Item List

Forest Exploration

Chiyoko Tanaka

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After graduating from high school, Mr. Sukehira became a disciple of Sukesada Ueda Master Swordsmith, a master of home-made steel in Bizen Osafune, Okayama Prefecture, and studied about home-made steel and forging technique for 13 years. After that, he became independent in Ome City, Tokyo, and produce Tamahagane, the raw material of Japanese swords, using Tatara Ironmaking, which is few in number even across the country.

Japanese Samurai Sword

Sukehira Hirata

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Kurohachijo is a type of woven silk products that used to be popular in Itsukaichi area where Mr. Mori was born and raised from the late Edo Period through Meiji Period so that Kurohachijo is also called as “ITSUKAICHI”. The materials need to be dyed with iron-rich mud and seeds of YASHABUSHI (species of alder tree) before weaving. It varies in color from light to dark brown that is almost black. The color depends on how many times silk is dyed with mud. This products were well known across japan in old days, but the popularity has decreased over time because of its time-consuming process and productivity. He is now only one person who has the dying technique and titled as one of 5 artisans in the area.

Kurohachijo -silk textile dyed with mud-

Hiroshi Mori

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