These decorative wooden boxes are made primarily in the Hitoyoshi region of Kumamoto Prefecture and have become a popular local souvenir. It is said that over 800 years ago, Heike clan refugees who fled to the Kuma region began making these boxes as a way to earn a living. The boxes are handcrafted from fir, cypress, or cedar wood, painted white, then decorated with red and green camellia flowers. The simple, colorful designs of the Hanatebako and the techniques used to make them have been passed down through the generations.