This basket is made from peeled Akebi vine, prepared by soaking in hot spring and river water.
As the name suggests, it is a round basket with a single handle, gently curved in shape.

Under bright light, the material may appear almost whitish,
yet its expression shifts subtly with changes in weather or lighting.

When natural materials are combined with human care and effort, their beauty often deepens many times over.
This basket seems to embody that idea—its color and form speak quietly of that transformation.

Though the shade doesn’t exist in nature,
it takes on a rich, elegant tone through a chemical reaction with hot spring minerals.

Perfect not only for outings or shopping,
but also as a piece that brings quiet presence to your interior space.

With its firm, dependable build,
this is a basket that feels ready to walk beside you for decades—quietly, and without fail.

_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.