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.
ere, we would like to introduce a handheld basket crafted from this walnut bark.
ぐっと高さをおさえた浅いシルエット、そして、幅広にとられたひごが見た目にもたのしいかごバッグです。
This basket bag features a low, shallow silhouette with a gently compressed height, and its broad walnut strips create a visually engaging, lively look.It is primarily woven so that the deep brown inner bark of walnut forms the exterior. The basket is finished in a plain weave, with the strips interlaced vertically and horizontally in an alternating pattern.Just below the rim, two rows of inner-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.This is the handle area of the basket. The handle is woven so that the deep brown inner 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 with a firm, sturdy finish. The contrast between the outer and inner bark continues all the way to the base, adding to its charm.The inside of the basket shows the reverse arrangement of colors. Since the interior is what you see most often when using the basket, it feels thoughtfully designed down to the details.A wallet, pouch, mobile phone, and key case all fit comfortably inside.For added privacy, you can place a favorite scarf or handkerchief over your belongings. Choosing fabrics that pair well with the basket can be part of the enjoyment.The shallow profile creates an open feel, giving the basket a clean and uncluttered silhouette.For example, it’s a lovely companion when you dress up and head out for a relaxed day of shopping or a visit to a café.
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.
With its generous width, it can also be used at home as a basket for holding a potted plant. The deep, rich tones of the inner bark beautifully highlight shades of green.
And even for the simplest outing, placing your belongings in this basket adds a quietly elevated, almost elegant feeling to the moment.
It is a basket bag that brings a quiet, satisfying feeling each time you carry it.
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.
ere, we would like to introduce a handheld basket crafted from this walnut bark.
ぐっと高さをおさえた浅いシルエット、そして、幅広にとられたひごが見た目にもたのしいかごバッグです。
This basket bag features a low, shallow silhouette with a gently compressed height, and its broad walnut strips create a visually engaging, lively look.It is primarily woven so that the deep brown inner bark of walnut forms the exterior. The basket is finished in a plain weave, with the strips interlaced vertically and horizontally in an alternating pattern.Just below the rim, two rows of inner-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.This is the handle area of the basket. The handle is woven so that the deep brown inner 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 with a firm, sturdy finish. The contrast between the outer and inner bark continues all the way to the base, adding to its charm.The inside of the basket shows the reverse arrangement of colors. Since the interior is what you see most often when using the basket, it feels thoughtfully designed down to the details.A wallet, pouch, mobile phone, and key case all fit comfortably inside.For added privacy, you can place a favorite scarf or handkerchief over your belongings. Choosing fabrics that pair well with the basket can be part of the enjoyment.The shallow profile creates an open feel, giving the basket a clean and uncluttered silhouette.For example, it’s a lovely companion when you dress up and head out for a relaxed day of shopping or a visit to a café.
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.
With its generous width, it can also be used at home as a basket for holding a potted plant. The deep, rich tones of the inner bark beautifully highlight shades of green.
And even for the simplest outing, placing your belongings in this basket adds a quietly elevated, almost elegant feeling to the moment.
It is a basket bag that brings a quiet, satisfying feeling each time you carry it.
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.
ere, we would like to introduce a handheld basket crafted from this walnut bark.
ぐっと高さをおさえた浅いシルエット、そして、幅広にとられたひごが見た目にもたのしいかごバッグです。
This basket bag features a low, shallow silhouette with a gently compressed height, and its broad walnut strips create a visually engaging, lively look.It is primarily woven so that the deep brown inner bark of walnut forms the exterior. The basket is finished in a plain weave, with the strips interlaced vertically and horizontally in an alternating pattern.Just below the rim, two rows of inner-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.This is the handle area of the basket. The handle is woven so that the deep brown inner 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 with a firm, sturdy finish. The contrast between the outer and inner bark continues all the way to the base, adding to its charm.The inside of the basket shows the reverse arrangement of colors. Since the interior is what you see most often when using the basket, it feels thoughtfully designed down to the details.A wallet, pouch, mobile phone, and key case all fit comfortably inside.For added privacy, you can place a favorite scarf or handkerchief over your belongings. Choosing fabrics that pair well with the basket can be part of the enjoyment.The shallow profile creates an open feel, giving the basket a clean and uncluttered silhouette.For example, it’s a lovely companion when you dress up and head out for a relaxed day of shopping or a visit to a café.
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.
With its generous width, it can also be used at home as a basket for holding a potted plant. The deep, rich tones of the inner bark beautifully highlight shades of green.
And even for the simplest outing, placing your belongings in this basket adds a quietly elevated, almost elegant feeling to the moment.
It is a basket bag that brings a quiet, satisfying feeling each time you carry it.
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.
