At the end of the 16th century, the Kaga Domain, which controlled the area centered on what is now southern Ishikawa Prefecture, began a driftwood business that transported timber using the flow of the Shogawa River.
The driftwood was stored in a timber yard within Shogawa Town, which became a major collection and distribution center in the Hokuriku region.
It is said that the origins SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery) wood products date back to the late 19th century when craftsmen in Shogawa Town began trading in turned wood products, drawn by the abundance of timber available. Currently, 34 companies operate in the area, making it one of the leading production areas in Japan in terms of production volume.

Note: SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery) are designated as "traditional craft materials" by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

• Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques/raw materials

  Technology/techniques

  1. Perform rough turning and rough finishing using a horizontal lathe and a spring plane. In this case, natural drying and forced drying should be performed.

  2. Perform finishing planing using a horizontal lathe, a parasol plane, and a thin blade.

  3. Perform a final polishing by hand.

   

  raw materials

  The wood used shall be horse chestnut, zelkova, pine, cherry, Japanese pagoda tree, mulberry, katsura, sen, ginkgo, or timber of equivalent quality.

• Work scene

  Work scene

  This explains the process of creating SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery).

  Process 1: Log

  For turned wood products, zelkova and horse chestnut are the main materials used. Zelkova is hard, heavy, and has an interesting grain. Horse chestnut is resistant to deformation and has good compatibility with lacquer, so it is mainly used as the base material for lacquer products. Recently, various other materials such as mulberry, Japanese pagoda tree, and ancient wood are being used.
  We assess the condition of the raw timber from its external appearance and select the one that best suits the type and dimensions of the product.

  Process 2: Sawmilling

  The logs are cut into planks of the required thickness (this is often outsourced to a sawmill).
  Because the wood is processed using a horizontal cutting technique (with the vessels running parallel to the surface of the wood), a characteristic of Shogawa woodturning is that the annual rings appear in various shapes.

  Step 3: Stacking on boards

  The sawn lumber is stacked and air-dried for 6 months to 1 year. This prevents the wood from warping.

  

  Process 4: Tree removal

  Use a circular saw to cut off a portion slightly larger than the drawn circle.

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  Process 5: Rough grinding

  The basic shape is carved out using a potter's wheel.

  工程6： 乾燥

  The coarsely ground material is placed in a drying chamber and dried by heat until the moisture content reaches 8%. Then, it is removed from the drying chamber and exposed to the open air until the moisture content returns to 12%. (Re-drying)

  

  工程7： 仕上げ

  The materials, which have been thoroughly dried, are then processed into wooden products in the order of exterior finishing followed by interior finishing.

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  Process 8: Wipe lacquer

  The finished white wood is coated several times with raw lacquer to create a product with a beautiful wood grain.

  

   

• Close-up

  Close-up

  SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery) the user brings out the beauty of the wood themselves.

  SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery), which develop a deep color and luster and further enhance the beauty of the wood grain through continued care by the user, are crafted by woodturners who carve these beautiful wood grains from the wood themselves. We spoke to the craftsmen who create SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery) about their work.

   

  As I walked through the town, I could hear the sound of pottery wheels.

  Takuji Tada, who has been making SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery) for 50 years, entered the world of woodturning in 1948, shortly after the end of the war. He says that back then, when you walked around the town of Shogawa, "you could hear the sound of lathes turning from somewhere, and children would intently watch the work being done in the workshops along the road." He then worked under a master for 17 years before becoming independent. "After becoming independent, I studied hard. Tea ceremony utensils, for example, have different dimensions depending on the school, so you can't just make them carelessly. I also studied tea ceremony." On this day, in addition to traditional tea coasters and round trays, he was also turning candle holders and vases, diligently studying to create new works. The largest piece he has ever turned is a zelkova tray measuring 3 feet (about 90 centimeters). "I wonder what happens to them when they end up with the customers," says Tada, showing concern for the fate of his works.

  

  A life as a craftsman, shared with his wife, Hideko.

  The joy of the customer is the joy of the creator.

  "As a craftsman, I'm happy when my work is highly appreciated by consumers. A craftsman's joy comes from seeing their customers happy," says Mr. Tada, as he works in his workshop, which is filled with various wooden blanks (unpainted wooden products) that he has made over the years. Each blank is the result of repeated trial and error, with the aim of pleasing consumers. There are teapots, incense burners, and single-flower vases made from mulberry wood, and bowls, cups, and trays made from chestnut wood, among other things. "Recently, items that make the most of the natural shape of the wood sell well," he says, demonstrating his ability to turn a wide variety of items. Mr. Tada also says, "I know it might be unconventional, but I've even made matcha bowls out of wood. I think wooden matcha bowls are wonderful too. I hope that even one more person will come to appreciate them."

  

  A proud wooden matcha bowl and teapot.

  Techniques passed down from father to son

  "This is an unassuming job. It takes time to become proficient. But once you're proficient, you can create exactly what you want." Perhaps it was this allure that attracted him. Mr. Tada's son also works in the same workshop, making SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery). Watching his son at work, I noticed he was using unusually shaped tools. They were the Shogawa-specific "karakasa plane" and "usuba." One resembles the shape of a karakasa (Japanese umbrella) and the other is shaped like a thin board. "I make these tools myself. Even though we're father and son, I never use anyone else's tools." These words made me realize that the techniques of Shogawa woodturning are being faithfully passed down from parent to son.

  

  Each craftsman makes their own "umbrella plane".

  Our shop's motto is "Single-minded devotion."

  A noren (traditional Japanese curtain) with the words "Single-minded devotion" hangs in Mr. Tada's workshop. He says it was written by his calligraphy teacher some time ago. "I think it's good to live by those words, and in fact, that's how we've been doing things," he says, continuing to work diligently to fulfill his customers' orders. Having dedicated his life to Shogawa woodturning, he has a strong attachment to turned wood. "If you polish the unfinished wood with tea leaves every day, it will eventually develop a beautiful color. The tray I use at home took three months to develop its beautiful color. Well, give it a try," he said, handing me a 1-shaku (approximately 30 cm) zelkova wood tray. The way the tray's color slowly changes is like nurturing a living thing, and now it has become an irreplaceable item.

  Craftsman Profile

  Takuharu Tadada

  Born in 1929 (Showa 4).
  "I love nature," says the traditional craftsman.
  My favorite sake is "Wakatsuru".
  I often listen to Sayuri Ishikawa.

  

  Anecdotes

  The appeal of unfinished wood products

  One of the distinctive features of SHOGAWA Hikimono Kiji (Wood Turnery) products is their unpainted, natural wood finish. Generally, wood products are only completed after being coated with lacquer or other finishes. However, unpainted wood products are made in their natural state without any finish. These unpainted wood products are carefully polished, and their color and luster change over time simply by being exposed to air. The wood in the photo was made about five years ago, and its color and luster have changed to what you see here simply by being exposed to air.
  Another method to artificially accelerate this change is to use tea leaves. By applying tea leaves every day and polishing with a cloth, a deep color and luster will develop. It is said that if you continue this for three months, it will develop a color and luster like lacquer. The user can create the color and luster to their liking. Why not get one and try it out for yourself?

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    Air and time give the wood its color and luster.