Shogawa Hikimono Kiji is a woodworking craft centered on Shogawa-cho in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, in which timber is turned on a lathe to finish trays, bowls, and other wooden ware. It is said to originate in 1866 (Keio 2), when Echigoya Seiji, a wood-turner from Uozu, moved to Kanaya (present-day Shogawa-cho, Tonami City) drawn by the abundant timber gathered through the Shogawa River log-driving trade, and began turning wood on a lathe there. During the Meiji era, timber accumulated at the Aoshima log pond, and the surrounding area developed into a major timber hub lined with sawmills and woodworking shops. A hallmark of the craft is the technique of turning wood along its horizontal grain to bring out the beauty of the woodgrain to the fullest, with pieces gaining more luster and character the longer they are used. Domestic woods such as horse chestnut and zelkova are used, finished with tools the artisans make themselves, such as karakasa planes and thin blades. It was designated a METI-designated Traditional Craft in 1978 (Showa 53), and artisans belonging to 庄川木工挽物会 continue to pass on the techniques today.
Origin
Shogawa Hikimono Kiji is said to originate in 1866 (Keio 2), when Echigoya Seiji, a wood-turner from Uozu, moved to Kanaya (present-day Shogawa-cho, Tonami City), where the Shogawa River's log-driving trade had brought together abundant timber, and began turning wood on a lathe there. The blessings of the Shogawa River's water transport supported the birth of this production area.
History
From the Meiji era onward, large quantities of timber were gathered at the Aoshima log pond, and the surrounding area became a major timber hub lined with sawmills and woodworking shops, spurring the growth of the wood-turning trade. Becoming a wood-turner meant apprenticing right after finishing elementary school, and it took more than ten years to become independent under this strict apprenticeship system through which the craft's techniques were honed. It was designated a METI-designated Traditional Craft in 1978 (Showa 53).
Features
The defining feature is the beautiful woodgrain produced by turning the wood along its horizontal grain, which gains more luster and character the longer it is used. Several domestic woods - horse chestnut, zelkova, pine, cherry, and Maackia amurensis - are chosen according to their use, and the artisans make their own distinctive Shogawa tools, such as the karakasa plane and thin blade.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Selecting and Milling the Timber
Logs of zelkova, horse chestnut, and other woods are chosen according to their intended use and sawn into boards of the required thickness.
- 2
Stacking and Drying
The boards are stacked and left to air-dry for six months to a year to prevent warping and cracking.
- 3
Rough Cutting
After the wood is cut into rough circular blanks, a horizontal lathe is used to shape it roughly.
- 4
Kiln Drying
The wood is kiln-dried to a moisture content of around 8%, then exposed to outside air to bring it back up to about 12%.
- 5
Finish Turning
Using tools the artisans make themselves, such as the karakasa plane and thin blade, the piece is turned in outer and then inner finishing passes.
- 6
Applying Raw Lacquer
Raw lacquer is rubbed in and built up in layers, finishing the piece while bringing out the beauty of its woodgrain.
| Main Production Areas |
|
|---|
Artisans & Workshops
庄川木工挽物会
A cooperative organization formed by producers of Shogawa Hikimono Kiji. Based mainly in the Kanaya district of Shogawa-cho, Tonami City, it produces a wide range of turned wood products including trays, bowls, and dishes.
Official site →How to Buy
- 庄川特産館
- A products hall inside Shogawa Suikinen Park that displays and sells trays, bowls, and other Shogawa Hikimono Kiji items. On some days visitors can watch demonstrations of the wood-turning lathe.Where to buy →PR
- ZIBAオンラインショップ（高岡地域地場産業センター）
- An online shop operated by the Takaoka Regional Industry Center that carries Shogawa Hikimono Kiji products.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
庄川特産館
富山県砺波市庄川町金屋1550（庄川水記念公園内）
Demonstrations and hands-on wood-turning experiences are held mainly on weekends (reservation required). A lathe-turning experience making a pen stand or trivet costs around 1,000 yen and takes about 20 minutes.
View details →FAQ
Q. What is distinctive about the tools used in Shogawa Hikimono Kiji?
A. A hallmark is the use of distinctive tools called the 'karakasa plane' and 'thin blade,' which are not off-the-shelf products but are each made by the artisan to fit their own hand.