Keep it long, treasure it long.

A basket combining elegance and practicality

Oita Prefecture is renowned as a hot spring destination, yet it has also long supported a culture of bamboo craftsmanship as a region where high-quality bamboo thrives. This Shiratake Hachimame Bag is woven using white bamboo harvested locally, each bamboo splint carefully shaved and its knots and grain aligned. When held, its light appearance belies the unique suppleness and resilience of bamboo, felt in the fingertips. Its bright white appearance at first use gradually deepens with exposure to sunlight and handling, evolving into an amber hue. This is a basket meant to be cherished long-term, enjoying this transformation over time.

Well-ventilated octagonal weave

The continuous octagonal weave pattern is a technique called "Hachime-bami." By evenly crossing the bamboo strips, larger gaps are created, contributing to the basket's lightness and excellent ventilation. Even when you put freshly bought vegetables or fruit directly inside, moisture doesn't build up easily, making it a reliable basket for temporarily storing food.

The bottom gently curves upward toward the center. This ensures all four corners firmly touch the ground when placed, providing stability even when loaded, minimizing wobbling. Additionally, the corners are reinforced with rattan wrapping for lasting durability. The handles use round rattan, balancing ease of grip with sturdiness.

Its size perfectly accommodates everyday groceries like milk, leafy greens, and egg cartons. When carrying freshly baked bread, the basket allows steam to escape, keeping it fluffy—a unique advantage of bamboo. At home, it serves as a practical tool: store vegetables in a kitchen corner, use it as a designated spot for dishcloths or towels. Its elegant presence adds charm simply by being there.

Tools Carrying On Tradition

The White Bamboo Eight-Hole Weave Bag is crafted using traditional techniques unique to Beppu bamboo craftsmanship. The material is white bamboo (bleached bamboo), made by carefully removing oils from green bamboo through fire-scorching and boiling, then drying it thoroughly in the sun. This bleached bamboo is characterized by its bright, beautiful white color and soft luster. Moreover, bamboo is an excellent material that gains even greater durability through weaving. With use, it gradually develops an amber hue and deepens in character. It offers the joy of nurturing it through daily life, and with careful use, it can truly last a lifetime. This basket is especially recommended for those who wish to cherish and use it long-term, treating it like a cherished tool.

Beppu bamboo crafts have maximized the appeal of bamboo. It is a craft passed down through generations of weavers over a long history dating back to the Heian period. Its origins are said to be even older, possibly tracing back to the Kofun period. It began in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, where high-quality bamboo grows abundantly. It is said that attendants of visiting imperial family members wove tea bowl baskets using bamboo, and bamboo crafting took root in the local way of life.

By the Edo period, Beppu gained fame as a hot spring resort, attracting numerous visitors seeking therapeutic baths from across Japan. The bamboo products they used during their stays—such as rice baskets and rice strainers—were taken home as practical and beautiful souvenirs, spreading the reputation of Beppu bamboo crafts far and wide. Evolving with the times, Beppu bamboo crafts continue to be passed down, carefully preserving the inherent flexibility and beauty of bamboo while innovating in form and function.

Discover Tools Rooted in Daily Life

Even for the same purpose, different materials, shapes, and weaves. Basket products from across Japan and around the world offer glimpses into regional characteristics, deeply rooted lifestyles, and even the personalities of the people. Unlike expensive traditional crafts, they provide an opportunity to learn about familiar history and techniques. They possess a warmth absent in perfectly automated modern plastic or stainless steel products, each retaining the unique character of its material and traces of handcraft—making every piece feel one-of-a-kind.

As natural materials often require considerable effort to gather, we ask for your understanding regarding minor imperfections in the finished product—such as small cracks, tears, or twists—that do not affect functionality. We hope you will appreciate these as hallmarks of handmade craftsmanship.