Hakata Magemono is bentwood ware (magemono) made by bending thin sheets of cedar or cypress into a round shape, binding the seams with cherry bark, and fitting a base panel into the bottom, all without using a single metal nail. Its origins are said to be old: the Shibata family of Hakata has carried on magemono-making as a family trade for more than 400 years, and the current head of the family, the eighteenth generation, is Tamaki Shibata. In the Edo period, magemono were also dedicated as ritual vessels at Hakozaki-gu Shrine in Higashi Ward. Loved as everyday items such as ohitsu (rice tubs), bento boxes, and tea caddies, cedar ohitsu in particular are prized by sushi chefs and many other cooks because the wood absorbs and releases excess moisture, keeping cooked rice fluffy. Depending on how it is used and cared for, a piece is said to last as long as 50 years, and in March 2025 (Reiwa 7), Hakata Magemono was newly designated an Intangible Cultural Property Designated by Fukuoka Prefecture (craft technique).
Origin
The history of magemono is long, and its origins are said to trace back to ancient times. In Hakata, magemono have long been dedicated as ritual vessels at Hakozaki-gu Shrine in Higashi Ward, a tradition said to be the forerunner of Hakata Magemono. From the Edo period onward, magemono also began to be made widely as everyday household items, and the Shibata family of Hakata carried on the craft as a family trade across generations.
History
The Shibata family of Hakata has passed down the techniques of magemono-making across generations for about 400 years. The current head of the family, the eighteenth-generation Tamaki Shibata, is the first female artisan to inherit the Hakata Magemono family trade. Long cherished as an everyday household item, Hakata Magemono has recently gained renewed appreciation for its humidity-regulating properties and durability, and on March 28, 2025 (Reiwa 7), it was newly designated an Intangible Cultural Property Designated by Fukuoka Prefecture (craft technique).
Features
The defining feature of this craft is a woodworking technique that uses no metal at all: thin sheets of cedar or cypress are bent into a round shape, bound at the seams with cherry bark, and fitted with a base panel. As an ohitsu (rice tub) in particular, cedar absorbs and releases excess moisture to maintain an appropriate humidity level, keeping cooked rice fluffy. Depending on how it is used and cared for, a piece is said to last as long as 50 years, and these vessels are prized by sushi chefs and many other cooks.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Wood selection
Cedar or cypress timber is cut into boards of a size and thickness suited to the intended use.
- 2
Bending
Thin cedar boards, softened by boiling in hot water, are bent one by one into a round shape along a mold.
- 3
Binding (sewing)
The overlapping ends of the bent board are bound together with cherry bark and carefully fastened using wooden clips.
- 4
Fitting the base
A base panel is fitted into the bent and bound sides to complete the vessel.
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Artisans & Workshops
博多曲物 玉樹（十八代・柴田玉樹）
The workshop of Tamaki Shibata, the eighteenth generation to carry on the roughly 400-year-old magemono-making tradition of the Shibata family. As the first female artisan in the history of Hakata Magemono, she creates ohitsu (rice tubs), bento boxes, ladles, and other items using domestic cedar more than 200 years old.
Official site →How to Buy
- 博多曲物 玉樹 オンラインショップ「くらすこと」
- An online shop offering ohitsu (rice tubs) and oval bento boxes made by eighteenth-generation artisan Tamaki Shibata. Oval bento boxes range from around 7,700 yen (mame/small size) to 8,800 yen (slim size), and ohitsu are available in several sizes.Where to buy →PR
- はかた伝統工芸館
- A facility that relocated to Jotenji-dori in Hakata Ward and reopened in May 2025. It permanently exhibits traditional crafts of Fukuoka and Hakata, including Hakata Magemono, Hakata-ori textile weaving, and Hakata dolls, with items also available in its sales corner. Admission is free.Where to buy →PR