Craft · No. 114
No. 114木工品・竹工品
Nibutani Ita
二風谷イタ
nibutani ita · 北海道
Nibutani Ita are traditional Ainu carved wooden trays crafted in the Nibutani district of Biratori Town, Hokkaido. Distinguished by intricate, flowing arabesque relief carvings, they represent one of the finest expressions of Ainu woodworking artistry.
- Origin
- 北海道
- Category
- 木工品・竹工品
- Materials
- Wood
- Designation
- Nat'l Traditional Craft
No. IHistory
Nibutani Ita are wooden trays with deep roots in the Ainu culture of the Saru River basin in Hokkaido's Hidaka region. The Ainu people traditionally u…
No. IIMaterials
The primary materials are Hokkaido-native hardwoods, most notably Itaya maple (Acer pictum) and Japanese whitebark magnolia (Magnolia obovata). Itaya…
No. IIITechniques
Production begins with rough shaping — cutting and trimming a timber blank into the basic tray form. The artisan then sketches the design directly ont…
No. IVClimate
The cool, temperate climate of the Saru River basin in Hokkaido's Hidaka region fosters the growth of high-quality hardwoods such as Itaya maple and m…
