Suzutake botanically belongs to a group of bamboo plants known in Japan as sasa. Slender, smooth-surfaced, and durable, it has long been used to make baskets, strainers, and other household tools.

Today, Suzutake basketry is made mainly in Iwate and Yamanashi Prefectures. The name is written differently in Japanese in the two regions, and the materials used there also differ slightly in character and in the way their colors appear. Both regions face serious challenges in securing enough suitable material and finding people to carry on the craft. Here, we introduce strainers, lidded baskets, shopping baskets, and other items made from Suzutake.

Although there are subtle regional differences in color, in both cases the material changes from green to pale yellow, and this pale tone lasts for many years. With further aging, it gradually deepens to amber. We hope you will enjoy these slow changes in color and texture as the items become part of your daily life.