Yamanaka lacquer ware is a traditional handicraft handed down for 400 years in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. This craft dates back to the Tensho era (1570-1592) during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, when wood turners from Echizen (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture) moved to this area and taught turnery to the local workmen. In the Edo period (1603-1868), the techniques of lacquering and makie were introduced, by which the town became famous as the producing center of tea utensils.

Yamanaka lacquer ware is characterized by rokurobiki, or wheel wood carving skills, by which a block of wood place on a wheel is shaped into a bowl or a teacup holder. At the summit of wheel wood curving skill is kashoku-biki, or pattern adding wheel curving, in which quality of wood and beauty of grains are fully utilized. The turned pieces are perfect in shape without any deformation and they are works of art in themselves. In Yamanaka lacquer ware, the excellent skills of turners, which are beyond all imagination from the simple appearance of the finished works, are hidden behind the application of lacquer.

Ryuganji Temple located in Innai–cho, Usa City in Oita Pref. is said to have been established by the monk Gyoki in 746. This temple is the only one existing wooden structure built in the Kamakura period. Okunoin (back temple) and Sanzon-zo (three images of Buddha) made of plain wood are designated as national Important Cultural Properties. During the Tensho era (1573-92) the temple was destructed by fire by Christian Daimyo Sorin Otomo’s order to set fire to all the temples in his territory. Only Okunoin with its principal images remained unburned and has existed up to the present time. The three plain wood images of Buddha are said to have been made out of one piece of camphor wood. The kizahashi (log ladder) leaned under the floor of Okunoin hall is a very rare type of ladder, which can’t be found any other place but at Ise-Jungu Shrine. The ladder is said to have been built by the monk Gyoki in one night. This hall as well as the three images of Buddha is very elegant national property. This temple and Fuki Temple in Bungotakada City are considered as the two most precious cultural properties in Oita Pref. The name of the town “Innai” comes from the legend that this temple was one of the 49 in (temples) established by the monk Gyoki.

Nagiso Turnery is a handicraft handed down in Nagiso area in Kiso County, Nagano Pref. It makes the most of the natural grains of wood such as chestnut, zelkova, and castor aralia. Nagiso area was designated as a producing place of the nation’s traditional handicraft in 1980. According to an old document, during the period from 1704 to 1728, turners paid a fixed business tax and brought turnery products such as bowls and trays to Nagoya and Osaka regions, by which turnery had already begun in this area as early as in the middle of the Edo period. The turners decide what to make according to the qualities and grains of wood. It is said that it takes 30 to 40 years to become an experienced turner who can select the right wood at a glance. Trays, bowls, cake bowls, and teacup holders have been traditionally made, but lately some artistic works are also created.

Oroku Comb is a beautiful comb made out of minebari or ono-ore-kanba (a kind of birch). This traditional handicraft has been handed down in Shinshu region since the Kyoho era (1716－1735) in the Edo period. One day a girl named Oroku, who had suffered from a headache all the time, visited to worship Mt. Ontakesan, she received a revelation that her headache would be cured if she combed her hair with a comb made of minebari. She went back home in Yabuharajuku and kept combing her hair every morning and night. Then to her surprise, her headache was completely cured. Thinking that she should share this benefit with other people suffering from the same pain, Oroku began to make combs and sell them. Oroku combs became popular among the travelers going along the Nakasendo Road, and came to be known all over the country as the specialty product of Yabuharajuku on the Kisoji Road. Minebari is very hard wood. It is sometimes called ono-ore-kanba (meaning birch which is so hard that even an ono (ax) is broken). Toughness of the wood is best suited for making durable combs. It is said that Oroku Combs can be used for three generations.