Kirikane is an ornamental technique which consists of cutting gold, silver, copper, tin or platinum in lines, triangles or squares and applying them in patterns. After making a thick gold leaf, the cutting process is performed with the help of a special bamboo knife. The knife is made by splitting a piece of slender bamboo (⌀ 20 mm) that was dried for 5~10 years. The bamboo is cleaned of skin and delicately sharpened. Without oil and static electricity, bamboo is perfect for cutting gold leaves easily, as gold doesn’t stick to it.