The Nemagari bamboo craft of the Oguni area in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, varied from one hamlet to another. Some specialized in making sieves, while others focused on baskets.
The Nemagari bamboo harvested around Lake Oguni, where fields of Nikkōkisuge grow in abundance, is a type of dwarf bamboo that grows in cold, snowy mountains at high altitudes, and its diameter is about 0.20 to 0.31 inches.
Since the early Edo period, people have crafted this Nemagari bamboo using only a hatchet, making daily tools such as sieves and baskets for everyday life. Bamboo work in this region also served as an important source of income during winter, when farming could not be done.
Nemagari bamboo craft from Oguni is characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, and strength. Artisans do not make the strips too uniform in width; they often use thicker strips or even half-split pieces of Nemagari bamboo as they are.
Rather than shaping the basket freely according to their preference, they make use of the natural flexibility and strength of Nemagari bamboo, and then carefully adjust the shape by hand. Though the weave may not be perfectly even, the basket’s firm and solid structure is a defining feature.
This basket, locally called Hakego, has long been used during harvest seasons, with a cord attached to the basket and worn around the waist.
There are two types of Hakego: one with a narrowed upper section and another with a barrel-shaped body. This page introduces the barrel-shaped type.
It is made from Nemagari bamboo, split in half into thin strips, and woven entirely in the Gozame-ami pattern.The horizontal strips display the smooth outer surface of the bamboo, while the vertical strips show the inner surface, paired two by two in the weave.The rim is wrapped simply with half-split bamboo strips.Here is the rim as seen from above.The bottom is constructed in a firm, raft-style structure called Ikada-zoko.If you count the paired vertical supports running along the long side of the base, you will find a total of nine sets. The name Nine-Frame comes from this structure.The body gently curves outward from the mouth to the midsection.Because Oguni’s Nemagari bamboo craft makes use of the natural bends and curves of the material, there are slight individual differences in shape, and some may have a subtle warp.
A variation of about 1.2″ to 2.0″ in size is also common, so please allow for some margin when considering the dimensions.
This Hakego basket conveys the rustic charm of nature. Beyond its sturdy, utilitarian design as a traditional tool, it has a strong presence even when simply placed in a room.
Attach a cord to wear it as a harvest basket, or use it as a self-standing storage basket in your home.
This Nemagari bamboo craft, with its quiet and earthy character, will surely serve as a reliable basket in your daily work.
Please note: This item ships from Japan. As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country. These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.
The Nemagari bamboo craft of the Oguni area in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, varied from one hamlet to another. Some specialized in making sieves, while others focused on baskets.
The Nemagari bamboo harvested around Lake Oguni, where fields of Nikkōkisuge grow in abundance, is a type of dwarf bamboo that grows in cold, snowy mountains at high altitudes, and its diameter is about 0.20 to 0.31 inches.
Since the early Edo period, people have crafted this Nemagari bamboo using only a hatchet, making daily tools such as sieves and baskets for everyday life. Bamboo work in this region also served as an important source of income during winter, when farming could not be done.
Nemagari bamboo craft from Oguni is characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, and strength. Artisans do not make the strips too uniform in width; they often use thicker strips or even half-split pieces of Nemagari bamboo as they are.
Rather than shaping the basket freely according to their preference, they make use of the natural flexibility and strength of Nemagari bamboo, and then carefully adjust the shape by hand. Though the weave may not be perfectly even, the basket’s firm and solid structure is a defining feature.
This basket, locally called Hakego, has long been used during harvest seasons, with a cord attached to the basket and worn around the waist.
There are two types of Hakego: one with a narrowed upper section and another with a barrel-shaped body. This page introduces the barrel-shaped type.
It is made from Nemagari bamboo, split in half into thin strips, and woven entirely in the Gozame-ami pattern.The horizontal strips display the smooth outer surface of the bamboo, while the vertical strips show the inner surface, paired two by two in the weave.The rim is wrapped simply with half-split bamboo strips.Here is the rim as seen from above.The bottom is constructed in a firm, raft-style structure called Ikada-zoko.If you count the paired vertical supports running along the long side of the base, you will find a total of nine sets. The name Nine-Frame comes from this structure.The body gently curves outward from the mouth to the midsection.Because Oguni’s Nemagari bamboo craft makes use of the natural bends and curves of the material, there are slight individual differences in shape, and some may have a subtle warp.
A variation of about 1.2″ to 2.0″ in size is also common, so please allow for some margin when considering the dimensions.
This Hakego basket conveys the rustic charm of nature. Beyond its sturdy, utilitarian design as a traditional tool, it has a strong presence even when simply placed in a room.
Attach a cord to wear it as a harvest basket, or use it as a self-standing storage basket in your home.
This Nemagari bamboo craft, with its quiet and earthy character, will surely serve as a reliable basket in your daily work.
Please note: This item ships from Japan. As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country. These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.
The Nemagari bamboo craft of the Oguni area in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, varied from one hamlet to another. Some specialized in making sieves, while others focused on baskets.
The Nemagari bamboo harvested around Lake Oguni, where fields of Nikkōkisuge grow in abundance, is a type of dwarf bamboo that grows in cold, snowy mountains at high altitudes, and its diameter is about 0.20 to 0.31 inches.
Since the early Edo period, people have crafted this Nemagari bamboo using only a hatchet, making daily tools such as sieves and baskets for everyday life. Bamboo work in this region also served as an important source of income during winter, when farming could not be done.
Nemagari bamboo craft from Oguni is characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, and strength. Artisans do not make the strips too uniform in width; they often use thicker strips or even half-split pieces of Nemagari bamboo as they are.
Rather than shaping the basket freely according to their preference, they make use of the natural flexibility and strength of Nemagari bamboo, and then carefully adjust the shape by hand. Though the weave may not be perfectly even, the basket’s firm and solid structure is a defining feature.
This basket, locally called Hakego, has long been used during harvest seasons, with a cord attached to the basket and worn around the waist.
There are two types of Hakego: one with a narrowed upper section and another with a barrel-shaped body. This page introduces the barrel-shaped type.
It is made from Nemagari bamboo, split in half into thin strips, and woven entirely in the Gozame-ami pattern.The horizontal strips display the smooth outer surface of the bamboo, while the vertical strips show the inner surface, paired two by two in the weave.The rim is wrapped simply with half-split bamboo strips.Here is the rim as seen from above.The bottom is constructed in a firm, raft-style structure called Ikada-zoko.If you count the paired vertical supports running along the long side of the base, you will find a total of nine sets. The name Nine-Frame comes from this structure.The body gently curves outward from the mouth to the midsection.Because Oguni’s Nemagari bamboo craft makes use of the natural bends and curves of the material, there are slight individual differences in shape, and some may have a subtle warp.
A variation of about 1.2″ to 2.0″ in size is also common, so please allow for some margin when considering the dimensions.
This Hakego basket conveys the rustic charm of nature. Beyond its sturdy, utilitarian design as a traditional tool, it has a strong presence even when simply placed in a room.
Attach a cord to wear it as a harvest basket, or use it as a self-standing storage basket in your home.
This Nemagari bamboo craft, with its quiet and earthy character, will surely serve as a reliable basket in your daily work.
Please note: This item ships from Japan. As the buyer, you are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, or local taxes that may be charged in your country. These costs are not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please check with your local customs authority if you are unsure about any potential charges before placing your order.
