(Odate)Bent Wappa

Bent wagons made in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, are made from Akita cedar, one of the most famous trees in Japan. There are two types of Akita cedar in circulation today: "natural Akita cedar," which grows in the wild, and "Akita cedar," which is planted artificially. Until now, "natural Akita cedar" has been used for kamenge-wappa, but because logging was banned in March 2013 for the purpose of nature conservation, most of the raw materials used today are "Akita cedar," except for the use of logs in stock.

Natural Akita cedar is considered one of the three most beautiful forests in Japan, with trees 200 to 250 years old, characterized by their fine annual ring width, knot-free vertical grain, and luster. On the other hand, "Akita cedar" is around 100 years old and has slightly wider annual rings than natural Akita cedar, but has a more beautiful reddish hue than recent "natural Akita cedar. The uniform grain, lightness, elasticity, and pleasant aroma are comparable and the same for both. It remains the best material for bentwood.
The most beautiful grain of cedar wood, the quarter-sawn part of the annual ring, is used for bended wappa.

The most beautiful grain of cedar wood, the quarter-sawn part of the annual ring, is used for the material of bent wappa. The quarter-sawn part is thinly stripped, soaked in boiling water to soften it, and then quickly bent to fit the mold and dried. The dried bended wappa is then sewn together with cherry bark, carefully inserted so that there is not the slightest gap at the bottom, and filed to complete the process. All of these processes are done by hand by craftsmen. Each piece is carefully made with the same techniques that have been used since the birth of bent wappa, sparing no time or effort.

Although there are a variety of bent products throughout Japan, only Odate bent wappa has been designated as a traditional handicraft by the national government. The elegant texture and warmth of Akita cedar and the reliable techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation are the elements that make this product a true gem of Japan.

Odate City is located in the Odate Basin, which opens along the clear waters of the Yonashiro and Nagaki Rivers that wind through the Dewa Mountains in northeastern Akita Prefecture. The city is located at 40°16' north latitude and 140°34' east longitude. It is a strategic location for the three northeastern prefectures of Akita, Aomori, and Iwate, where people have long been settled, and ruins from the early Jomon Period still remain.
Blessed with ore and beautiful forests of Akita cedar, Odate developed as the political, economic, and cultural center of the northern part of the prefecture.

On April 1, 1951, Odate Town and Shakauchi Village merged to form Odate City. On March 1, 1955, five villages (Nagaki, Kamikawazai, Shimokawazai, Manaka, and Futaida) were incorporated into the city, and on March 31 of the same year, the town of Jujisho was incorporated into the city. On June 20, 2005, Hinai-cho and Tashiro-cho were incorporated to form the current city area.
The city covers an area of 913.22 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 73,000. Blessed with a natural environment, Odate City has made progress in the development of its residential and economic environment, including the Akita North Airport (Odate-Noshiro Airport), the Japan Sea Coast Tohoku Expressway, and other high-speed transportation systems, as well as various facilities.