Bamboo Shoot Gathering

One fine day in June 2016.

I was in a park waiting among other volunteers.

We were volunteering for bamboo shoots gathering.

Japanese timber bamboo is not just for timber,

the shoots and young tips are edible.

Some prefer half grown one like this at the center...

It's like you are cutting a giant asparagus,

or you became an ant wondering in an asparagus field.

A few hours later

We gathered enough bamboo shoots to share among 100 participants.

There were surprisingly many elderly citizens, and TV crews,

asking them 

the best bamboo shoot recipe.

"Chicken hide."

An obviously well off lady proudly answered.

"Stew bamboo shoots with chicken hide in teriyaki sauce.

It's delicious."

OK. This is the secret of long Japanese life.

They do outdoor volunteer work,

and eat chicken hide.

I cooked some flavored rice with bamboo shoots,

and canned the rest to save it for later.

Maybe I can save it for Bendor.

Gardening Stool

We found a rustic gardening stool in the charcoal hut,

our new basketry base in Chiba.

It's a good example of hexagonal, 

demonstrating the robustness of the structure. 

The leg consists of a single hexagonal base and two barrel hoops.

The structure cannot be more simple.

But handling thic material is not easy.

So the barrel hoops are used to keep it in shape.

The leg is done.

I'm going to finish the seat next time we visit the charcoal hut.

Dish drier

茶碗かご (chawan kago), dish drier

Kitchen utencil. Coarse basket for drying dishes.

Mutsume pattern 

Basic hexagonal pattern. 

Rim. Naturally formed by twisting back the material using a hoop.

Sashi mutsume

Inserting material to hexagonal pattern to make solid surface.

The leg is upside down Nodaguchi with open end.

Nodaguchi is a common technique fixing the rim between two thick strips. 

Going France

Display, Demonstration and Workshop

Display: 16-18, 23-25 September 2016

Workshop: 12 September 2016,

Ile de Bendor, France

"Would you like to join basketmaking experience on a French island?"

I was planning my vacation when I saw the ad.

It was a kind of AIR open call.

For previous vacations, I had visited basketmakers in Japan.

I had never imagined about going abroad.

Well... Why not?

I contacted the organizer and we have outlined the event.

I'm going to l'ile de Bendor in France for two weeks from mid September.

There are still a lot to do for preparation.

But I kind of enjoy it.

Gallery will be opened weekends.

Visit the island for leisure and chat about basketry and Japanese culture.

For more information about the island: http://bendor.com/

Shopping basket

買い物かご (kaimono kago), shopping basket

Used before the prastic bags had been invented. 

Still prefered by some Japanese restaurant chiefs.

Goza-me pattern

Basic coiling technique to form solid surface without gaps. 

Handle is formed by coiling thick long material three times.

Kazura (ivy) is common material for handle cover. 

But only available in late automn.

Leather is used instead. 

Makibuchi

Coiling around the rim with thin bamboo surface strips. 

Ishizuri

Stone guard. Protecting the body from scratches when place on the floor.

Fruit basket

盛りかご (morikago), serving basket

Used to serve fruit or sweets.

Hana mutsume.

Decorative hexagonal pattern. 

Masawari atebuchi

Yamato musubi

The bottom is protected with triangle bones.

Tiny parts are called Mushi (worm), named after the appearance.

Open Air Museum @Kawasaki, near Tokyo

Nihon Minkaen is an open air folk museum in Kawasaki,

30 minutes train ride from Tokyo.

They have a few dozens traditional houses in the park.

Most of them with thatched roof.

I love folk museums because they are always unique.

Where ever I go, I try to visit the local museum

In my country, it's no exception.

I have visited Minkaen a few times.
There is a volunteer association for folk art working with this museum.

They demonstrate basket making on some weekend,

and hold a craft market in May and October.

(Visite website for details)

In the front yard of a farm house

many baskets were displayed.

"But you know the good ones have already gone on the first day,

as if they had wings..." a lady said modestly.

No wonder.

They were solid and authentic, and modestly priced.

Besides the craft market,

my favorite is this mobile ferryman station.

Ferrymen escaped from river floods,

carrying the hut on their shoulders.

The photograph showing the hut on the river side.

I'm amazed by how much our life has been changed in Japan.

It's just several decades ago.

Good to know

Tour is provided in English for a group of five or more people. Two weeks advance reservation required.