日本遺産木曽路
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Araragi Cypress Hat

蘭桧笠

Story

A handmade hat made by weaving hide (thin strips of hinoki cypress). The technique was conveyed by a person who came from Ochibe, Hida (Gifu Prefecture) in 1662. You can see work demonstrations at Hinokigasa no Ie  (house of cypress hat) in Araragi.

Overview

The technique for Araragi cypress hat was conveyed by a person who came from Ochibe, Hida in 1662. At that time, hats were in high demand and hat manufacture became a key industry of Araragi, where arable lands were small.
Lifestyles have changed since the war and the demand for the hat has reduced. However, the hat has an enduring popularity as a practical and decorative item. Tourists who visit Tsumago and Magome and Mt. Ontake climbers have another look at the handmade feel of the hat coming from the traditional technique.
*Araragi cypress hat was designated as a Nagano Prefectural Traditional Craft in 1982.

Points of Interest

An old-fashioned, handmade, simple and beautiful cypress hat. You can purchase the hat at souvenir shops.

  

Interview

Mr. Okaniwa and Mr. Isamu Odaka

Mr. Okaniwa and Mr. Isamu Odaka

We visited Araragi Hinokigasa Manufacturers Cooperative and interviewed Mr. Okaniwa and Mr. Isamu Odaka. The former is the president of the cooperative, and the latter is a craftsman of the hat.

“We have a special feeling about a cypress hat. We have engaged in manufacturing the hat since childhood. It is machine-made nowadays, but it was hand-made in old days. Family members shared the work,” they said.

“The cypress hat was used for boat riding in the Tenryugawa River. We have stayed up-to-date by making such things as shoe insoles, but the technique has been inherited as it was before.

“What is remarkable about a cypress hat?”

“After you use one, you will realize how good it is. The purposes of use are limited. The cypress hat is lightweight, sturdy, and lets air through. You can use one in the rain, the snow, and under the summer sunshine. It’s due to the handmade quality.”
“Moreover, hinoki cypress has a natural antibacterial effect. Wear the hat, and you will get the benefits of forest bathing. Some people say that the hat is “wearable forest bathing.” *laughs*
Some tourists buy the hat, but mostly the local people use one for agriculture and home gardens.”

桧傘を作るときに難しいところはありますか?

“Do you have any difficulties in making a cypress hat?”

“Everything is difficult from start to finish. *laughs*
Basically, everything is manually done. We break thin strips one by one by hand. Hand work is its good feature, and we are proud of that.”

桧傘
 

“We hold workshops twice in a year. Active weavers give instructions to the next generation. Every time we have 10 - 30 people to teach.
In old days, families made cypress hats as a team. However, that is not the case now. Please come and see us if you are interested. We hope that young people will come to know of it.”

We heard them speak. They keep making traditional crafts by hand.

  

Attractions

An old-fashioned, handmade, simple and beautiful cypress hat. You can purchase the hat at souvenir shops.

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