Bamboo is a plant which grows up in the temperate and humid environment, the country of origin of which is Southeast Asia centering upon the equator . Typical growing countries are Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China in particular.Bamboo comes in approximately 600 different varieties worldwide ,compared to about 150 in Japan.

As for Japan, bamboo grove came into the stage toward the full-fledged development in the Muromachi era, when Madake (long-jointed, giant timber bamboo) or Ha-chiku ( light-colored bamboo) were mostly planted. Edible bamboo shoots were Moso-chiku (thick stemmed bamboo ) that came from the Gangnam region in China.It is said that back in 18th century, Yoshitaka Shimazu, local lord of Satuma Domain transplanted the seedlings from Okinawa in his garden for the first time.

Bamboo has been used as living-ware familiar to people because it was easier to work upon. Assimilated with Japanese spiritual culture, bamboo gradually turned to have a great influence on cultures of the Japanese religious rites, tea ceremony and flower arrangement. It also seemed to be preferred for mysteriously bringing good luck due to fast growth of young bamboo, its ever verdant and cool feeling, elastic image as well as unique and hollow structure specific to bamboo.

There are, however, few bamboo species available for craftwork. They are limited only to Madake, Kuro-chiku (black bamboo), Ha-chiku, Torafu-take (tiger bamboo),Nemagaridake (tenacious bamboo to grow in the snowy areas) and Moso-chiku,etc. For example of producing process of a bamboo basket, firstly, 3 to 4 year-old bamboo after cut down, is oil-removed, air-dried in the sun until it turns yellowish on the surface, then cut off , split, stripped , processed to takehigo (thin bamboo sticks about half an inch in diameter) , chamfered and finished in takehigo. Thus, bamboo takehigo sticks are completeｌｙ made. This is a raw material necessary to weave into a bamboo craft, and a basket weaving begins with takehigo sticks. The handiwork begins from bottom weaving, to stand- up weaving , middle weaving, neck weaving, total finishing , dyeing, polishing , and continues on to a final process of lacquering. Perseverance and traditional skills are required.

Production districts of bamboo craftworkｓ are scattered across the country. Echizen (the former name of Fukui) is characterized by decorations , with the bamboo dolls heading the list of well-known craftworks while Beppu in particular in Kyushu excels in craftworks closely related to daily life with a wide range of works, as if anything and everything of living-ware were assembled. Both of the districts also are enthusiastic about the education between master and student as the traditional artifact.

In the recent years, some devotees make the most use of simple and original materials of bamboo to create extremely exquisite bamboo craftworks , some of which come in superbly accomplished shapes of insects like dragonflies or locusts as a fine art, skillfully intertwined with bamboo structure of its own , strings , skin color , luster and foliage.It really can be said to be the traditional skill by no one else but Japanese that made possible such superb accomplishments. I would like to look forward to its prospective future.

Profile of the Aurthor

SaburoSuzuki
Tokyo
Prior to being employed at a University, I worked as an electronic engineer for 30 years. During my tenure, I engaged in the product development and marketing of many goods. My previous employment also allowed me to venture abroad where I was able to enjoy many new and different cultures from my own. My time abroad gave me a long lasting hope to continue to learn about many other places. Other regions in Asia are particularly fascinating to me at this time.