Kyo-Tsuzura / A4 Document Box / Lacquered Bamboo Storage

These handmade tsuzura baskets are made to order, and each basket is individually made to order.
The lacquer applied to the surface has antibacterial, mothproof, and abundant effects. It is also breathable, making it a perfect item for storing not only kimonos, its belt, and other costumes, but also other important clothes worn on a daily basis. Please feel free to contact us about the size and personalization.

Width：32cm
Depth：23cm
Height：8cm
Weight：711g

Bamboo
Lacquer
Japanese paper

WATANABE SHOTEN

"Making Number One craft for customer to be Only One"

The reason why we only do made-to-order is to create the only one for our customers. And we have a confident that our craft will be number one item in your belongings! We hope you will experience our traditional skill, which is one of the few of its kind in the world.

ARTISAN STORY

Yoshikazu Watanabe / Watanabe Shoten
He is a craftsman who has been making Kyo-tsuzura baskets in Kyoto since 1931. Mr. Watanabe, now the third generation, handles everything from material selection to the finished product. He is the only craftsman in Japan who can call himself a Tsuzura-shi (Tsuzura craftsman). Watanabe Shoten is responsible for the production of "akeni" (a kind of travel bag used to store yukata) used in the sumo industry, and is recognized by the sumo industry, Japan's national sport, as a craftsman with proven skills.

KYO TSUZURA / KYOTO WOVEN BAMBOO BOXES

About 1,000 years ago / 1000s / Heian Period (794–1185)

Tsuzura are storage chests made from woven bamboo frames covered with washi and finished with persimmon tannin or lacquer. In Kyoto, they were refined alongside court, temple and kimono culture as lightweight, repairable containers for clothing and valuable implements.

For Japanese people, tsuzura are so familiar that they appear in traditional folktales as symbols of old-fashioned storage. Lighter than wooden chests and naturally breathable, they are especially suited to kimono. Today they survive as clothing cases, tea-utensil boxes and distinctive interior storage.

Although the surface can look like a paper box, the hidden structure is a flexible bamboo basket. Bamboo, paper, tannin and lacquer are layered to combine strength with very little weight. Damaged areas can be rewoven or repapered, making tsuzura an early example of what might now be called repairable design.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.