Wild mountain cherry bark crafts shop "Yatsu-yanagi" made Shoehorn 402-YGK-33

This shoehorn is handmade using wild mountain cherry bark that has been carefully peeled from the trunk of a wild mountain cherry tree and dried in the shade to remove moisture.
The bark of the wild mountain cherry tree, the material used for Kaba-zaiku, is grayish-brown in color and has a rough, uneven surface.
When the surface of this raw bark is scraped thin, a reddish-brown layer appears.
This product is made using "plain bark" where the sole of the foot comes in contact with this reddish-brown bark, which is polished to a luster.
Kaba-zaiku (wild mountain cherry bark work) shoehorn is rare, and the more they are used, the more lustrous they become.
The length is about 8.5 cm.

Walk with nature.
Since its founding in 1897, this maker have been engaged in the manufacture and sale of wild mountain cherry bark crafts for generations in Kakunodate, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, which is rich in nature.
"Yatsu-yanagi" produce wholeheartedly tools for daily life that are both easy to use and beautiful, while maintaining the traditional techniques and methods of production.

If the bark of wild mountain cherry blossoms is peeled off using the technique that has been passed down from generation to generation, it will regenerate in a few years and will not die.
"Yatsu-yanagi" is committed to the preservation of sustainable nature and the coexistence and co-prosperity of nature and traditional crafts.
They do not waste materials and carefully use wild cherry bark, a gift from nature, without wasting it.

Kaba-zaiku is a one-of-a-kind craft that uses the bark of wild mountain cherry trees.
If the bark of wild cherry blossoms is peeled off using the technique that has been passed down from generation to generation, it will regenerate in a few years and will not die.
It is said that the word "kaba" originated in a long poem in the Manyoshu (the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry), in which a wild mountain cherry tree was described as "kaniwa," which was later transformed into "kaba".
The beauty of the material is one of the main attractions of Kaba-zaiku, but the excellence of the material is also the reason for its enduring popularity.
One of the characteristics is its ability to suppress moisture.
Over the ages, products utilizing this characteristic have been produced and traditional techniques have been passed down from generation to generation, such as inro (seal case), yakago (medicine basket), doran (tea caddy), and chatsutsu (tea canister).
Items that come into daily contact with the hand, such as tea caddies, gain luster and retain the unique luster of wild mountain cherry tree.

"Kaba-zaiku" is said to have originated in the Goshono family of Kamazawa Shrine in the former town of Aikawa (now Kita-Akita City), where it was handed down from generation to generation as a family tradition.
The technique was introduced to Kakunodate-cho by a samurai, Fujimura Hikoroku, and later spread as a hand job for samurai.
The technique of Kaba-zaiku (wild mountain cherry bark work) was passed down from the samurai to the citizens and continues to today.
In 1976, it was designated as a national traditional craft, and even today, about 150 craftsmen, including in-house workers, are involved in Kakunodate's Kaba-zaiku production, mainly in the town of Kakunodate.

Wild mountain cherry bark crafts shop "Yatsu-yanagi" made shoehorn
Size：Length approx. 8.5 cm × Width approx. 4.0 cm
*Since these are handmade from natural wood, the grain and color of the wood may vary from piece to piece, and the size and weight may vary slightly.
Weight：about 14ｇ

1,000 JPY flat rate shipping within Japan, free shipping for purchases totaling 20,000 JPY or more.
Please bear the actual cost for shipping charges outside Japan.

Do not store in a humid place for a long period of time.
Do not use in direct sunlight or in places with high temperatures.
Some products such as teacups, chopsticks and trays are finished with urethane coating.
When washing them, please do not use a dishwasher, but wash them with a neutral detergent and dry them as soon as possible.
For products without surface coating, such as tea caddies, wipe gently with a soft cloth along the direction of the grain of the wild mountain cherry bark.

Since these products are made of natural materials and manufactured by hand, they may have some defects.