In Japan, there is a ``Japanese tansu'', a piece of furniture that can be used to store a variety of things, including clothing, accessories, food, medicine, and even swords. Japanese chests of drawers are made of wood and have excellent airtightness and breathability to suit Japan's hot and humid climate.
In addition to being used as storage furniture, ``Japanese chests of drawers'' can also be used as daily life tools, such as ``Kuruma chests'' that can be used as safes due to their sturdiness, stacked to make stairs, and ``Kuruma chests'' that have wheels so that they can be taken out in case of a fire. It has been used in various scenes.
Even in modern times, Japanese chests of drawers, which have a long service life and are decorated with beautiful decorations, are also used as trousseau items when getting married.
It is said that the ``Iwayado tansu'' was originally brought to the area of Iwayado from Kyoto around the 12th century.
Afterwards, in the wake of the great famine that occurred in the 1770s, chests of drawers and nagamochi began to be made as part of industrial promotion measures in an effort to develop products that could be exchanged for rice.
The first generation Mishina Mozaemon, a carpenter in charge of the domain, was ordered by the lord of the time to develop the Iwayado chest of drawers, and the 12th and 13th generation of the Mishina family head, who continued in this vein, established the current Iwayado chest of drawers factory. I am leading.
The characteristics of ``Iwayado Tansu'' are 1) the material (natural wood such as zelkova or pear), 2) the coating (lacquer), and 3) the decoration with metal fittings.
``Iwayado chest of drawers'' is not just a craft. It is recognized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a "traditional craft", which is a craft used in daily life that is manufactured primarily by hand by a small number of craftsmen in a certain region using traditional techniques, techniques, and raw materials. Specified.
In order to be certified as a "traditional craft", strict conditions must be met based on the "Act on the Promotion of Traditional Crafts Industry", including that the techniques and raw materials must have been inherited for over 100 years. It won't.
Currently, there are only a few crafts in each prefecture that can be called "traditional crafts."
Iwayado Chest Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which provides this product, has been manufacturing Iwayado chest of drawers for over 240 years since its founding in 1782.
Even today, craftsmen continue to make Iwayado chest of drawers using traditional methods, led by the 13th generation owner.
Many of these craftsmen have qualifications such as "Traditional Craftsman" certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, including factory manager Yuichi Kikuchi, who won the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" at the 24th Japan Traditional Crafts Association. I am.
* "Traditional craftsman" = Only those who are directly engaged in the production of "traditional crafts" designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, have 12 years or more of practical experience, and live in the country of origin can take the exam, and have passed the exam. A national qualification granted to a person.