Kishu Tansu are paulownia chests (kiri-tansu) made mainly in Wakayama City. They use paulownia wood, which is white, light and soft. Paulownia absorbs moisture in humid seasons and releases it when dry, which makes it easy to keep the humidity inside the chest constant, and so these chests have long been prized for storing kimono and other precious items. They are assembled so precisely that there is no gap between the body and the drawers, and they are so airtight that pushing in one drawer forces another drawer out with the air inside. The oldest records date from the end of the Edo period; documents record that household furnishings for the Tokugawa family were made when Wakayama Castle was rebuilt. In the Meiji era the area developed as a production area supporting demand in the Osaka region, and production grew further when the opening of the Nankai Railway made transport more convenient. Craftspeople proceed by hand through about 15 steps, from preparing the timber to finishing. In 1987 (Showa 62), Kishu Tansu were designated a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Origin
The beginnings of Kishu Tansu are unclear, but in the Edo period, craftspeople who worked wood gathered in the castle town of Wakayama. The oldest records date from the end of the Edo period. When the main keep of Wakayama Castle burned after a lightning strike in 1846 (Koka 3) and was rebuilt in 1850, documents record that household furnishings for the Tokugawa family were made. The woodworking skills that produced the castle's furnishings eventually came to be applied to making chests for everyday life.
History
It is thought that the techniques of making paulownia chests were established in what is now Wakayama City by the end of the Edo period. In the Meiji era, the area developed as a 'jimawari' production area meeting demand in the Osaka region, and when the opening of the Nankai Railway made freight transport possible, production became even more active. In the Taisho era the range of types expanded to include maegiri (paulownia front), sanpogiri (paulownia on three sides) and sogiri (all-paulownia). Kishu Tansu were designated a national Traditional Craft in 1987, but as the custom of bridal trousseaus has faded, the number of businesses has declined.
Features
Kishu Tansu are 'sogiri' (all-paulownia) chests in which every component is made of paulownia. Paulownia is light, resistant to moisture and does not conduct heat easily, making it well suited to storing clothing. For assembly, wooden pegs are used instead of iron nails, and precise joinery increases airtightness. Representative finishes are the 'tonoko finish', which brings out the white surface of the paulownia, and the 'yakigiri finish', which makes the wood grain stand out like a pattern.
Techniques
Wooden pegs and joinery
Iron nails are not used in assembly; the components are fastened with wooden pegs handmade by the craftspeople. Together with precise joinery, this eliminates gaps between the body and the drawers, creating airtightness so high that pushing one drawer forces another out.
Tonoko finish
A traditional method of finishing the surface with tonoko (fired clay powder), bringing out the white surface of the paulownia. Together with the prefectural industrial technology center, シガ木工 has also developed a modern colored finish in which color is added to the tonoko.
Yakigiri finish
A finish that makes the wood grain stand out like a pattern. Devised by 志賀啓二 of シガ木工, it gives the chest a look in which the wood grain can be enjoyed, different from the tonoko finish, which makes the most of the whiteness of paulownia.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Preparing the timber
The bitter tannins (aku) are leached from the paulownia wood, which is then air-dried for anywhere from six months to several years.
- 2
Kidori (board allocation) and correcting warping
Components are cut from the dried timber, and warping is corrected by applying heat and other methods. Boards are edge-joined (hagi) to widen them, producing the board stock for the chest.
- 3
Assembly
The body is assembled with traditional joinery. Iron nails are not used; it is fastened with wooden pegs handmade by the craftspeople.
- 4
Making drawers and trays
Drawers and trays (bon) are made to fit the body and finished so that they fit without gaps.
- 5
Finishing
The surface is finished with the tonoko finish or the yakigiri finish, completing the chest.
| Main Production Areas |
|
|---|
Artisans & Workshops
株式会社シガ木工
A Kishu Tansu maker in 延時, Wakayama City, founded in 1914 (Taisho 3). It houses the secretariat of the 紀州桐箪笥協同組合 (Kishu paulownia chest cooperative). Its representative, 志賀啓二, is a certified traditional craftsperson (Dento Kogeishi) in the coating division who devised the yakigiri finish and was selected as a Wakayama Prefecture Meisho (Master Craftsperson) in fiscal 2019 (Reiwa 1). The company has trained seven certified traditional craftspeople in-house.
有限会社家具のあづま
A paulownia specialist in Kinokawa City, founded in 1891 (Meiji 24). It grows paulownia trees and carries out every step in-house, from felling and sawing to making and coating. Its representative, 東福太郎, is a certified traditional craftsperson of Kishu Tansu and also develops household goods that make use of chest-making techniques.
Official site →How to Buy
- 紀州桐箪笥協同組合（シガ木工内）
- The production area's cooperative, with its secretariat inside シガ木工 at 延時13-4, Wakayama City. You can make inquiries about the making and purchase of Kishu Tansu. Telephone: 073-452-2011.
- 有限会社家具のあづま
- A paulownia specialist in Kinokawa City that sells paulownia timber and makes and sells paulownia chests. It also develops household goods that make use of Kishu Tansu techniques and is taking on new ways of selling, such as crowdfunding.
FAQ
Q. Why are paulownia chests suited to storing clothing?
A. Paulownia absorbs moisture in humid seasons and releases it when dry, so it is said to make it easy to keep the humidity inside the chest constant. It is also light and does not conduct heat easily, and so it has long been prized for storing kimono and other precious items.
Q. Why does another drawer come out when I close one?
A. Because the chest is made so precisely that there is almost no gap between the body and the drawers. The air inside has nowhere to escape, so when you push one drawer in, the air pushes another drawer out. It is a feature of Kishu Tansu that shows how airtight they are.
Q. What is the difference between the tonoko finish and the yakigiri finish?
A. The tonoko finish is a traditional finish that brings out the white surface of the paulownia. The yakigiri finish makes the wood grain stand out like a pattern and was devised by 志賀啓二 of シガ木工.