This is a dish drying basket made of Nemagari bamboo.

This one is relatively small in size and shallow, so we named it the “Oval cup basket”.
We think it was originally used as a “drainer basket” to wash dishes and drain water.

As time went by, the living environment also changed from airy houses to airtight houses.
The reduced ventilation has made it easier for mold to grow in these bamboo baskets.

Therefore, we do not recommend using this dish drying basket as a “draining basket”.
We suggest using it as a basket for drying washed and well-wiped (or well-drained) dishes,
or as a basket for storing well-dried dishes.

Of course, you can use it as a draining basket as before.
However, it is important to check the environment of your home and make sure that it is well ventilated.
It is important to wipe the basket well and dry it after each use.

It is not an easy task to form a sharp oval shape using Nemagari bamboo that grows wild in the mountains.

In addition to dish drying baskets, it can also be used as a sweets container,
a fruit basket, and for a variety of other occasions.

The weaving is fine all the way to the bottom, wild, yet of high quality and sophistication.
A basket that makes you want to keep it where you can see it every day.

Please check the size carefully.

<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.