Itaya Bark Craft
イタヤ細工
イタヤ細工
Itaya-zaiku (Itaya bark craft), such as winnowing baskets, winnowing machines, seedling containers, and storage boxes, were essential everyday tools in the agricultural community. The technique was reportedly developed in the Kansei era (1789–1810) as a side business during the offseason for farmers. However, no accurate record or material about the origins of Itaya-zaiku remains. They used to be manufactured all over Akita, but the main production sites today are concentrated in the Kumoshikari region in Kakunodate, Senboku City, where Itaya-zaiku has been popular since the Edo period.
The production of Itaya-zaiku begins with vertically splitting the green branches of the Itaya maple tree that have a 4.5 cm to 10 cm diameter and are 80 cm–130 cm long. Two operations follow this process.
First, the divided timbers are chamfered by a special knife called a Katcha Knife (katcha in the Akita dialect means upside-down) to make the band-like material or Kusa. Next, the Kusa and the vines of the Japanese wisteria are interwoven. It takes a day and a half to make one winnowing basket, as everything is done by hand.
Itaya-zaiku products include winnowing baskets, Kakkobe (waist bags to put seedlings), and small storage boxes. However, they are not limited to utility goods. Toys are manufactured as well, such as the Itaya Fox, made by simply sculpting a small Itaya maple wood piece, and the Itaya Horse, made by weaving ground Itaya. A left-facing horse is called a "left horse" and is known as an auspicious motif since reading the word "uma" upside down means "to dance.
There is a saying, "If you ride a horse from the right, it will stumble; if you ride it from the left, it can be ridden without getting out of control." This is why when weaving a horse in Itayazaiku, the horse must always face left. The left-facing horse is said to be a lucky charm for "good health" that will allow the rider to live a long life without stumbling and bring happiness.
Itayazaiku is characterized by its rustic design, extreme durability, and quick-drying properties. As these items are used, they develop a subtle shine, becoming even more tasteful and visually appealing over time.
Introducing how Itayazaiku is made and various Itayazaiku products (Japanese audio)
Introducing how Itayazaiku and Itaya-uma (horse) are made (Japanese sub)
Introducing how Itayazaiku is made in detail (Japanese audio)
Current activities
Itayazaiku workshop
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Center
¥1,000~(5-10people)
Some stores and factory
Mingei Itaya Kobo (Folk Craft: Itaya factory)
Kakunodate Kabazaiku Center
Take the JR Ou Line from Akita station to Omagari station for 48 min. Transfer to Tazawako Line at Omagati station to Kakunodate station for 19 min. Walk for 19 min.
Mingei Itaya Kobo (Folk Craft: Itaya factory)
Take the JR Ou Line from Akita station to Omagari station for 48 min. Transfer to Tazawako Line at Omagati station to Kakunodate station for 19 min. Take a bus, Hachiwari Line at Kakunodate station to Sensoku Police Station for 12 min. Walk for 4 min.
Where to purchase art crafts
Kakunodate Itaya-zaiku Association (in Mingei Itaya Kobo)
231-1 Unzen Arayashiki, Kakunodate-cho, Senboku-shi, Senboku 014-0341
Souvenir shops in Akita (Akita Station, Akita Airport)
Photos by Tohoku Digital Archive
板屋手工藝
畚箕、風力選穀機、籃子、衣箱等板屋手工藝是農村生活用具不可或缺的必需品。相傳其技術是於寬政年間(一七八九~一八一〇)時作為農村農閒期的副業而發達的,而確實的記錄與資料並未留下。板屋手工藝曾經在秋田縣內各地製作,但現在主要在仙北市角館町雲然地區,此地區是從江戶時代起就很盛行板屋手工藝的地方。將直徑四・五~十公尺、長度八十~一百三十公尺左右的板屋槭樹原木以縱向割裂的是板屋手工藝的基礎技術,接下來的作業分成兩個。
將原木切割成八等分後,使用「CATCHA小刀」的特殊刀具倒棱,製作名為「KUSA」的帶狀材料工程以及將該「KUSA」與藤的皮交互編織的工程。全部為手工作業,因此製作一個畚箕需要一天半。製品除了畚箕、KAKKOBE(綁在腰上的籃子)(、)小衣箱等實用品之外,還有將板屋槭樹鋸成細條後簡單地施以簡單雕刻的板屋狐狸,編織鋸好的板屋製作的板屋馬等純僕的玩具。
板屋手工艺品
唐箕(去除谷物中混杂物的农具)、苗筐(农业中的搬运工具)、葛笼(装衣服等的藤编箱)等板屋手工艺品,是农村必不可少的生活用具。据说在宽政年间(公元1789~1810年),板屋手工艺品作为农闲期的副业,这门手艺才发展起来。但是关于此推测没有确切的记录与资料证明。
从江户时代起,板屋手工艺品开始在仙北市角馆町盛行。虽然曾经秋田县各地都有制作板屋手工艺品,但是现在只有仙北市角馆町云然地区作为主产地。
板屋手工艺品的最基本的技术,是将直径4、5~10厘米,长度80~130厘米的板屋枫树的原木纵向劈开。接下来的工艺分为两个步骤。
第一个步骤,先将原木劈成8份,然后用专门的刀具削去木头的棱角,削出一种竖条状的薄木片。第二个步骤,将这些竖条状薄木片和藤条交互编织。因为是纯手工制作,完成一个簸箕就要花上一天半的时间。
除了簸箕、带在腰间的苗筐和小葛笼等实用品,也不乏有许多工艺品。比如,将板屋枫切成小块后进行简单的一刀雕后制成的板屋狐,还有用细条薄木片编织成的板屋马等朴素的玩具。
이타야(고로쇠나무의 껍질) 세공
곡물을 선별하는 키, 풍력을 이용한 키, 모종 바구니, 의류 수납 상자 등의 이타야 세공은 농촌의 생활 용구에 빠뜨릴 수없는 필수품이었다. 그 기술은 1789년~1810년경, 농촌의 농한기때의 부업으로서 발달한 것으로 알려져 있으나 확실한 기록과 자료는 남아 있지 않다.
예전에는 아키타 현내 각지에서 만들어졌지만, 현재는 에도 시대부터 이타야 세공 만들기가 번성했던 센보쿠시 가쿠노다테 마을 구모시카리 지역이 주산지이다.
직경 4.5 ~ 수십 센티미터, 길이 80~130 센티미터 정도의 고로쇠 원목을 세로로 찢어서 엮어가는 것이 이타야 세공의 기초 기술로 작업은 다음의 두 가지로 나뉜다.
원목을 여덟조각으로 만들고나서 「캇챠 창칼」이라는 특수한 칼로 면을 만들어「쿠사」라는 띠 모양의 재료를 만드는 공정과 그「쿠사」를 등나무 껍질과 교대로 엮어 나가는 공정이다.
이 모두가 수동으로 만들어야 하기 때문에 쌀을 고르는 키를 한 개 만드는데 하루 반을 요한다.
제품에는 키, 캇코베 (허리에 두르는 모종 바구니), 작은 의류 수납함 등 실용품 외에 고로쇠나무를 작게 잘라 간단하게 조각을 한 이타야 여우, 대패질등으로 얇게 뽑아낸 이타야을 엮어 만드는 이타야 말 등 순박한 장난감이있다.
Photos by Tohoku Digital Archive