This is a “Paisuke” woven roughly but powerfully from Nemagari bamboo.

It is said that the name “Paisuke” is a corruption of the English word “basket,” which became “baisuke” and then “paisuke.
It is an interesting story, but it probably means that the word of “basket” was so familiar to the Japanese.

The basket used when carry anything on a pole was also a “Paisuke”, and carrying earth and tools during river construction was also a “Paisuke”.

Since metal or plastic baskets get too hot or melt, paisuke made of bamboo, which is light, strong, and has low thermal conductivity,
is still very useful in glass factories, wind chime workshops, and canning factories for removing heat from products
and as baskets for holding hot items.

The Paiske was a “multi-functional basket” that could be used for construction, industry, commerce, and many other situations.

It can hold many vegetables, fruits, and a complete set of garden tools.
Even if you have one or two at home, you will surely find something to put in them.
This basket can be used for a variety of purposes.

<Nemagari Bamboo Crafts in Togakushi, Nagano Prefecture>

Bamboo crafting began in the early Edo period (1603-1867) as a means of sustenance for the people of the Togakushi Chūsha area.
From the Meiji period to the mid-Showa period（mid-19th century to mid-20th century）,
as the sericulture industry flourished,
the demand for silkworm baskets and other products increased.

In order to protect this important resource,
members of the bamboo craft production cooperative take turns acting as “bamboo shoot guard”
during the spring bamboo shoot season to prevent overharvesting by people who want to use for food.

The surface of the bamboo is polished and split into four pieces, and the skin and body are separated to make strips.
The four most common types of bamboo crafts are
-Colanders(plates),
-Mushroom / fish basket,
-Dish drying basket,
-Winnowing basket.

The beauty and durability of the finished product, as well as the warmth unique to Nemagari bamboo,
make it a practical item that is widely used by the Japanese people even today,
and the color of the product can be enjoyed as it changes over time.