This handheld basket is woven using the bark of sawagurumi (Japanese walnut).
The bark of walnut trees is harvested at its peak from spring through the rainy season, when the material is rich with moisture.
Sawagurumi, as its name suggests, is a species of walnut that grows naturally along mountain streams and shallow valleys.
Unlike yamagurumi, which grows in the mountains, the nuts of sawagurumi are not used for food. Instead, the tree has the characteristic of letting its seeds travel downstream, carried away by the flow of nearby streams.
For basketry, young trees that are two to three years old are used.Sawagurumi grows in clusters like this, sprouting multiple stems from the base.Further up, the stems branch out in this way.Not all of the clustered stems are cut; only two or three are selected and harvested.Freshly cut stems glisten with a silvery sheen when touched by the sunlight.A small cut is made in the bark of the freshly cut stem, and the bark is peeled away from the core. This is the sawagurumi bark right after peeling. The inner surface begins as a fresh, creamy color, but over time it deepens into a rich, dark brown.The core left after peeling is returned to the mountains. After about a year, it breaks down into a soft, crumbly state, preparing to return to the soil.This bark has been left for some time after peeling. The inner layer visible on the surface has begun to take on a warm brown tone, and its color will continue to deepen as it ages.
Here, we would like to introduce a handheld basket crafted from this walnut bark.
This basket bag highlights the bright tones of the outer bark and lets you fully enjoy the natural texture of the material.
The basket is woven so that the pale brown outer bark of the walnut naturally faces outward.The surface has a quality that allows you to fully appreciate the natural texture of walnut bark. By not making every strip exactly the same width, the weave takes on a lively, organic rhythm. The wider pieces, in particular, let you feel the bark’s natural character just as it existed in the wild, which is part of this basket’s appeal.Just below the rim, two rows of outer-bark stitching run around the basket.This is the view of the rim from above. The weaving is secured firmly from both the outside and the inside of the basket.This is the handle area of the basket. Both the rim and the handle are woven so that the pale brown outer bark is visible.Akebi vine is used as the core material inside the handle. The core is wrapped and finished with walnut bark, then securely attached to the body of the basket.This is the bottom of the basket. It is also woven in a plain weave, giving it a firm and sturdy finish.A wallet, pouch, mobile phone, key case, and even a small bottle fit comfortably inside. It is spacious enough to hold an A4-size item when placed on its side.For a handheld basket, it is just slightly on the larger side, yet its height, width, and depth are beautifully balanced — almost in golden proportion — giving it an ideal, well-fitted feel.It also works well as an everyday bag for work.For a bit of privacy, you can place a favorite scarf or handkerchief over your belongings. Thinking about different combinations of cloth and basket adds another layer of enjoyment.
In autumn and winter, and even on chilly spring mornings and evenings, it pairs beautifully with a stole or muffler. This sawagurumi basket is one you can enjoy throughout the year.
The materials are carefully prepared, so there is no roughness — the surface feels smooth, clean, and pleasantly light to the touch.
Each walnut-bark strip has its own subtle tone and texture, and together they give the basket a sense of depth and character.
Bring the basket close and you can enjoy the rich, natural aroma of walnut. And the more you gently run your hand over the surface, the more luster the basket develops as it absorbs the natural oils from your skin.
Because of its generous size, it can also be used indoors as a storage basket.
As it stays close in your daily life, it will surely become a piece you grow deeply fond of.
Original and uniquely crafted barkwork from Iwate.
In this region blessed with abundant nature, these artisans create their work using materials such as walnut bark and wild grapevine.
Their pieces are rich in variety—both in design and in proportion—and always bring a sense of delight when we encounter them.
They walk the mountains of Iwate themselves, selecting and harvesting only the finest materials. The care they put into preparing each piece of bark, and the time they devote before the weaving even begins, set their work apart. From their distinctive approach to design to the way each basket is brought to life, their craft is truly unlike any other.
This handheld basket is woven using the bark of sawagurumi (Japanese walnut).
The bark of walnut trees is harvested at its peak from spring through the rainy season, when the material is rich with moisture.
Sawagurumi, as its name suggests, is a species of walnut that grows naturally along mountain streams and shallow valleys.
Unlike yamagurumi, which grows in the mountains, the nuts of sawagurumi are not used for food. Instead, the tree has the characteristic of letting its seeds travel downstream, carried away by the flow of nearby streams.
For basketry, young trees that are two to three years old are used.Sawagurumi grows in clusters like this, sprouting multiple stems from the base.Further up, the stems branch out in this way.Not all of the clustered stems are cut; only two or three are selected and harvested.Freshly cut stems glisten with a silvery sheen when touched by the sunlight.A small cut is made in the bark of the freshly cut stem, and the bark is peeled away from the core. This is the sawagurumi bark right after peeling. The inner surface begins as a fresh, creamy color, but over time it deepens into a rich, dark brown.The core left after peeling is returned to the mountains. After about a year, it breaks down into a soft, crumbly state, preparing to return to the soil.This bark has been left for some time after peeling. The inner layer visible on the surface has begun to take on a warm brown tone, and its color will continue to deepen as it ages.
Here, we would like to introduce a handheld basket crafted from this walnut bark.
This basket bag highlights the bright tones of the outer bark and lets you fully enjoy the natural texture of the material.
The basket is woven so that the pale brown outer bark of the walnut naturally faces outward.The surface has a quality that allows you to fully appreciate the natural texture of walnut bark. By not making every strip exactly the same width, the weave takes on a lively, organic rhythm. The wider pieces, in particular, let you feel the bark’s natural character just as it existed in the wild, which is part of this basket’s appeal.Just below the rim, two rows of outer-bark stitching run around the basket.This is the view of the rim from above. The weaving is secured firmly from both the outside and the inside of the basket.This is the handle area of the basket. Both the rim and the handle are woven so that the pale brown outer bark is visible.Akebi vine is used as the core material inside the handle. The core is wrapped and finished with walnut bark, then securely attached to the body of the basket.This is the bottom of the basket. It is also woven in a plain weave, giving it a firm and sturdy finish.A wallet, pouch, mobile phone, key case, and even a small bottle fit comfortably inside. It is spacious enough to hold an A4-size item when placed on its side.For a handheld basket, it is just slightly on the larger side, yet its height, width, and depth are beautifully balanced — almost in golden proportion — giving it an ideal, well-fitted feel.It also works well as an everyday bag for work.For a bit of privacy, you can place a favorite scarf or handkerchief over your belongings. Thinking about different combinations of cloth and basket adds another layer of enjoyment.
In autumn and winter, and even on chilly spring mornings and evenings, it pairs beautifully with a stole or muffler. This sawagurumi basket is one you can enjoy throughout the year.
The materials are carefully prepared, so there is no roughness — the surface feels smooth, clean, and pleasantly light to the touch.
Each walnut-bark strip has its own subtle tone and texture, and together they give the basket a sense of depth and character.
Bring the basket close and you can enjoy the rich, natural aroma of walnut. And the more you gently run your hand over the surface, the more luster the basket develops as it absorbs the natural oils from your skin.
Because of its generous size, it can also be used indoors as a storage basket.
As it stays close in your daily life, it will surely become a piece you grow deeply fond of.
Original and uniquely crafted barkwork from Iwate.
In this region blessed with abundant nature, these artisans create their work using materials such as walnut bark and wild grapevine.
Their pieces are rich in variety—both in design and in proportion—and always bring a sense of delight when we encounter them.
They walk the mountains of Iwate themselves, selecting and harvesting only the finest materials. The care they put into preparing each piece of bark, and the time they devote before the weaving even begins, set their work apart. From their distinctive approach to design to the way each basket is brought to life, their craft is truly unlike any other.
This handheld basket is woven using the bark of sawagurumi (Japanese walnut).
The bark of walnut trees is harvested at its peak from spring through the rainy season, when the material is rich with moisture.
Sawagurumi, as its name suggests, is a species of walnut that grows naturally along mountain streams and shallow valleys.
Unlike yamagurumi, which grows in the mountains, the nuts of sawagurumi are not used for food. Instead, the tree has the characteristic of letting its seeds travel downstream, carried away by the flow of nearby streams.
For basketry, young trees that are two to three years old are used.Sawagurumi grows in clusters like this, sprouting multiple stems from the base.Further up, the stems branch out in this way.Not all of the clustered stems are cut; only two or three are selected and harvested.Freshly cut stems glisten with a silvery sheen when touched by the sunlight.A small cut is made in the bark of the freshly cut stem, and the bark is peeled away from the core. This is the sawagurumi bark right after peeling. The inner surface begins as a fresh, creamy color, but over time it deepens into a rich, dark brown.The core left after peeling is returned to the mountains. After about a year, it breaks down into a soft, crumbly state, preparing to return to the soil.This bark has been left for some time after peeling. The inner layer visible on the surface has begun to take on a warm brown tone, and its color will continue to deepen as it ages.
Here, we would like to introduce a handheld basket crafted from this walnut bark.
This basket bag highlights the bright tones of the outer bark and lets you fully enjoy the natural texture of the material.
The basket is woven so that the pale brown outer bark of the walnut naturally faces outward.The surface has a quality that allows you to fully appreciate the natural texture of walnut bark. By not making every strip exactly the same width, the weave takes on a lively, organic rhythm. The wider pieces, in particular, let you feel the bark’s natural character just as it existed in the wild, which is part of this basket’s appeal.Just below the rim, two rows of outer-bark stitching run around the basket.This is the view of the rim from above. The weaving is secured firmly from both the outside and the inside of the basket.This is the handle area of the basket. Both the rim and the handle are woven so that the pale brown outer bark is visible.Akebi vine is used as the core material inside the handle. The core is wrapped and finished with walnut bark, then securely attached to the body of the basket.This is the bottom of the basket. It is also woven in a plain weave, giving it a firm and sturdy finish.A wallet, pouch, mobile phone, key case, and even a small bottle fit comfortably inside. It is spacious enough to hold an A4-size item when placed on its side.For a handheld basket, it is just slightly on the larger side, yet its height, width, and depth are beautifully balanced — almost in golden proportion — giving it an ideal, well-fitted feel.It also works well as an everyday bag for work.For a bit of privacy, you can place a favorite scarf or handkerchief over your belongings. Thinking about different combinations of cloth and basket adds another layer of enjoyment.
In autumn and winter, and even on chilly spring mornings and evenings, it pairs beautifully with a stole or muffler. This sawagurumi basket is one you can enjoy throughout the year.
The materials are carefully prepared, so there is no roughness — the surface feels smooth, clean, and pleasantly light to the touch.
Each walnut-bark strip has its own subtle tone and texture, and together they give the basket a sense of depth and character.
Bring the basket close and you can enjoy the rich, natural aroma of walnut. And the more you gently run your hand over the surface, the more luster the basket develops as it absorbs the natural oils from your skin.
Because of its generous size, it can also be used indoors as a storage basket.
As it stays close in your daily life, it will surely become a piece you grow deeply fond of.
Original and uniquely crafted barkwork from Iwate.
In this region blessed with abundant nature, these artisans create their work using materials such as walnut bark and wild grapevine.
Their pieces are rich in variety—both in design and in proportion—and always bring a sense of delight when we encounter them.
They walk the mountains of Iwate themselves, selecting and harvesting only the finest materials. The care they put into preparing each piece of bark, and the time they devote before the weaving even begins, set their work apart. From their distinctive approach to design to the way each basket is brought to life, their craft is truly unlike any other.
