Matsuda

Matsuda Kiribako – Japanese wooden boxes in paulownia

Established in 1929, Masuda Kiribako manufactures traditional kiribako – handmade boxes made of paulownia wood, called kiri in Japanese. Production began with boxes for Hakata dolls and shamisen instruments and today includes boxes for tea ceremonies, food and small household items. The workshop is run by the third generation, Hirofumi Fujii, born in 1987.

Therefore paulownia

Kiri is one of the lightest furniture woods in the world and has the property of absorbing and releasing moisture slowly. That is why paulownia boxes have been used in Japan for centuries to store things that must not mold or dry out: kimonos, tea sets, documents. In the kitchen, the same property makes the boxes suitable for dry goods and for storing things that must keep their shape.

Matsuda

Japanese wooden boxes with sliding lids – multiple sizes

From $264.00 SGD

Matsuda

Bon Plate – hand-turned Japanese tray in chestnut wood

From $223.00 SGD

Crafts By Japan

'KOGEI'

Since the 1950s, the Japanese government has sought to preserve traditional craft techniques by appointing special outstanding artisans as 'Kogei'

These artisans are obliged to pass on their skills to posterity, and their efforts are supported financially by the state.

A 'Kogei' must meet five requirements to be recognized:

The craft must be made for everyday use
The most important parts of the manufacturing process must be handmade
The craft must be created using traditional techniques
Raw materials must be used that are extracted and then used in a traditional way
The craft must be made in a specific region of Japan where the craft is traditionally associated

This means that in Japan there are a number of very skilled artisans/craftsmen who, based on the Japanese craft traditions, create beautiful and functional products of exceptionally high quality.

We have selected a number of these unique products and offer them exclusively here in the webshop.