The Ashigara area lies between Shizuoka and Kanagawa. Once, the main route of the old Tōkaidō highway passed through here, making it an important crossroads for travelers. To the north spreads the Tanzawa Mountains, which cover one-sixth of Kanagawa’s total area. To the south lies Odawara and Sagami Bay, while to the west rise the mountains of Hakone and the majestic Mt. Fuji.
This region, blessed with meltwater from Mt. Fuji and the Tanzawa range, still uses groundwater for tap water in some areas today. The Sakawa River runs north to south across the plain, nurturing a long agricultural tradition—yet the area has also endured floods, volcanic ash, and debris flows from Mt. Fuji’s eruptions.
The bamboo that grows in Ashigara is said to be as thick and strong as that found in Kyushu, with long, even segments ideal for bamboo craftsmanship.
Using madake bamboo harvested from the foothills of the Tanzawa Mountains and the outer ridges of Hakone, a craftsperson continues the tradition of bamboo work in Ashigara.
Having entered the field at a young age, this craftsperson has been working with bamboo for more than 30 years.
Their work ranges widely—from creating baskets with unique, original designs, to reviving traditional baskets from different regions that have disappeared, restoring delicate bamboo crafts that have been damaged, producing festival tools rooted in local traditions, and giving live basket-weaving demonstrations abroad.
The basket introduced here is one of their works— a bamboo basket known as the “Sasara Open Weave Basket.”
“Sasara” refers to a bundle of thinly split bamboo strips. The name “Sasara Open Weave Basket” means a basket woven with bamboo strips in a sasara-like form, creating an open, airy weave.The name was given by the fourth-generation owner of our shop, the previous master.
This type of basket originally came from a small community in Fuchū City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where it was used mainly as a dish basket for holding washed tableware.
In Fuchū, production had ceased in the early Heisei period, and the craft once disappeared. However, in Kanagawa, the current craftsperson revived it around 2012, after much trial and error using old video records as references.
The Sasara Open Weave Basket series comes in five sizes: Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large— ranging approximately from Ø 11.42″ (Extra Small) to Ø 17.72″ (Extra Large).
On this page, we introduce the two larger sizes: Large and Extra Large.
It all begins with 8 straight bamboo strips. Depending on the size, each strip is about 0.47″ to 0.59″ wide.Each strip is split vertically from both ends, making 12 to 14 narrower slats, depending on the basket size.While pressing the 8 strips underfoot, the craftsperson turns their body as they weave, interlacing the bamboo into form. Here is the rim. The wavelike flow creates a smooth, gentle line with a soft impression.Viewed from above, the rim appears thinner than the rest of the basket’s solid structure.The weaving begins flat, pressed against the floor, but as the sides are raised, the craftsperson taps the basket against the floor with a pleasant rhythm, tightening the weave inward while shaping it upward.Finally, the base is finished—the sasara strips are fastened firmly in place.No wire or rattan is used—only bamboo, woven and fastened by hand. The sasara-like strips catch the light, shining with a gentle luster.The result is free of excess—simple, strong, and profoundly beautiful. From every angle, it reveals an elegance that takes your breath away.This is the Large size.It’s ideal as a dish basket for drying a generous amount of tableware, or as a serving basket for an abundance of fruits.This is the Extra Large size—the largest in the series.Its impressive diameter of 17.72″ gives it a presence and beauty unlike any other basket.Because it is woven from fresh green bamboo that naturally contains sugar, oil, and moisture, dark streaks or shades may sometimes appear inside the strips or around the nodes, as shown here.These are natural features unique to green bamboo work—they are not mold, nor are they defects. Please use the basket with confidence.
Although large in size, it can be used in the original way— as a basket for holding plenty of bowls and cups. It also works beautifully as a fruit or snack basket.
Some people use it for storing towels or blankets, others as a vessel for flower arrangements, and some simply display the basket itself for its beauty.
This Sasara Open Weave Basket, faithfully revived across time and place, carries quiet elegance and strength into modern life. We hope it finds a place in your home as well.
The fresh green color will gradually turn to a warm amber tone over time— please enjoy this natural aging process.
Top: Aged Medium Basket / Bottom: New Large & Extra Large Baskets
As these are large pieces, please check the dimensions carefully and choose the size that best suits your space and use.
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 Ashigara area lies between Shizuoka and Kanagawa. Once, the main route of the old Tōkaidō highway passed through here, making it an important crossroads for travelers. To the north spreads the Tanzawa Mountains, which cover one-sixth of Kanagawa’s total area. To the south lies Odawara and Sagami Bay, while to the west rise the mountains of Hakone and the majestic Mt. Fuji.
This region, blessed with meltwater from Mt. Fuji and the Tanzawa range, still uses groundwater for tap water in some areas today. The Sakawa River runs north to south across the plain, nurturing a long agricultural tradition—yet the area has also endured floods, volcanic ash, and debris flows from Mt. Fuji’s eruptions.
The bamboo that grows in Ashigara is said to be as thick and strong as that found in Kyushu, with long, even segments ideal for bamboo craftsmanship.
Using madake bamboo harvested from the foothills of the Tanzawa Mountains and the outer ridges of Hakone, a craftsperson continues the tradition of bamboo work in Ashigara.
Having entered the field at a young age, this craftsperson has been working with bamboo for more than 30 years.
Their work ranges widely—from creating baskets with unique, original designs, to reviving traditional baskets from different regions that have disappeared, restoring delicate bamboo crafts that have been damaged, producing festival tools rooted in local traditions, and giving live basket-weaving demonstrations abroad.
The basket introduced here is one of their works— a bamboo basket known as the “Sasara Open Weave Basket.”
“Sasara” refers to a bundle of thinly split bamboo strips. The name “Sasara Open Weave Basket” means a basket woven with bamboo strips in a sasara-like form, creating an open, airy weave.The name was given by the fourth-generation owner of our shop, the previous master.
This type of basket originally came from a small community in Fuchū City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where it was used mainly as a dish basket for holding washed tableware.
In Fuchū, production had ceased in the early Heisei period, and the craft once disappeared. However, in Kanagawa, the current craftsperson revived it around 2012, after much trial and error using old video records as references.
The Sasara Open Weave Basket series comes in five sizes: Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large— ranging approximately from Ø 11.42″ (Extra Small) to Ø 17.72″ (Extra Large).
On this page, we introduce the two larger sizes: Large and Extra Large.
It all begins with 8 straight bamboo strips. Depending on the size, each strip is about 0.47″ to 0.59″ wide.Each strip is split vertically from both ends, making 12 to 14 narrower slats, depending on the basket size.While pressing the 8 strips underfoot, the craftsperson turns their body as they weave, interlacing the bamboo into form. Here is the rim. The wavelike flow creates a smooth, gentle line with a soft impression.Viewed from above, the rim appears thinner than the rest of the basket’s solid structure.The weaving begins flat, pressed against the floor, but as the sides are raised, the craftsperson taps the basket against the floor with a pleasant rhythm, tightening the weave inward while shaping it upward.Finally, the base is finished—the sasara strips are fastened firmly in place.No wire or rattan is used—only bamboo, woven and fastened by hand. The sasara-like strips catch the light, shining with a gentle luster.The result is free of excess—simple, strong, and profoundly beautiful. From every angle, it reveals an elegance that takes your breath away.This is the Large size.It’s ideal as a dish basket for drying a generous amount of tableware, or as a serving basket for an abundance of fruits.This is the Extra Large size—the largest in the series.Its impressive diameter of 17.72″ gives it a presence and beauty unlike any other basket.Because it is woven from fresh green bamboo that naturally contains sugar, oil, and moisture, dark streaks or shades may sometimes appear inside the strips or around the nodes, as shown here.These are natural features unique to green bamboo work—they are not mold, nor are they defects. Please use the basket with confidence.
Although large in size, it can be used in the original way— as a basket for holding plenty of bowls and cups. It also works beautifully as a fruit or snack basket.
Some people use it for storing towels or blankets, others as a vessel for flower arrangements, and some simply display the basket itself for its beauty.
This Sasara Open Weave Basket, faithfully revived across time and place, carries quiet elegance and strength into modern life. We hope it finds a place in your home as well.
The fresh green color will gradually turn to a warm amber tone over time— please enjoy this natural aging process.
Top: Aged Medium Basket / Bottom: New Large & Extra Large Baskets
As these are large pieces, please check the dimensions carefully and choose the size that best suits your space and use.
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 Ashigara area lies between Shizuoka and Kanagawa. Once, the main route of the old Tōkaidō highway passed through here, making it an important crossroads for travelers. To the north spreads the Tanzawa Mountains, which cover one-sixth of Kanagawa’s total area. To the south lies Odawara and Sagami Bay, while to the west rise the mountains of Hakone and the majestic Mt. Fuji.
This region, blessed with meltwater from Mt. Fuji and the Tanzawa range, still uses groundwater for tap water in some areas today. The Sakawa River runs north to south across the plain, nurturing a long agricultural tradition—yet the area has also endured floods, volcanic ash, and debris flows from Mt. Fuji’s eruptions.
The bamboo that grows in Ashigara is said to be as thick and strong as that found in Kyushu, with long, even segments ideal for bamboo craftsmanship.
Using madake bamboo harvested from the foothills of the Tanzawa Mountains and the outer ridges of Hakone, a craftsperson continues the tradition of bamboo work in Ashigara.
Having entered the field at a young age, this craftsperson has been working with bamboo for more than 30 years.
Their work ranges widely—from creating baskets with unique, original designs, to reviving traditional baskets from different regions that have disappeared, restoring delicate bamboo crafts that have been damaged, producing festival tools rooted in local traditions, and giving live basket-weaving demonstrations abroad.
The basket introduced here is one of their works— a bamboo basket known as the “Sasara Open Weave Basket.”
“Sasara” refers to a bundle of thinly split bamboo strips. The name “Sasara Open Weave Basket” means a basket woven with bamboo strips in a sasara-like form, creating an open, airy weave.The name was given by the fourth-generation owner of our shop, the previous master.
This type of basket originally came from a small community in Fuchū City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where it was used mainly as a dish basket for holding washed tableware.
In Fuchū, production had ceased in the early Heisei period, and the craft once disappeared. However, in Kanagawa, the current craftsperson revived it around 2012, after much trial and error using old video records as references.
The Sasara Open Weave Basket series comes in five sizes: Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large— ranging approximately from Ø 11.42″ (Extra Small) to Ø 17.72″ (Extra Large).
On this page, we introduce the two larger sizes: Large and Extra Large.
It all begins with 8 straight bamboo strips. Depending on the size, each strip is about 0.47″ to 0.59″ wide.Each strip is split vertically from both ends, making 12 to 14 narrower slats, depending on the basket size.While pressing the 8 strips underfoot, the craftsperson turns their body as they weave, interlacing the bamboo into form. Here is the rim. The wavelike flow creates a smooth, gentle line with a soft impression.Viewed from above, the rim appears thinner than the rest of the basket’s solid structure.The weaving begins flat, pressed against the floor, but as the sides are raised, the craftsperson taps the basket against the floor with a pleasant rhythm, tightening the weave inward while shaping it upward.Finally, the base is finished—the sasara strips are fastened firmly in place.No wire or rattan is used—only bamboo, woven and fastened by hand. The sasara-like strips catch the light, shining with a gentle luster.The result is free of excess—simple, strong, and profoundly beautiful. From every angle, it reveals an elegance that takes your breath away.This is the Large size.It’s ideal as a dish basket for drying a generous amount of tableware, or as a serving basket for an abundance of fruits.This is the Extra Large size—the largest in the series.Its impressive diameter of 17.72″ gives it a presence and beauty unlike any other basket.Because it is woven from fresh green bamboo that naturally contains sugar, oil, and moisture, dark streaks or shades may sometimes appear inside the strips or around the nodes, as shown here.These are natural features unique to green bamboo work—they are not mold, nor are they defects. Please use the basket with confidence.
Although large in size, it can be used in the original way— as a basket for holding plenty of bowls and cups. It also works beautifully as a fruit or snack basket.
Some people use it for storing towels or blankets, others as a vessel for flower arrangements, and some simply display the basket itself for its beauty.
This Sasara Open Weave Basket, faithfully revived across time and place, carries quiet elegance and strength into modern life. We hope it finds a place in your home as well.
The fresh green color will gradually turn to a warm amber tone over time— please enjoy this natural aging process.
Top: Aged Medium Basket / Bottom: New Large & Extra Large Baskets
As these are large pieces, please check the dimensions carefully and choose the size that best suits your space and use.
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.
