Keep it long, treasure it long.

Lovely cat house

Nekotsugura, a cat house made of straw. Carefully crafted by craftsmen in Nagano so that it can be used for 20 years, the same as a cat's lifespan. Cats love the cozy space that resembles a kamakura. There are windows on the sides and ceiling for cats, and it is also a shape that pursues the comfort of cats with good ventilation even when sleeping inside.

Comfort for cats

Nekotsugura, also known as Nekochigura, is a folk craft of snowy regions such as Nagano and Niigata. The straw used for the material has excellent breathability, heat retention, and cushioning properties, making it the perfect material for cats to curl up and sleep. This cat tsugura is made from the white mochi straw used in sumo wrestling rings. Straw is a rare ancient rice cultivated only in Inadani, Nagano Prefecture. Every year, he selects high-quality rice straws one by one from a large amount of rice straw, and those that need freshness are stored immediately, and those that require flexibility are stored and woven after two to three years. Skill is required to beautifully complete a three-dimensional object like a cat's tsugura, and each piece is created with time and effort.

The natural scent of straw and the narrowness that follows the curled shape make it ideal for a cat bed. The appearance of the face peeking out of the window is adorable, and the appearance is also charming. The craftsmanship can be seen from the weave of the straw, and it is a handmade cat tsugura that warms your heart just by placing it.

Breathable straw is comfortable in the summer and warm in the winter. Thanks to the cat window, the straw does not get trapped in moisture, which prevents the straw from deteriorating and makes it last longer.

History of Straw Work

Straw work is said to be Japan's oldest traditional craft. Straw, which is made by drying the stalks that remain after rice has been harvested and harvested, has long been an integral part of Japanese life. They are used in a wide variety of ways, from tools used in daily life to tools used in religious and ceremonial occasions, toys, and crafts, and are indispensable materials in shaping Japanese culture. It used to be a source of income during the seasons when farm work was not possible in areas where rice cultivation was thriving, but now, due to the mechanization of rice cultivation, it is common to cut the straw at the time of harvest and make it into compost. As a result, it is difficult to obtain long straws for straw work. Partly because the training of craftsmen has hardly progressed, the number of craftsmen continues to decrease year by year, and it is one of the traditional crafts that needs new bearers.

Waram, the future of straw

Waram's brand story begins when the founder, Mr. Sakai, moved to Iijima Town in Nagano Prefecture. Since Iijima-machi was known as a rice-producing area, also known as "Meshi-no-shima," Mr. Sakai planned an event called the Rice Bale Marathon, in which he used bales of rice in the town. I am facing a situation where it is difficult to enter. He found a craftsman himself and learned how to make it. While being taught how to make straw bales, I learned about the decline of the straw craft culture due to the decrease in the number of farmers. In fact, there are currently about 50 straw artisans in Japan, most of whom are in their 90s. “Without straw weavers, we would not be able to make shimenawa for shrines, new year’s decorations, or sumo wrestling ceremonial balls, and many traditional Japanese cultures would cease to exist. Rice is the soul food of the Japanese people. As you can see, rice straw plays a central role in Japan's traditional culture.” With that in mind, Mr. Sakai launched a full-fledged straw craft company and started his own business. As well as becoming a craftsman, we are also focusing on training young craftsmen. At present, he has even been commissioned to create sumo ring rings and shimenawa ropes for Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and has become a driving force behind the future of straw crafts.