This handbag is woven from Akebi vine, a climbing plant native to Japan.

The Akebi vine is used with the outer bark still in place, just as it grew in the wild.
Its natural, rustic texture brings a soft and honest warmth that reflects the spirit of the landscape.

In Nagano, there is also a version called “Gray Akebi Vine,” made by carefully peeling off this outer bark.
It has a softer, more subdued gray tone that brings a different kind of elegance.

Harvested from the mountains, the Akebi vine preserves its untouched natural texture.
Its quiet gradation of hues and subdued tones bring a lasting sense of calm and stillness.

With its softly rounded form, this little basket has a unique charm.
Compact in size, yet it quietly stands out—impossible to overlook once you’ve seen it.

This basket’s shape is the same as that of a bag long used and loved by the artisan’s wife.

It’s the kind of piece that will stay by your side for years to come.

_Akebi Vine Basketry from Northern Nagano_

In Nagano, since the early Edo period, people have crafted baskets, toys, and other daily tools
as winter work during the region’s long, snow-filled months.

There are two types of Akebi vine used in basketry:
one with its natural bark intact—a warm brown color—
and another called Muki Akebi, a grayish vine that has been peeled after fermentation.

While Akebi vine craft is also found in parts of Tohoku such as Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, and Niigata,
Muki Akebi basketry is a tradition that continues only in this region.

Before weaving begins, the vines are soaked in hot spring water for about a week,
then fermented in river water for around a month before the bark is carefully removed.

It is said that in the past, all Akebi baskets in northern Nagano were made exclusively from Muki Akebi.

This material requires great time and effort before it can even be woven,
but the baskets that emerge from it carry a quiet depth—something only this land can produce.

Both Akebi and Muki Akebi vines are carefully selected for quality,
and skilled hands continue to craft them into a wide variety of beautiful forms.