Japanese Wood Crafts
In Japan, 70% of the land is covered with forests, and there are said to be as many as 200 species of trees, including coniferous trees such as cedar and cypress, and broad-leaved trees such as zelkova, chestnut, and horse chestnut, that are used for construction and woodworking. Japanese wood crafts are made by making the most of the characteristics of the wood from each production area. For example, bamboo crafts in Kyushu, Japanese cypress products in Gifu, and cedar products in Akita are famous.
Woodworking techniques developed along with tools, giving rise to a variety of woodworking techniques such as sashimono, carving, gouging, grinding, bending, and hooping.
The skillful use of tools such as axes, machetes, planes, saws, chisels, and files in Japanese woodworking supports not only the lives of people but also the cultural heritage of temples and shrines.
The elaborate techniques that have been cultivated over a long period of history are highly regarded around the world.