Thailand – Visiting the Village of Krajood (Part 1)
Hello, I’m Tomotake Ichikawa, owner of 1basketry.
Starting Thursday, April 10, 2025, we’ll be holding a special exhibition titled:
“The One Table”
Kachū & Rattan Baskets from Thailand
– Gentle Order, Inner Calm –
at our physical store in Minami-Senju, Tokyo.
This exhibition features baskets made primarily from Kachū,
a type of water grass basket long cherished by our customers,
alongside Rattan baskets, making their debut at this event.
The charm of Kachū and similar grasses lies in their remarkable flexibility,
beautifully captured in the weaving process pictured above.
Once tightly woven, Kachū baskets become robust and practical, ideal for everyday use.
With various types and sizes,
Kachū baskets are appreciated for their lightweight handling, versatility, and affordability.
Our baskets are crafted by skilled artisans and undergo careful inspection,
ensuring consistently high quality.
In Thailand, you can find Kachū baskets in markets, department stores, and airports
—but quality and finishes vary widely.
While colorful, decorated baskets are popular in Thailand and the U.S.,
1basketry offers designs tailored to Japanese aesthetics
—simple, natural, and showcasing the beauty of the materials themselves.
I’ve always wanted to personally thank the artisans creating these baskets.
Last year, I finally visited their villages in southern Thailand.
I met the makers, saw the water grass fields, and watched baskets being crafted.
In this column series, I’ll share my experiences visiting these villages.
“Welcome to Thailand, Mr. Ichikawa!”
My guides, M-san and E-san, greeted me warmly with wide smiles at the arrivals lobby of Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.
At that moment, I truly understood why Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles.” Their genuine smiles made me feel immediately welcomed and reassured.
Seeing their friendly faces, I felt relieved that I’d arrived safely, and my excitement for the upcoming journey quickly grew.
For me, a big joy of visiting Thailand is definitely the food (and baskets, of course!). Dinner with locals was “Aroi maak! (Very delicious!)” 
“Thip Khao,” a basket for sticky rice (Khao Niao, right). Let’s eat! 
This place was famous for its chicken—juicy and delicious! 
Stir-fried pork with purple onions. Tasty but much spicier than it looked—authentic Thai food at its best! 
E-san from southern Thailand accompanied me as an interpreter, fluent in Thai, southern dialects, English, and some Japanese. In the foreground is Tom Yum Kung, my absolute favorite dish. But this time it was a continuous cycle of “So spicy! But so delicious! So spicy again!” E-san found this spice level just perfect and remarked calmly, “It’s really delicious.” Truly impressive… 
After spicy food, a refreshing sorbet dessert. Cool, sweet, and relaxing, featuring flavors like turtle jelly and pandan leaf.
After an enjoyable dinner, I checked into the hotel.
With an early flight scheduled to southern Thailand the next morning, I decided to sleep early.
The next morning, my alarm rang at 4:30 AM.
It was still dark outside as I headed to Don Mueang Airport for a domestic flight.
Before Suvarnabhumi Airport, where direct international flights now arrive and depart, Don Mueang was Bangkok’s international airport.
Despite the early hour, the route to Don Mueang was already congested, and there was a long line of cars near the terminal.
I’d assumed traffic would be smooth, considering it was early morning and just a domestic airport. Seeing this unexpected congestion truly surprised me.
Traffic conditions differ greatly between Tokyo and Bangkok, and I don’t recall ever seeing this much traffic heading to an airport in Japan, even on weekdays.
M-san, my guide, mentioned that many new airports are currently under construction throughout Thailand.
This experience gave me a real sense of Thailand’s energy and growth, despite the different circumstances of each country.
About a one-hour flight from Bangkok to the southern city. 
This airport in the south had just recently opened. 
Checking out the souvenir shop at the airport terminal, I immediately spotted Kachū baskets! 
Other finely woven baskets were available too, made not from Kachū, but from Yan Lipao, another type of plant. 
Basket weaving that rivals elaborate decorations in terms of delicacy. 
These Yan Lipao baskets are regarded as traditional crafts in southern Thailand.
Now, finally, it was time to head to the Kachū village!
To be continued…
Tomotake Ichikawa
▽
“The One Table” Exhibition
Kachū & Rattan Baskets from Thailand
– Gentle Order, Inner Calm –
April 2025
10 (Thu), 11 (Fri), 12 (Sat)
17 (Thu), 18 (Fri), 19 (Sat)
24 (Thu), 25 (Fri), 26 (Sat), 27 (Sun)
Open: 11:00–16:00
Physical Store: 1basketry, Minami-Senju, Tokyo. Access