[Kasukabe's Paulownia Chests]

Kasukabe City, located in the eastern part of Saitama Prefecture, is a famous production area for paulownia chests, alongside Kamo City in Niigata Prefecture, Nagoya City, Kishiwada City in Osaka Prefecture, and Wakayama Prefecture. The traditional craft of making paulownia chests and boxes has been passed down since the Edo period. The area around Kasukabe City was once a major producer of paulownia logs, and paulownia trees could be seen everywhere. However, during World War II, many of these trees were cut down as part of a policy to increase food production, and today, it is rare to see paulownia trees in this area. Despite this, the tradition of the paulownia industry has not been lost.

There are various theories about the origins of Kasukabe paulownia chests and boxes, but one theory suggests that they originated as a side business for farmers during the Edo period, who made boxes and other items as a way to supplement their income. Another theory suggests that craftsmen gathered from across the country for the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine in the early Edo period later settled around Kasukabe-juku, a post station along the Nikko Kaido road, and began making finger joints and small items using the abundant paulownia wood available there. While there is currently no evidence to confirm this “Tōshō-gū artisan legend,” it appears that the history of Kasukabe paulownia chests and boxes originated from Edo-period sashimono craftsmanship. Joinery refers to furniture and tools made by combining wood without using nails, and also refers to the technique itself. Wood is joined together using “tenons” carved with a chisel, and the characteristic feature is that the joints are not visible from the outside. It is a beautiful technique that involves delicate and meticulous craftsmanship in the invisible parts, and such jointing techniques are also used in modern Kasukabe paulownia chests and boxes.

Even after the production of paulownia chests and boxes began in this area during the Edo period, agriculture remained the primary industry for some time. Later, around the late 1890s, specialized manufacturers of paulownia chests and boxes began to emerge, and by the end of the Meiji period, the area had become a renowned production site for chests and boxes categorized as “small boxes” and “medium boxes.” During this period, the area also saw a series of entries and awards at the National Industrial Exposition. Another characteristic of this period was that the production of boxes was particularly active compared to other production areas in the prefecture. For example, many boxes for toothpaste and soap, as well as “box pillows” used to prevent hair from becoming disheveled while sleeping, were manufactured. In this way, during the Meiji period, the paulownia industry in Kasukabe began to gradually grow into a major industry for the town.

The post-war surge in demand for household goods further promoted its development. By around 1957, there were more than 250 paulownia chest and box manufacturers in the city, and the industry flourished to such an extent that the phrase, “Are you a chest maker, a god, or the Emperor's uncle?” was coined. Following the period of high economic growth, significant changes in lifestyle also impacted Kasukabe's paulownia industry. A variety of furniture began to replace paulownia chests, leading to a relative decline in demand for them. However, even in such times, the craftsmen's honest craftsmanship remained unchanged. It was precisely because of this unwavering dedication to their craft that, when the time came to recognize the traditional and historical value of craftsmanship, their high-level skills were acknowledged. In 1978, both Kasukabe paulownia chests and Kasukabe paulownia boxes were designated as traditional handicrafts of Saitama Prefecture, and the following year, in 1979, Kasukabe paulownia chests were also designated as traditional crafts by the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Today, many traditional industries are not only preserving valuable traditions but also exploring new ways to adapt to modern lifestyles. Kasukabe Paulownia Chest and Paulownia Box production is no exception. Building on the high technical skills cultivated over a long history, the industry is actively working to create new designs that blend seamlessly into modern spaces while preserving traditional beauty.

The manufacturing process of Kasukabe paulownia chests of drawers is broadly divided into three stages: lumbering of paulownia wood, assembly of the chest of drawers, and finishing, which includes painting and attaching hardware. In some cases, these three stages are carried out by specialized craftsmen in three fields, such as “lumbering craftsmen,” “assembly craftsmen,” and “finishing craftsmen,” while in other cases, the assembly craftsmen handle the entire process from assembly to finishing. It takes about 7 to 10 days to complete a single chest of drawers, which is said to go through about 100 processes. Paulownia wood has a white, glossy surface and a refined appearance. The design of Kasukabe Paulownia chests of drawers is simple, making the most of the beauty of the wood's surface. However, paulownia also has weaknesses as a material, and each process incorporates techniques and innovations to compensate for these shortcomings. For example, paulownia boards tend to warp or twist due to drying, so they undergo a process called “board baking” to correct any distortions before use. Additionally, paulownia wood is lightweight and soft, with relatively few straight pieces, making it difficult to cut wide and long boards. Therefore, the “joining” process involves bonding multiple narrow boards together to create boards of the required width. While this is not limited to paulownia chest making, working with natural materials that are unique in every way requires repeated observation based on a deep understanding of the material, and selecting the optimal use for each situation. Each craftsman relies on their own experience and intuition to perform their individual tasks, and these tasks come together to form the larger tradition, which is truly inspiring.

With the changing times, the tradition of giving paulownia chests as wedding gifts may have faded into the past. However, the beauty and quality of paulownia chests and boxes, as well as the craftsmanship that goes into them, will never be lost. Paulownia chests are tools imbued with the spirit of being passed down from parent to child, and from child to grandchild, spanning generations for over a century. For this reason, many chest makers receive requests for “refinishing.” They sand down the surface of an aged chest, repaint it, and restore it to its former beauty. They begin to weave a new history alongside the memories of time past. For those who wish to use and cherish tools meticulously crafted by hand for a long time, this is a tool that resonates deeply. In Kasukabe City, in addition to paulownia chests and boxes, traditional crafts such as pressed-paper hagoita and straw hats are also produced. If you are in the area, why not visit the shops and workshops?

Azmaya's Rice Storage Box
https://www.shokunin.com/en/azmaya/komebitsu.html
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/
Kasukabe City Local History Museum
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uh7ZfkKC4AE2mxCL7

References
Kasukabe City Local History Museum ‘Once You Start Talking About It, There's No End! The Paulownia Town of Kasukabe’
Kasukabe City Local History Museum ‘Kasukabe City's Specialty Product: Paulownia Chest of Drawers’
https://kasukabe-kiritansu.site/
http://www.kasukabe-tokusan.jp/
https://www.city.okazaki.lg.jp/libra/803/p015437_d/fil/dogu33.pdf