Chabitsu

Soon after I became independent from my teacher, I was asked by a local customer whether I could make a bamboo basket, in which he can put tea things with a lid like a rice basket (Gohanjoke) - and I remember it was the start of my weaving of Chabitsu.  The picture below is that of Chabitsu I have woven the other day, in which I have put tea things myself.　To put all tea cups and pots together, I make it to be around 32-33cm in diameter, with all polished and narrowly-taken Higo.

One day, I received a mail, saying 'Dear sir, I am hoping there will be a possibility to purchase something, even though I live far away...' in Japanese.  At first I was a little puzzled as it didn't sound to be a natural Japanese phrase, but soon I found that it was sent from abroad - Norway.  The　above basket is what I have woven for this Norwegian customer.


Later he told me that he happened to reach my website one day and somehow could read the contents with the help of translation software as he can't read Japanese.   Since it is an order from overseas (which means, I cannot repair baskets so easily unlike those of local customers living nearby), I really had to pay special attention when making them. (Actually I have rewoven a couple of times as the work didn't satisfy me.)


Pictures below were taken in the middle of weaving a lid.  I have to bend the bone-Higo in accordance with the size of inner diameter to fit well into the lower part, making the edge into the shape of a letter 'R'. It is really a delicate work but I am now relieved to see the work finally well finished. I heard that Norway is now entering into the Easter season when postal service is often delayed, so I am planning to send them sometime around the end of this month.

I know nothing much more about him except the fact that he likes tea. Despite the difference of culture and customs, he kindly says he understands my work and will use my baskets in his daily life - for me it is everything and my great pleasure.


As we exchanged mails, he kindly sent me beautiful pictures of Norway and taught me some easy Noweigan words - and it was a happy moment.  Personally, these days I had been trying to keep a distance from the Web, as I started to question myself whether there should be something real in it. Traditional bamboo basket weavers - like during my teacher's age when such virtual Web world didn't exist- they simply devoted their life on baskets-weaving, and that was their reality. Though there are merits and demerits that we receive from the current Web world, I would say I am now grateful that, thanks to such technology, I was given an opportunity to be contacted from Norway beyond a long distance on the earth.

He sent me the picture above, taking a river flowing in front of his house.  When I finally finished weaving baskets for him, I soon visited a 93-year-old basket weaver 'Hiroshima-san' living in the next prefecture. Tension had been with me, but when my baskets were finally held in the hands of Hiroshima-san, it was then released.  Now baskets are ready for setting out for Norway, and I imagine it would be wonderful if I could have a chance someday to visit and see the color-changed baskets at my Norwegian friend's house.