Nagoya Kiri-tansu (Paulownia Wood Chests)

Nagoya Kiri-tansu is the general term for chests of drawers and other furniture made entirely of paulownia wood (kiri) that developed in the castle town of Nagoya. Its origins trace back roughly 400 years to the construction of Nagoya Castle, when carpenters gathered from across the country and settled around the Fukuromachi and Osu districts of the castle town, going on to make chests and long chests (nagamochi). The production area was further boosted by the abundant high-quality paulownia timber available from the nearby Hida region (Gifu Prefecture). The craft involves more than 130 processes -- from timber selection and cutting to correcting warping, shaping, decorating, and fitting metal hardware -- and its defining feature is that a single craftsperson handles the entire process from start to finish. Compared with kiri-tansu from other production areas, Nagoya Kiri-tansu is built wider, and nails are made from hiba cypress or an equivalent material. The natural humidity-regulating properties of paulownia wood keep out moisture and make the furniture highly resistant to fire and heat, with little warping -- qualities that have long made it prized as high-grade furniture. It was designated a Traditional Craft (designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry) on June 22, 1981.