Tansu means a chest of drawers and Iwayado Tansu are masterpieces of traditional woodwork made in the Esashi Ward of Oshu City, and in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. In addition to chests of drawers for storing clothing and the like, the present-…

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Kaba Zaiku are wood bark items produced in Kakunodate Town, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture; kaba refers to the bark of wild cherry trees. In Japan, the skills to make articles from wild cherry bark have been handed down only in Kakunodate, and the…

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Odate Mage-wappa are magemono (bentwood work) produced all over Odate City, Akita Prefecture. They are traditional crafts very representative of Japan, and well-known both at home and abroad for their beautiful curved shapes and their light weight…

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Okuaizu Amikumi Zaiku is basketry produced in the Mishima Town area, Onuma County, 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…

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Since around the late Heian period (11th century), handmade Akita cedar tubs and barrels have been produced from locally grown cedar timber in the cities of Odate and Noshiro of Akita Prefecture. Products made of masame (straight grain) wood and w…

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Sendai Tansu are chests of drawers made in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. Sendai Tansu are usually made of Japanese chestnut, cedar, and zelkova wood, and they are renowned for their highly ornamented iron fittings and beautiful urushi (lacquer) …

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