Craft · No. 130
No. 130木工品・竹工品
Ichii Ittobori
一位一刀彫
ichii ittobori · 岐阜県
Ichii Ittobori is a traditional wood-carving craft from the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, fashioned from native Japanese yew (ichii) using a single chisel. It is distinguished by the wood's rich, lustrous grain and the clean, precise cuts left deliberately unsmoothed.
- Origin
- 岐阜県
- Category
- 木工品・竹工品
- Materials
- Wood
- Designation
- Nat'l Traditional Craft
No. IHistory
The origins of Ichii Ittobori are traced to the Edo period in Hida-Takayama, a region long celebrated for its master carpenters known as "Hida no Taku…
No. IIMaterials
The primary material is Japanese yew (ichii; Taxus cuspidata) harvested from the mountain forests of the Hida region. Japanese yew is an extremely slo…
No. IIITechniques
The defining technique of Ichii Ittobori is captured in its name: "itto" (single blade) "bori" (carving). Artisans use a single, meticulously sharpene…
No. IVClimate
Hida's inland mountain setting, ringed by the Japanese Alps, brings long, snow-bound winters that historically confined residents indoors for extended…
