Thailand – Visiting the Village of Krajood (Part 4: Closing Chapter)
Hello, this is Tomotake Ichikawa, the owner of the store.
We are currently holding a special in-store exhibition, “The One Table.”
Krajood & Rattan Baskets from Thailand
– Gentle Order, Inner Calm
On view through Sunday, April 27.
We would be delighted if you could stop by.
We look forward to welcoming you in person.
Our Krajood basket collection is also available through our official online store and Rakuten shop.
We hope you’ll take a look.
Thank you for your continued support.
In the previous column, we shared scenes of the wetlands where Krajood grows,
and how it is harvested and sun-dried afterward.
In this final part, we explore how the material is prepared by hand and transformed into baskets.
We’ll take you through the steps from processing to weaving, accompanied by photos and video.
After being harvested from the wetlands, the Krajood is coated with mud to strengthen its surface.
Then, on a sunny day, it is dried all at once under the sun.
Looking at the neatly dried bundles, I thought, “Now they’re finally ready to be woven into baskets.” But—
There was still one more step to go.
Ms. N led me to a space specially set up for this part of the process.
On the concrete floor stood a large cylindrical roller made of concrete.
Ms. N placed a bundle of Krajood on the floor, grabbed two wooden railings,
and with a light motion, hopped up onto the roller!
With practiced ease, roll, roll, roll—
she firmly pressed down the bundle by rolling the heavy roller over it.
The leaves of Krajood, which resemble stems,
are hollow inside when freshly harvested—just as you can see in the photo.
In this state, the material isn’t suitable for weaving,
so it needs to be flattened and shaped into ribbon-like strips.
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This is a surprisingly time-consuming and patient task, requiring steady effort. With a warm smile, Ms. N said, “Please be sure to tell your customers how much work this really takes.” -
It’s not done in a single pass—she rolls back and forth over the bundle many times to press it thoroughly.
She told me that doing this step carefully is essential for the basket weaving that follows. -
Just when I thought we were finally going to start weaving…
Ms. N lifted the prepared materials onto her back, stood up gracefully, and headed to another spot.
And there—another machine awaited us! -
To my surprise, yet another roller appeared. The bundle of Krajood was fed through it once again. -
The bundle of Krajood was passed through the roller again and again, with great care. As I watched, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Wouldn’t it be faster to use this roller from the start?” But Ms. N answered my question without hesitation. -
“If we use this machine from the beginning, the strong pressure could crack the Krajood,” she explained. “That’s why we first roll it slowly by hand (or foot).” This extra step, taken to avoid wasting precious material, is part of what leads to making good baskets—something I learned again here. -
The bundle on the left shows the Krajood before being processed by hand (foot) and then by the machine roller. -
After going through both types of rollers, the bundle of Krajood is flattened and neatly prepared. At last, it’s ready to be woven into baskets.
The bundles of Krajood, as seen in the photo, are neatly flattened and lined up in rows.
Looking at them, the phrase “Krajood bed” came to mind.
I remembered how European basketmakers referred to the place where they lay their willow materials as a “willow bed,”
and I felt something similar in the way Krajood was handled here in Thailand.
The shared roller machine used in the village, and next to it, the patiently waiting “Krajood bed.”
It made me realize once again how the villagers skillfully combine human effort and mechanical tools,
balancing care and efficiency as they prepare this essential material each day.
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Each weaver was at their own station, working on the specific type of basket they were responsible for. -
Next to them were bundles of Krajood that had been carefully processed with the rollers. -
As soon as the materials were picked up, the weavers’ hands moved swiftly and confidently, bringing each weave into place one after another. -
The shape of the basket began to rise gracefully and effortlessly. -
All of them were using a technique known in Japan as “ajiro-ami,” a tightly woven pattern. -
Making good use of shaded areas under the eaves, everyone worked calmly, silently, and with practiced efficiency. -
Since Krajood is a grass-based material, it can be bent by hand to create curves or creases as needed, -
or gently tapped with a wooden mallet to shape and adjust it, -
For the finishing touches, scissors are used to trim and refine the shape. What struck me most about Krajood basketmaking was how, perhaps due to the material’s flexibility, both men and women naturally take part in every stage—from harvesting to weaving. -
The many baskets made in this way are shaped through steps like starching, then thoroughly sun-dried before receiving their final finishing touches and being completed.
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In this Krajood village, I was able to witness nearly the entire process—from harvesting the materials to the completion of the baskets. -
Watching those scenes of work, I deeply felt—this is truly a form of skilled, reliable craftsmanship. -
What I saw was a way of life—where people earn their living through steady handwork using sustainable materials.
Within the village, roles are shared like a well-organized team, and production moves forward through collaboration. -
The village’s way of life truly revolves around this one plant—Krajood. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say so.
We’ve put together a short video showing how a single strand of Krajood grass becomes a finished basket.
Listen closely to the soft rustling sounds of the Krajood—“sara-sara,” “kasa-kasa”—as you watch.
We hope this gives you even a small sense of the atmosphere in Thailand and the transformation of the material into a basket.
At first glance, the village’s work may seem to function in a smooth cycle,
but even here, large natural disasters can bring everything to a halt.
When typhoons or floods cause the Krajood plants to wither,
the entire rhythm of life and work in the village is thrown into disarray.
Our ability to visit villages in southern Thailand and share these baskets with you
was made possible by favorable weather and the warm cooperation of the local people.
It was a quiet moment of realization—how deeply fortunate and grateful we are for that.
These baskets, crafted with care and skill, have now arrived at our store.
We are currently featuring them in our special in-store exhibition.
We would be truly happy if you had the chance to hold one in your hands.
Lastly, here’s a small behind-the-scenes story about a Krajood basket.
While visiting Ms. N’s home, one old Krajood basket placed outside caught my eye.
She said she didn’t know when it was made or by whom—
it had simply been used outdoors for years to hold tools and other items.
Exposed to wind, rain, and strong sunlight for a long time, its outer surface had become tattered and worn.
But when I opened the lid—what a surprise!
Inside, the weaving was beautifully preserved, just as it must have been when first made.
It turned out the basket had a double-layered structure.
While the outside had deteriorated under UV light and weather, the inner layer remained intact,
its intricate pattern still clearly visible.
This unexpected moment offered a glimpse into the depth and durability of Krajood basket craftsmanship.
The End
Tomotake Ichikawa
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“The One Table” Exhibition
Krajood & 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
▽▼
Alongside our long-standing selection of “Krajood” (water grass) baskets—well-loved as staples at our shop—this special exhibition also features, for the first time, a collection of “Rattan” baskets.
Materials used for basketry like Krajood are known for their natural suppleness.
When that supple Krajood is tightly woven, it gains strength—making it ideal for everyday use.
With a wide range of styles and sizes, Krajood baskets offer variety and versatility.
They’re light, easy to handle, and reasonably priced—qualities that have made them a favorite among our customers.
The Krajood baskets we carry are crafted by skilled artisans and carefully inspected by hand to ensure high quality.
They’re finished in a simple, natural style that harmonizes beautifully with everyday life in Japan—allowing the texture of the material to shine through.
We warmly invite you to take a look.