Kabazaiku is a traditional handicraft made in Kakunodate-cho, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture. It is a woodworking craft made from the bark of the mountain cherry tree (Oyamazakura and Kasumizakura), and includes products such as tea caddies, small boxes, tea chests, letter boxes, and chadansu. Because of its good sealing and moisture barrier properties, it has been widely used for such tea utensils.
The Chinese character for "kaba" means "mountain cherry blossom," and the origin of the word can be traced back to the Manyoshu, the oldest extant collection of Japanese poetry. The yamazakura plant has been loved by the Japanese people to such an extent. Kakunodate's kabazaiku (wild cherry bark work) has a history of more than 200 years and is said to have been introduced from the Ani region in the northern part of the prefecture by a samurai named Hikoroku Fujimura after 1781. Initially, it began as a side job for low-ranking samurai, and the industry developed in this region.
Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, is located in the central eastern part of the prefecture and borders Iwate Prefecture. In the center of Senboku City is Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan. Lake Tazawa is said to have a lake deity named Princess Tatsuko, and the clear blue lake is beautiful and offers a rich natural environment with seasonal views. About 80% of the area is forested, and there are rivers, flowing from the Ou Mountains. Kakunodate Town developed as a castle town. From around the Oei period (1394-1428), the Tozawa clan gained power and became a feudal lord recognized by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After that, the castle town built by Ashina Yoshikatsu, a prominent family member who was the leader of Aizu, remains almost unchanged today, more than 380 years later.
Today, the samurai residences are a popular tourist attraction, attracting visitors not only from all over Japan but also from overseas. In September 1976, the area known as "Buke Yashiki Dori" was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Cherry Bark Work”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.
Kakunodate in Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, is well known as a production center of Kabazaiku because of its samurai residences, and there is a close relationship between samurai and Kabazaiku. During the Tenmei era (1781-1789), a samurai named Hikoroku Fujimura introduced Kabazaiku from the Ani region in the northern part of the prefecture.
The samurai craftsmanship was truly a spirit of "one item, one spirit, one soul" and the products were completed with all their soul. The uncompromising craftsmanship of the samurai and the beauty of the bark of the yamazakura cherry tree resulted in the creation of elegant products. As the industry developed, wholesalers increased, sales channels expanded, and demand increased from the Meiji period onward.
The number of craftsmen also increased, and techniques and traditions were passed down from master to apprentice. From the late Meiji period to the early Showa period, kabazaiku reached its maturity. Many new products were developed, and even items presented to the Imperial Household were produced. In 1976, kabazaiku was designated as a traditional craft by the Minister of International Trade and Industry.
Please consider commemorative gifts using“Cherry Bark Work”.
We accept a variety of requests,
including letterhead sets and Japanese paper accessories,
as well as items such as the souvenir example.