In Iwadeyama, Osaki City—about 50 kilometers north of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture—it is said that basket and colander making began as a side craft for samurai families during the Edo period. Using shinodake bamboo—a flexible variety of bamboo that grows naturally in the region—they crafted baskets and household tools suited to daily use or professional needs.
At its peak, more than eighty kinds of baskets and colanders were made. However, with the passing of time, both the variety and production have greatly declined. Today, the simple, traditional baskets made entirely from shinodake bamboo—without using madake bamboo for the rims— are now crafted only by a few elderly artisans.
Baskets made from shinodake in Miyagi are known above all for being extremely light and gentle to the touch, making them ideal for everyday kitchen use.
Among them, this one is a mekago (openwork basket) characterized by its regularly arranged hexagonal weave pattern.
Here we introduce the three sizes: small, medium, and large.Baskets like this, with open hexagonal holes, are called mekago or mezaru in Japanese.The open weave allows dirt from vegetables, clams, or other ingredients to slip easily through the gaps.All three sizes are made in the same way. The entire basket is woven using the mutsume-ami technique, a hexagonal pattern formed by interlacing the strips diagonally.The openings of the weave measure about 0.4″ across, though there may be slight variations.This mekago subtly varies in the width of its strips, and this variation actually requires a higher level of skill to weave.They are woven from a variety of materials, ranging from extremely fine strips to wider strips of shinodake.The rim is made by wrapping shinodake around a core of the same material. As these baskets are handwoven by elderly craftspeople, small gaps may be visible along the rim. Please note this in advance. However, with ordinary use as a mekago, they are sturdy and will not break easily.The color and texture of shinodake from Miyagi differ subtly from those of bamboo crafts made in other regions.In some pieces, you may notice yellow and silver threads within the rim wrapping. According to the craftspeople, these are an essential part of the process, serving as temporary bindings that ensure long-lasting durability. This does not affect the product’s quality in any way and should not be considered a defect. We hope you will appreciate these small traces of the craft as part of its character.The base has no reinforcing bamboo supports, and since shinodake is relatively soft, pressing lightly with your palm causes it to flex slightly inward.At times, small cracks may be seen in the bamboo strips, but these do not affect usability.There are also considerable individual differences in size across all variations. For example, both baskets in the photo are labeled “medium,” yet their sizes differ noticeably. For instance, when ordering a medium size, you may receive one with a diameter of about 9.06″ or one around 10.24″, depending on timing. Likewise, the height may vary: a medium basket may be shallower than a small one, or deeper than a large one.As quantities are limited, we are unable to accommodate specific requests such as “a larger size,” “a nested set,” or “within a certain measurement.” We appreciate your understanding, and hope you will enjoy the gentle individuality of each piece, offered at a modest price.
Now, let us look at the three sizes in order.
This is the small size.It is convenient for washing mountain vegetables or shellfish, as well as small items like cherry tomatoes, small vegetables, boiled greens, or fruit such as strawberries.Here, a head of broccoli has been boiled and placed in the small basket to drain.This is the medium size.It works well for washing leafy vegetables such as torn lettuce or chopped cabbage, or as a basket for storing fruit like oranges.Here, a whole head of lettuce has been torn into pieces and placed in the medium basket for washing.In this photo, the medium basket on the left holds one head of lettuce, while the small basket on the right holds about 10.6 oz of large shijimi clams.This is the large size.It is quite deep and generously sized.Here, one head of lettuce has been placed in the large basket—even with all of it inside, there is still plenty of space left.
Compared to other bamboo crafts, shinodake bamboo work from Miyagi uses softer material and finer strips. These baskets are not intended for carrying heavy loads, so please handle them with care when placing water-heavy fruits or other items inside.
Ideal for daily use, they work beautifully for washing vegetables such as lettuce or cabbage, shellfish like clams or shijimi, or fruits such as strawberries and grapes.
Light and flexible, these mekago baskets let you fully appreciate the soft texture and natural feel of shinodake. After washing, we recommend hanging it on an S-shaped hook to dry.
Some people also use them as fruit baskets or as stands for inverted cups, assuming they remain stationary and are not used for carrying.
Please enjoy using it daily in your kitchen— as a colander for draining or as a versatile basket for everyday life. Please choose the size that best suits your needs.
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.
In Iwadeyama, Osaki City—about 50 kilometers north of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture—it is said that basket and colander making began as a side craft for samurai families during the Edo period. Using shinodake bamboo—a flexible variety of bamboo that grows naturally in the region—they crafted baskets and household tools suited to daily use or professional needs.
At its peak, more than eighty kinds of baskets and colanders were made. However, with the passing of time, both the variety and production have greatly declined. Today, the simple, traditional baskets made entirely from shinodake bamboo—without using madake bamboo for the rims— are now crafted only by a few elderly artisans.
Baskets made from shinodake in Miyagi are known above all for being extremely light and gentle to the touch, making them ideal for everyday kitchen use.
Among them, this one is a mekago (openwork basket) characterized by its regularly arranged hexagonal weave pattern.
Here we introduce the three sizes: small, medium, and large.Baskets like this, with open hexagonal holes, are called mekago or mezaru in Japanese.The open weave allows dirt from vegetables, clams, or other ingredients to slip easily through the gaps.All three sizes are made in the same way. The entire basket is woven using the mutsume-ami technique, a hexagonal pattern formed by interlacing the strips diagonally.The openings of the weave measure about 0.4″ across, though there may be slight variations.This mekago subtly varies in the width of its strips, and this variation actually requires a higher level of skill to weave.They are woven from a variety of materials, ranging from extremely fine strips to wider strips of shinodake.The rim is made by wrapping shinodake around a core of the same material. As these baskets are handwoven by elderly craftspeople, small gaps may be visible along the rim. Please note this in advance. However, with ordinary use as a mekago, they are sturdy and will not break easily.The color and texture of shinodake from Miyagi differ subtly from those of bamboo crafts made in other regions.In some pieces, you may notice yellow and silver threads within the rim wrapping. According to the craftspeople, these are an essential part of the process, serving as temporary bindings that ensure long-lasting durability. This does not affect the product’s quality in any way and should not be considered a defect. We hope you will appreciate these small traces of the craft as part of its character.The base has no reinforcing bamboo supports, and since shinodake is relatively soft, pressing lightly with your palm causes it to flex slightly inward.At times, small cracks may be seen in the bamboo strips, but these do not affect usability.There are also considerable individual differences in size across all variations. For example, both baskets in the photo are labeled “medium,” yet their sizes differ noticeably. For instance, when ordering a medium size, you may receive one with a diameter of about 9.06″ or one around 10.24″, depending on timing. Likewise, the height may vary: a medium basket may be shallower than a small one, or deeper than a large one.As quantities are limited, we are unable to accommodate specific requests such as “a larger size,” “a nested set,” or “within a certain measurement.” We appreciate your understanding, and hope you will enjoy the gentle individuality of each piece, offered at a modest price.
Now, let us look at the three sizes in order.
This is the small size.It is convenient for washing mountain vegetables or shellfish, as well as small items like cherry tomatoes, small vegetables, boiled greens, or fruit such as strawberries.Here, a head of broccoli has been boiled and placed in the small basket to drain.This is the medium size.It works well for washing leafy vegetables such as torn lettuce or chopped cabbage, or as a basket for storing fruit like oranges.Here, a whole head of lettuce has been torn into pieces and placed in the medium basket for washing.In this photo, the medium basket on the left holds one head of lettuce, while the small basket on the right holds about 10.6 oz of large shijimi clams.This is the large size.It is quite deep and generously sized.Here, one head of lettuce has been placed in the large basket—even with all of it inside, there is still plenty of space left.
Compared to other bamboo crafts, shinodake bamboo work from Miyagi uses softer material and finer strips. These baskets are not intended for carrying heavy loads, so please handle them with care when placing water-heavy fruits or other items inside.
Ideal for daily use, they work beautifully for washing vegetables such as lettuce or cabbage, shellfish like clams or shijimi, or fruits such as strawberries and grapes.
Light and flexible, these mekago baskets let you fully appreciate the soft texture and natural feel of shinodake. After washing, we recommend hanging it on an S-shaped hook to dry.
Some people also use them as fruit baskets or as stands for inverted cups, assuming they remain stationary and are not used for carrying.
Please enjoy using it daily in your kitchen— as a colander for draining or as a versatile basket for everyday life. Please choose the size that best suits your needs.
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.
In Iwadeyama, Osaki City—about 50 kilometers north of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture—it is said that basket and colander making began as a side craft for samurai families during the Edo period. Using shinodake bamboo—a flexible variety of bamboo that grows naturally in the region—they crafted baskets and household tools suited to daily use or professional needs.
At its peak, more than eighty kinds of baskets and colanders were made. However, with the passing of time, both the variety and production have greatly declined. Today, the simple, traditional baskets made entirely from shinodake bamboo—without using madake bamboo for the rims— are now crafted only by a few elderly artisans.
Baskets made from shinodake in Miyagi are known above all for being extremely light and gentle to the touch, making them ideal for everyday kitchen use.
Among them, this one is a mekago (openwork basket) characterized by its regularly arranged hexagonal weave pattern.
Here we introduce the three sizes: small, medium, and large.Baskets like this, with open hexagonal holes, are called mekago or mezaru in Japanese.The open weave allows dirt from vegetables, clams, or other ingredients to slip easily through the gaps.All three sizes are made in the same way. The entire basket is woven using the mutsume-ami technique, a hexagonal pattern formed by interlacing the strips diagonally.The openings of the weave measure about 0.4″ across, though there may be slight variations.This mekago subtly varies in the width of its strips, and this variation actually requires a higher level of skill to weave.They are woven from a variety of materials, ranging from extremely fine strips to wider strips of shinodake.The rim is made by wrapping shinodake around a core of the same material. As these baskets are handwoven by elderly craftspeople, small gaps may be visible along the rim. Please note this in advance. However, with ordinary use as a mekago, they are sturdy and will not break easily.The color and texture of shinodake from Miyagi differ subtly from those of bamboo crafts made in other regions.In some pieces, you may notice yellow and silver threads within the rim wrapping. According to the craftspeople, these are an essential part of the process, serving as temporary bindings that ensure long-lasting durability. This does not affect the product’s quality in any way and should not be considered a defect. We hope you will appreciate these small traces of the craft as part of its character.The base has no reinforcing bamboo supports, and since shinodake is relatively soft, pressing lightly with your palm causes it to flex slightly inward.At times, small cracks may be seen in the bamboo strips, but these do not affect usability.There are also considerable individual differences in size across all variations. For example, both baskets in the photo are labeled “medium,” yet their sizes differ noticeably. For instance, when ordering a medium size, you may receive one with a diameter of about 9.06″ or one around 10.24″, depending on timing. Likewise, the height may vary: a medium basket may be shallower than a small one, or deeper than a large one.As quantities are limited, we are unable to accommodate specific requests such as “a larger size,” “a nested set,” or “within a certain measurement.” We appreciate your understanding, and hope you will enjoy the gentle individuality of each piece, offered at a modest price.
Now, let us look at the three sizes in order.
This is the small size.It is convenient for washing mountain vegetables or shellfish, as well as small items like cherry tomatoes, small vegetables, boiled greens, or fruit such as strawberries.Here, a head of broccoli has been boiled and placed in the small basket to drain.This is the medium size.It works well for washing leafy vegetables such as torn lettuce or chopped cabbage, or as a basket for storing fruit like oranges.Here, a whole head of lettuce has been torn into pieces and placed in the medium basket for washing.In this photo, the medium basket on the left holds one head of lettuce, while the small basket on the right holds about 10.6 oz of large shijimi clams.This is the large size.It is quite deep and generously sized.Here, one head of lettuce has been placed in the large basket—even with all of it inside, there is still plenty of space left.
Compared to other bamboo crafts, shinodake bamboo work from Miyagi uses softer material and finer strips. These baskets are not intended for carrying heavy loads, so please handle them with care when placing water-heavy fruits or other items inside.
Ideal for daily use, they work beautifully for washing vegetables such as lettuce or cabbage, shellfish like clams or shijimi, or fruits such as strawberries and grapes.
Light and flexible, these mekago baskets let you fully appreciate the soft texture and natural feel of shinodake. After washing, we recommend hanging it on an S-shaped hook to dry.
Some people also use them as fruit baskets or as stands for inverted cups, assuming they remain stationary and are not used for carrying.
Please enjoy using it daily in your kitchen— as a colander for draining or as a versatile basket for everyday life. Please choose the size that best suits your needs.
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.
