[Craftsman Encyclopedia] Saiga Shokunin Burui (21) Potter's Wheel (Rokuro)
|Potter's Wheel (Rokuro)|
Tamakushige (a poetic pillow word for Hakone). There are seven hot springs that gush forth in the mountains of Hakone, known as the "Seven Hot Springs." Many people in these mountain homes practice this craft. It is unknown since when this began.
* "Tamakushige" is a pillow word for Hakone. "Kushige" refers to a box for storing combs and cosmetic tools, and "Tamakushige" is an honorific term for it. Tamakushige.
* "Seven Hot Springs" is thought to refer to the seven hot springs of Hakone: Yumoto, Tonosawa, Miyanoshita, Dogashima, Sokokura, Kiga, and Ashinoyu. Reference: "Hakone Nana-yu Zue [Complete Collection]", "Ordinary Middle School Lecture Records: Japanese Geography", "Shin-koshu Shokoku Dochu Sode-kagami", "Dosō Meguri (Hakone Nana-yu Meguri)" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
The craftsmanship produced is truly exquisite. It is made using Japanese pagoda tree, holly, plum, cherry, and Jindai cedar wood.
In Edo, this is called "Yumoto-zaiku" (Yumoto craft) and is particularly praised. From items for decorating desks to kitchenware, there is nothing that does not suit one's preferences. They are called "Hikimonoshi" (wood turners).
* "Enju" (Japanese pagoda tree) is a deciduous tall tree of the legume family.
* "Hiiragi" (Holly) is an evergreen small tree of the olive family.
* "Kōto" refers to Edo.
* "Yumoto-zaiku" refers to wood crafts made in places like Hakone Yumoto.
* "Shōbi" means to praise and admire.
* "Hōchū" refers to a kitchen.
* "Hikimono" refers to crafts made by turning wood with a potter's wheel lathe.
* Reference: "Koji Ruien, Industry Section, Vol. 1" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
About |Yumoto| |Crafts|
Nihon Chishi Ryaku Jibiki Taizen: Revised Illustrated Edition, Vols. 1-3"
Source: National Diet Library Digital Collections "
Tabi no Katsuto, No. 41: Hakone Nana-yu Volume"
Hakone Specialty: Yumoto Crafts
These are tools made of marquetry, and there are many varieties. Although produced in various places in the mountains, they are all called "Yumoto-zaiku."
Reference: "Hakone Onsen Annai (Famous Yumoto Crafts)", "O-Hakone-yama (Yumoto Onsen)" (National Diet Library Digital Collections)
Author's Note: ● indicates characters that could not be deciphered, and □ indicates kanji that cannot be displayed on a computer. I will update this as I decipher new characters or notice typos/misreadings. For details, please read "About/Disclaimer." 📖