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.