Miyamoto Kogei

At the foot of Mt. Iwaki in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture — for a long time — culture of weaving akebi vine and mountain grape vine bark naturally growing in the mountains as life tools has been nurtured. People utilized nature's blessings without waste — and made indispensable tools for life — like baskets to carry loads, harvest carrying baskets, and kitchen storage baskets — by their own hands.

Miyamoto Kogei — as a workshop inheriting such Tsugaru weaving culture — has continued walking single-mindedly in vine craft since the postwar era. Work handling natural materials doesn't go under the same conditions every year. Vine growth, color, and thickness change greatly by that year's weather and environment. Even so — craftsmen go to the mountains — discern quality vines — and select only materials usable long.

Basket making at the workshop is a long process starting from material sorting — peeling and arranging bark, weaving up, fitting edges and handles, and advancing to finishing. By one craftsman performing this series of work throughout — Miyamoto Kogei can grasp the material individuality to the end — carefully adjusting weave density, handle thickness, and the feel when touched by hand.

Akebi vine and mountain grape bark are now precious mountain blessings — with quantities becoming scarce. Using these limited materials without waste — and having each work used long — is also the workshop's important mission. Miyamoto Kogei's baskets — while accompanying various life scenes — daily shopping, outings, and storage — grow as lifetime tools that increase color and gloss with time — and become familiar to the user's life.

Expression-rich vine craft born from Mt. Iwaki's natural materials

What Miyamoto Kogei uses — natural materials produced in Aomori Prefecture — like akebi vine bark and mountain grape vine bark naturally growing in the mountains and fields of Mt. Iwaki in the Tsugaru region. To use the rich mountain blessings without waste — carefully selecting from the gathering stage — and taking bark while preventing cracking — performing uncompromising handwork from material making. Color variation, knots, and gloss differences unique to natural materials become each basket's individuality — and increase flavor the more used.

Inheriting Tsugaru's weaving wisdom continuing from the Edo period

In the Tsugaru region — the culture of weaving up akebi vine and mountain grape bark as life tools has been inherited since the Edo period. Miyamoto Kogei — while cherishing those traditional weaving methods and tools — produces baskets and bags with designs that also fit modern living. Expressions born from diverse weaving techniques — like network weaving, flower knot, and chaotic weaving — possess beauty as crafts at the same time as being practical items.

Consistent production by one craftsman from material sorting to finishing

At the workshop — adopting a consistent system where one craftsman takes responsibility from material sorting through preparation, weaving, to finishing — rather than a division-of-labor system. Therefore — while mass production is not possible — can pay attention to details from discerning material state to finishing the last handle — connecting to product making conscious of using comfort and durability. Even when stock is small — taking time to accommodate custom orders is also an expression of this stance.