Iyo Bamboo Crafts (Matsuyama City, Shigenobu Town)

Beautifully Fine Handicraft From the Times of 
Prince Shotoku
Bamboo craft has a long history, and is said to have begun in the 7th 
century when Prince Shotoku visited Dogo Hot Spring, and noticed the 
plentiful growth of bamboo in the area, and taught the local people how 
to weave baskets. The craft was developed through the Edo Era
(1603-1867), and from the end of Meiji Era (1868-1912) to about 1965, 
bamboo craft was also exported in considerable amounts. The process of
weaving baskets for flower arrangements without a mold is called chu-
ami, or weaving in air. Items woven in this manner, are appreciated for 
their unique taste.