| While many people are familiar with Native | | | | world, one plant recorded as growing 47.6 inches |
| American and African hand weaved baskets, | | | | in one day. It can also reach an astounding thirty |
| Japanese baskets are not so well known. These | | | | to sixty feet in height. The Japanese tradition |
| beautiful handcrafted baskets that are | | | | holds true with some of species of these plants, |
| constructed of bamboo have long been Japanese | | | | with one plant living over one hundred and twenty |
| tradition. | | | | years and being recorded as flowering only once |
| The art of Japanese basket weaving dates back | | | | during that period. |
| to the Jomon period, which dated from 10,000 | | | | Due to its vast availability, the Japanese have |
| B.C.E (Before the Christian Era) to 300 B.C.E. | | | | used this plant for everything from musical |
| These early baskets were used as tools and | | | | instruments to utensils. Many Japanese basket |
| were very basic in design. Later, during the Yayoi | | | | weavers prefer to use bamboo taken from |
| period that extended from 300 B.C.E. to A.D. 300, | | | | another item, such as old rafters and roofs. |
| baskets began to have intricate designs that | | | | Because of the smoke from the fires and stoves |
| showed that the people had begun to appreciate | | | | in these old buildings, the bamboo that is reused is |
| basket weaving as an art form. From the | | | | a deep burgundy color, eliminating the necessity of |
| nineteenth century on, Japanese artisans have | | | | dyeing that is associated with the use of fresh |
| used traditional Japanese weaving methods | | | | bamboo. |
| combined with certain western techniques to | | | | The art of basket weaving is often passed down |
| weave baskets that can truly be called their own. | | | | through family members, although a master |
| The Japanese have two names for | | | | basket weaver may also accept novices into his |
| baskets-hanakago which means "flower basket" | | | | household. These students spend years studying |
| and hanaire which means "flower container." | | | | under the master before they even touch a |
| These people utilize these bamboo containers in | | | | strand of bamboo. When they are finally allowed |
| the traditional tea ceremony as well as the art of | | | | to weave, they are usually taught to imitate the |
| flower arranging, which is an integral part of the | | | | Chinese style basket first. After the novices |
| Japanese culture. | | | | become comfortable with their technique, the |
| As mentioned earlier, Japanese baskets are | | | | master will allow them to begin to work with the |
| woven mainly from bamboo, a species of grass | | | | Japanese design. Today, there are many modern |
| that is hollow on the inside but also unbelievably | | | | basket weavers that teach their craft in a more |
| strong. In Japan, this grass serves a variety of | | | | contemporary manner, even though these artists |
| purposes. It is used as a building material and can | | | | will admit that the traditional manner is much |
| also be eaten. It also has a mystical quality about | | | | more educational and rewarding. |
| it. Japanese tradition states that the bamboo tree | | | | Japanese weavers today do not need to face the |
| will only flower once in its lifetime and that this | | | | challenges that their Native American counterparts |
| occurrence only happens once every hundred | | | | do as far as seeking the materials that they need. |
| years. | | | | Bamboo is still readily available which should ensure |
| In reality, the climate found in Japan as well as in | | | | the survival of traditional Japanese basket |
| Southeast Asia is ideal for this type of grass. It is | | | | weaving for many years to come. |
| also one of the fastest growing plants in the | | | | |