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Bamboo and wood products
<Bamboo and Wood>
津軽桐下駄
Tsugaru kiri Geta


日本人の履物として古代より用いられてきた下駄は江戸時代に広く流行しましたが、生活の洋風化が進むことで今日では職人の数も少なくなっています。下駄の材料には桐が最も適しています。軽く柔らかいうえに、反動が少なく温度変化にも強いからです。特に厳しい風雪の中で育まれた津軽の桐は木質も堅く、木目も美しいものです。白木の下駄のほか雪の多い土地柄に合わせた雪下駄、津軽塗下駄などが古くから作られ伝統工芸品として受け継が れています。
Japanese people have worn geta footwear since ancient times, and they became widely popular during the Edo period. Paulownia is the most suitable material for geta because it is light and soft, has little recoil, and is resistant to temperature changes. In particular, Tsugaru paulownia, which grows in harsh winds and snow, is a hard wood with beautiful grain. Tsugaru lacquer geta making techniques have been handed down since ancient times. Today, however, the number of craftsmen has decreased as lifestyles have become increasingly westernized.
