Karaki wood products were brought back to Japan by Japanese envoys to Tang China during the Nara period. Because rare types of wood were used, these woods were called "Tang wood" or "Tang wood," which is the origin of the term "karaki sashimono" (karaki joinery).
During the Edo period, all exotic wood was transported to Nagasaki, where pharmaceutical wholesalers in Osaka handled its distribution. Osaka's exotic wood products are handmade, using traditional techniques and methods, and have been adapted and improved to suit modern lifestyles.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. Drying should be done by natural drying.

  2. The boards used must be solid wood.

  3. The joints of the components shall be made using the following techniques or methods:
  (1) The following applies to items stored on shelves:
  (i) The shelves and posts shall be joined using mortise and tenon joints with small holes.
  (b) The drawer components shall be joined by mortise and tenon joints with stopper holes, dovetail joints, or mitered joints with dovetail plates.
  H. The door frame components shall be joined by mitered joints with dovetail plates or mitered mortise and tenon joints.
  (2) The following applies to desks and tables:
  (i) The members of the ceiling frame shall be joined by mitered joints with dovetail plates or mitered mortise and tenon joints.
  The joint between the tabletop and legs of the "desk" shall be made using a three-way miter joint, and a backing board shall be attached to the tabletop.
  (3) In the case of box-shaped structures, the side panels shall be joined by dovetail joints or mitered joints with cut-out boards, and the side panels and bottom panels shall be joined by mortise and tenon joints with small holes.

  4. "String" refers to something that is created by making it.

  5. The wood finish shall be polished using horsetail and hackberry leaves or materials with equivalent properties.

  6. After coloring with "Suou" or "Ohaguro," apply the "Uzukuri-gake" technique.

  7. After applying a "wiping finish" with refined raw lacquer, polish it using polishing powder.

   

  raw materials

  1. The wood used shall be rosewood, ebony, quince, or Japanese cypress.

  ２ 漆は、天然漆とすること。

• Work scene

  Work scene

  The following steps are used to manufacture items such as low tables, tea cabinets, flower stands, and incense burner stands, but the manufacturing process may vary depending on the product.

  Process 1: Raw lumber

  Our technicians travel to specialized sawmills to cut round logs (such as rosewood, ebony, and quince) into thick and thin planks.

  

  工程2： 乾燥

  The large planks are stacked. After 4 to 5 years of open-air drying, they are artificially dried.

  

  Process 3: Tree removal

  We select dried lumber and then cut each component into smaller pieces (to size).

  Step 4: Planing

  We will perform rough shaping of each part, followed by finishing shaping. (Using tools such as a standing plane.)

  

  Step 5: Whiteprint

  A guideline line is drawn on the machined part to serve as the basis for further processing.

  

  Process 6: Processing

   

  

   

  

  Process 7: Polishing

  Polish each part. First, rough polishing is done with 150-600 grit sandpaper. After that, although in the past people polished it with horsetail or hackberry blades, nowadays it is polished with waterproof sandpaper of about 800-1500 grit.

  

  Process 8: Molding processing

  We will finish the joints.

  

  Step 9: Coloring

  Coloring is done using sappanwood, ohaguro (a type of blackening agent), etc.

  工程10： 組み立て

  The parts that have undergone the above steps are then assembled using glue or adhesive.

  

  Step 11: Applying the lacquer

  High-purity, naturally refined raw lacquer (such as Ise Haya-urushi) is rubbed in using a lacquer brush (made by wrapping human hair in a cypress wood board). Polishing powder is then sprinkled on top and wiped with a cloth. This process is repeated several times over several days.

  

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  Its understated sheen and flowing lines are its charm.

  The rich, deep colors, the softly curving forms, and the carvings that evoke a sense of natural beauty reminiscent of the continent—the substantial feel of these karaki woodworking pieces brings a sense of calm back to our hearts in our superficial modern lives.

   

  Rare and valuable exotic wood

  The history of karaki wood products in Japan is long. Among the items brought back by Japanese envoys to Tang China during the Nara period were products made from rare woods not found in Japan, and these woods were called "tu" or "kara" wood. Because these products were brought in despite the difficulties of sea transport, the quantity was initially small, and only a select few could obtain them. In the Edo period, all karaki wood was transported to Nagasaki, and Osaka's pharmaceutical wholesalers took on the responsibility of handling it all. Around this time, the system of craftsmen was established, and the number of karaki wood craftsmen gradually increased, making Osaka the center of karaki woodworking. Osaka's karaki wood products are handcrafted using techniques and methods passed down from ancestors, and are ingeniously adapted and improved to suit modern lifestyles. These traditional crafts, with their 280-year history, are widely recognized and highly valued.

  

  Placing a piece of karaki wood furniture in a room creates a dignified and elegant atmosphere.

  Visiting the workshop

  In the past, many woodworking workshops specializing in karaki (Chinese-style woodworking) were located in Nishinari and OSAKA Karaki Sashimono (Joinery) workshops in Osaka, 2 in Nara, 1 in Fukui, 1 in Wakayama, and 6 in Hyogo. We visited one of these workshops in Nara Prefecture and spoke with traditional craftsman Seiji Yoshida. "My father used to do this work in Ikuno ward. We worked together as father and son, but then we moved to Nara, my father's hometown, in 1974." In this workshop, he and a young craftsman work silently together. "In the past, this job was also based on a system where work was received from the master craftsman through a 'piecework' system. During my apprenticeship, the harder I worked, the more I earned. That's why I was able to improve my skills by making one product after another. However, it's unfortunate that now there are no longer enough orders to keep making traditional crafts one after another." This is a common problem in the world of traditional crafts: being overtaken by "imports from overseas."

  

  A well-worn small drawer

  Traditional crafts are born in well-organized workshops.

  In this workshop, every step of the process of creating a traditional wooden joinery piece—from cutting the wood to carving and applying the lacquer—is handled by one person. The tools for each stage—carving knives, chisels, files, and more—are neatly arranged according to their intended use, creating a beautifully organized scene. It was clear that the craftsman truly loves his work and his tools.
  Ordinary lumber is transported to the lumberyard by ship, dropped onto the water, and collected. However, in the case of exotic wood, the grain is tight and heavy, so it doesn't float and sinks. Therefore, it is lifted little by little with a crane and unloaded. It is an extremely laborious process. Moreover, if the finished product is damaged, it's all over. Since there are many large items such as low tables and tea cabinets, great care is taken during transportation. They are concerned about damage not only during the work but also after the items have been unloaded.
  There are nearly 20 steps in the process of making a piece of joinery. Mr. Yoshida says he likes the final step, applying the lacquer. "I put my heart and soul into creating each piece of joinery. And as I wipe it down for the final touch, I find it enjoyable to think about what kind of home this piece will be placed in and how it will be used." His words were almost like those of a father of a bride giving his only daughter away in marriage.

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    Various tools are neatly arranged on the wall.

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    Mr. Yoshida, a second-generation craftsman of karaki wood, conveys a warm personality through his smile.

  Anecdotes

  Kanto hobbies vs. Kansai hobbies

   

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    A tea cabinet in the Kanto style. It's neat and simple.