dry the material.
  (4) Massage it in.
  (5) When bending, use a trowel.

   

  2. "Ring making" shall be done using the following techniques or methods:
  (1) After boiling, dry.
  (2) For polishing, use rice husks, straw, or a left-handed blade.
  (3) To chamfer the edges.
  (4) For "edge bending," use a "kote" or "doran."
  (5) Joints shall be connected using "spur joints" and "fixing nails".
  (6) Use a measuring ruler for marking scales.

   

  3. When knitting, use the following techniques or methods.
  (1) After boiling, dry the material.
  (2) To perform the "hegi" process by hand.
  (3) After determining the thickness using a cutting stand, determine the width.

   

  4. When there is a "ceiling" or "pillar," the joint shall be made by a "round tenon" or "square tenon."

   

  5. When finishing, the finish should be either a "polished finish" using wood wax or lacquer.

   

  raw materials

  1. The bamboo used shall be Madake, Moso bamboo, Hachiku bamboo, or Kurochiku bamboo, or a material of equivalent quality.

  2. The nails shall be made of bamboo.

  ３ 漆は、天然漆とすること。

• Work scene

  Work scene

  Step 1: Material Dimension Measurement

  I cut the bamboo with a saw while measuring the dimensions with a ruler.

  

  Step 2: Cutting into smaller pieces

  The bamboo sheath is peeled and then split into the required dimensions using a hatchet.

  

  Step 3: Determining the thickness

  The smaller pieces are then cut to a uniform thickness using a "sending board".

  

  Step 4: Making a ring

  A copper ingot is heated, and bamboo is wrapped around it and bent to form a "ring".

  

  Step 5: Making the bamboo strips 1

  Make incisions with a small knife and break it into smaller pieces. Shave the ends down to make them thinner.

  画像をクリックすると動画が再生されます

  Step 6: Making the bamboo strips 2

  Thread the metal strips through the holes in the metal plate to create round "strips".

  画像をクリックすると動画が再生されます

  Step 7: Bending

  The bamboo strips are bent using a heated iron.

  

  Step 8: Drilling holes

  Make holes in the ring part to pass the bamboo sticks through.

  

  工程9： 組み立て

  Assemble it by threading the bamboo sticks through the holes made in the ring.

  

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  The Japanese spirit embodied in delicate bamboo craftwork.

  As evidenced by the discovery of bamboo baskets at the Toro archaeological site, bamboo craftsmanship has flourished in Shizuoka since ancient times. The sophisticated techniques of SURUGA Take Sensuji Zaiku (Bamboo Latticeware) began to be employed around 1840. The clean lines and graceful curves, a testament to the exquisite skill of the bamboo, are truly captivating.

   

  Shizuoka's history of being close to bamboo

  Stepping off the train at Shizuoka Station, one immediately notices dozens of moso bamboo stalks reaching towards the sky in the planting area of the north exit rotary. It's a stark reminder that this is a land where bamboo culture is deeply rooted. And it brings to mind "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." There seem to be many towns throughout Japan that have legends of Princess Kaguya, and in Shizuoka Prefecture, there is a place in Fuji City where Princess Kaguya and the bamboo cutter are said to have lived. "He went into the fields and mountains to cut bamboo and used it for all sorts of things." As this opening line of the story indicates, bamboo has been used for many everyday items. Bamboo crafts, which utilize the elasticity of bamboo and skillfully combine bamboo strips, use traditional techniques while constantly incorporating modern elements to evolve and suit the times.

  From wholesale work to original creations

  Eiichi Kuroda of "Take Kobo Hanabusa" has been in this field for over 50 years. He has always loved making things, and as a child he was interested in model airplanes and ships. His grandfather and uncle were bamboo craftsmen. His father, who was a lacquer craftsman, passed away when he was in the fifth grade of elementary school, and he became an apprentice to his uncle at the age of 16. He became independent after about six years, but at first he spent his days doing orders from wholesalers. "Back then, craftsmen didn't like to show their work to other people. Then the world changed, and gradually they started doing training sessions and things like that. Craftsmen started showing each other their skills, and it became possible to make all sorts of things."

  Flexibility and resilience

  "Sensuji" apparently refers to a type of bamboo strip so thin that 1,000 strips can be lined up in a tatami mat about 3 feet (approximately 90 centimeters) wide. While other regions use flat strips woven together, SURUGA Take Sensuji Zaiku (Bamboo Latticeware) uses round strips, inserting them into holes drilled in a ring. It is said to have a "character like split bamboo," and the way the bamboo splits vertically is indeed clean and decisive. When an incision is made in the tip and it is bent, it is cut and splits into strips. These are then passed through an iron plate with several holes of slightly different sizes to form a round shape. When heat is applied and it is bent, it creates a supple, flowing line, but even amidst the softness, there is a sense of stubbornness and resilience, and the finished vases, insect cages, and lanterns fully utilize the charm of this bamboo.

  

  The use of rounded bamboo strips is a characteristic feature of Shizuoka bamboo crafts.

  Walk around the city and absorb ideas.

  As demand for bamboo furniture as interior decor increases, the designs are also becoming more diverse. "We're adding rattan, using wood for the base, or adding color so that it can be used throughout the seasons," says Kuroda. Indeed, unpainted bamboo crafts have a cool look and are well-suited to summer, but painting them brown or black changes their character and gives them a more subdued impression. "I find it rewarding to be able to create freely," Kuroda says. Ideas are everywhere. Once, he saw a wave-like pattern on the paving stones in front of a department store and thought, "This might be interesting," and created a wave-shaped floor lamp. "People ask me if I made it with a woman in mind," he adds.

  

  Kuroda's work "Chikuhō"

  Always look up and strive.

  "In the beginning, when I couldn't create my work the way I wanted, it was more about making a living than enjoying it. I worked with the goal of making as many pieces as possible, but I'm glad that we're living in this era now," says Kuroda. "It makes me really happy when people buy my work right in front of me from among so many different kinds at exhibitions and such." It seems that working on new things is what she enjoys most. If there is a place to present her work, it motivates her to do so. A new works exhibition is held every year, so she is always thinking, "What should I make next?"
  There are high expectations for the younger generation. "Precisely because they are young, I want them to take on challenges without hesitation. Even if things don't go well right away, they can just climb the ladder one step at a time."

  

  Using familiar old tools, he manipulates the bamboo with ease.

  Craftsman Profile

  ​Eiichi Kuroda

  Born in Shizuoka City in 1931.
  Fifty years dedicated to bamboo craftsmanship. "The greatest joy comes when a piece I'm personally satisfied with is also appreciated by my customers."

  

  Anecdotes

  Insect cages as interior decorations

  These days, most insect cages are made of plastic, but when I see an insect cage made of bamboo latticework, I'm simply amazed by its exquisite craftsmanship. For a moment, I wondered why anyone would need such a magnificent cage to hold insects, but then I remembered that in the past, listening to the sounds of insects was considered a refined part of autumn's beauty.
  I see, in that case, a stylish insect cage would be perfect. Apparently, the round bamboo strips used in Suruga bamboo crafts also serve the purpose of not damaging the wings or antennae when making birdcages or insect cages.
  By the way, this insect cage is so lovely that it could be used in a variety of ways as interior decor. You could put a light bulb inside to use it as a small indirect light, or put a small potted plant inside. Why not try experimenting with different uses?

  • 

    A delicate insect cage that seems to offer a variety of uses.

  • 

    A delicate insect cage that seems to offer a variety of uses.