Torafu-dake Bamboo Craft is bamboo work made from torafu-dake (tiger-striped bamboo), which grows only in the mountains of Awa, Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture. Torafu-dake is a relative of hachiku bamboo, and brown patterns resembling a tiger's fur appear on its surface. The Kochi-born botanist Makino Tomitaro is said to have named it 'Tosa torafu-dake,' and it is said that the pattern did not appear when the bamboo was transplanted elsewhere. Theories about why the pattern forms include the action of a parasitic fungus or of sea breezes, but it has still not been scientifically explained. 竹虎 (株式会社山岸竹材店), founded in 1894 (Meiji 27), was quick to begin making products from this bamboo. A wide range of items are made, including bento boxes, flower baskets, chopsticks, zori sandals and geta clogs. At the head office in Awa, products can be purchased at the shop next to the factory.
Origin
Torafu-dake is a bamboo said to grow only within an area of about 1.5 km on the steep mountain slopes of Awa, Susaki City. It is considered a variety of hachiku, and its scientific name is Phyllostachys nigra var. tosaensis. It is said to have been named by Makino Tomitaro in 1916 (Taisho 5). Makino tried to cultivate it in his own garden, but it is said that the desired pattern did not appear on the transplanted bamboo.
History
The first to begin making products from torafu-dake was 山岸竹材店, founded as a bamboo materials dealer in 1894. Its trade name, 竹虎 (Taketora), was taken from the torafu-dake it handles. The founder was 卯三郎, and today the fourth-generation head, 山岸義浩, leads the company. Working with the owners of the mountain, the company strives to expand and maintain the bamboo groves, and it is said to make about 4,000 products.
Features
The torafu-dake pattern appears three to four years after the shoot emerges, and is said to become especially vivid in the few months after the first frost. Because exposure to frost and cold makes the pattern more distinct, it is said that fewer well-patterned stalks appear when there is less frost. Not every stalk develops the pattern, and experience is needed to tell them apart. When harvested bamboo is heated with a gas burner and the oil that seeps out is wiped away, the pattern stands out clearly.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Harvesting and Sorting
Every year from around November to January, stalks that have developed the pattern are identified and cut in the mountains. At the head office factory, artisans cut and sort the bamboo. Since the pattern differs from stalk to stalk, a discerning eye for bamboo is essential.
- 2
Oil Removal and Straightening
The selected bamboo is heated with a gas burner to remove the oil, and the oil that seeps to the surface is wiped off. This step brings out the tiger-stripe pattern clearly. The bends in the bamboo are then corrected, preparing it as material for making products.
- 3
Weaving and Finishing
Artisans weave the prepared bamboo by hand into bento boxes, flower baskets and more. Traditional weaves such as yotsume-ami (square weave), mutsume-ami (hexagonal weave) and 'shikainami' are used. For bento boxes, skill is required to finish the lid and body so that they fit together perfectly.
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Artisans & Workshops
竹虎（株式会社山岸竹材店）
A torafu-dake specialist founded in 1894, with its head office and factory at 913-1 Awa, Susaki City. Led by the fourth-generation head, 山岸義浩, it makes a wide range of items, including bento boxes, flower baskets, chopsticks, zori sandals, geta clogs and bamboo charcoal products.
Official site →How to Buy
- 竹虎 Head Office Shop
- At the head office in Awa, bamboo products and outlet items are sold at the shop next to the factory. It is listed as open on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:30 and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. It is about a 5-minute walk from JR Awa Station and about 5 minutes by car from Susaki-nishi IC.Where to buy →PR
- Mail Order (Serai)
- The mail-order service of the magazine Serai lists the 'Toratake Yotsume Bento Box' made by 竹虎 at 11,880 yen (tax included). It is said to be well ventilated and unlikely to spoil the flavor of the food. Prices are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
FAQ
Q. Why does the torafu-dake pattern form?
A. There are theories that it is caused by a fungus that lives parasitically on the bamboo or by sea breezes, but it has not yet been scientifically explained. Makino Tomitaro and researchers from Kyoto University are also said to have investigated the cause. It is said that bamboo transplanted to other places did not develop the pattern.
Q. Is it the same as the 'torafu-dake' of Okayama Prefecture?
A. No, it is different. The torafu-dake found in places such as Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture, is yashadake bamboo that has developed spots from a parasitic fungus, and its native habitat is designated a national Natural Monument. The torafu-dake of Awa, Susaki City, is also called 'Tosa torafu-dake' and is considered a relative of hachiku.