On January 15th, we visited Kenichi Umezaki and his wife Namie, the only craftsmen who have inherited the techniques of making Minachigasa.

Umezaki's workplace, called Hinokiya, is located in a beautiful Japanese house that has been cherished since ancient times.

Minachigasa are crafts that make use of traditional techniques and the simple, beautifully textured wood of cypress. The oil in the cypress wood, from which they are made, repels water, making them versatile for both rain and sun protection. They also allow air to pass through, making them very cool, light, and durable. The scent of cypress is also one of their charms.

Minachigasa are fascinating crafts that combine practicality with aesthetic value, but today there is only one craftsman left who makes them.

We had a wonderful and peaceful time weaving cypress and chatting.

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