Kasukabe Kiri Tansu is a paulownia-wood chest of drawers made mainly in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture, designated a Traditional Craft Product by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in 1979. Its origins are said to trace back to the early Edo period, when some of the craftsmen gathered from across Japan to build Nikko Toshogu Shrine settled in Kasukabe, a post town on the Nikko Kaido road, and began making cabinetry and small items from the paulownia wood abundant in the area. Around the Tenpo era (circa 1830), businesses specializing in paulownia chest-making increased, taking advantage of the water transport routes of the Furutone and Edo rivers to ship products to Edo, and the region developed into a production center. Paulownia wood expands when it absorbs moisture and contracts as it dries, so during humid seasons the chests swell slightly and seal tightly, said to protect the kimono and other items stored inside from moisture and fire. The beauty of its wood grain, shown off through unfinished wood surfaces, and its sturdy, warp-resistant construction remain highly valued today.
Origin
The history of Kasukabe Kiri Tansu traces back to the early Edo period. Tradition holds that some of the skilled craftsmen gathered from across Japan to build Nikko Toshogu Shrine settled in Kasukabe — a post town on the Nikko Kaido road where paulownia grew abundantly in the surrounding area — and began making cabinetry and small items from the wood.
History
Around the Tenpo era (circa 1830), Kasukabe's location on the water transport routes of the Furutone and Edo rivers made it well suited for shipping goods to Edo, leading to an increase in businesses specializing in paulownia chest-making and establishing the region as a production center. Craftsmanship continued to accumulate and pass down, and in 1979 the craft was designated a national Traditional Craft Product by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Today, multiple workshops under the Kasukabe Kiri Tansu Association continue to pass on the traditional techniques.
Features
Paulownia wood expands when it absorbs moisture and contracts as it dries; this property means that during humid seasons the joints of the drawers seal tightly, said to protect the clothing and other items inside from moisture, insect damage, and fire. Production involves roughly 100 steps — including selecting and treating the timber to remove tannin, cutting and shaping the components, correcting warping through a process called ita-yaki (board firing), and assembling the piece with wood joinery and mortise-and-tenon joints — and takes approximately seven to ten days to complete. The unfinished wood surface, which highlights the beauty of the grain, is a distinctive feature.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Material selection and tannin removal
Milled paulownia wood is exposed to sun and rain over a long period to remove tannin (astringent substances), preventing warping and discoloration.
- 2
Cutting and shaping components
Components are cut from the tannin-removed boards according to the size and purpose of the chest, then precisely adjusted with a hand plane.
- 3
Correcting warping
Warping and twisting that occur during drying are corrected through the ita-yaki (board-firing) process, producing warp-free material.
- 4
Assembly
The outer frame and drawers are assembled using wood joinery and mortise-and-tenon joints, finished with gap-free precision.
Artisans & Workshops
飯島桐箪笥製作所
One of the few workshops in Kasukabe City where traditional craftsmen handle both manufacturing and retail. Led by Iijima Tsutomu, the workshop carries on the skills of craftsmen certified as Traditional Craftsmen by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Official site →How to Buy
- 春日部桐たんす組合
- An association of 14 paulownia-chest workshops based mainly in Kasukabe City and spread across the eastern Saitama region. It provides information on member workshops and their products.Where to buy →PR
- 山田桐箪笥店
- A shop specializing in the repair and refinishing (surface planing) of Kasukabe paulownia chests. It has the skill to restore chests that have been used for many years.Where to buy →PR