<Itaya maple work from Akita Pref.>
For about 200 years, 
farmers in the areas of Akita City, Daisen City, and Senboku City in central Akita Prefecture
have been making crafts using Itaya maple as a side job during the off-season.
In Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, there were nearly 40 households engaged in Itaya maple work at its peak.
In those days, most of the households produced “winnowoing basket” for use by farmers.
The material should be harvested before the fall snowfall, 
and all but the necessary amount should be stored in the snow to preserve its unique white color.
The logs are first roughly split into eight pieces. 
Machines are used in the process, but the majority of strips are done by hand.
The material is then taped into thin strips, down to a thickness of about 1 mm.
There are almost no more people who go into the mountains and cut down trees. 
As a result, Itaya maple basket weaving has become very precious.
						

							
<Itaya maple work from Akita Pref.>
For about 200 years, 
farmers in the areas of Akita City, Daisen City, and Senboku City in central Akita Prefecture
have been making crafts using Itaya maple as a side job during the off-season.
In Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, there were nearly 40 households engaged in Itaya maple work at its peak.
In those days, most of the households produced “winnowoing basket” for use by farmers.
The material should be harvested before the fall snowfall, 
and all but the necessary amount should be stored in the snow to preserve its unique white color.
The logs are first roughly split into eight pieces. 
Machines are used in the process, but the majority of strips are done by hand.
The material is then taped into thin strips, down to a thickness of about 1 mm.
There are almost no more people who go into the mountains and cut down trees. 
As a result, Itaya maple basket weaving has become very precious.