Japanese Bamboo Craft - Bamboo Fence

In Kyoto, the old capital of Japan, bamboo fences are one of the most important elements that evoke a sense of Kyoto. Bamboo fences are traditional Japanese fences and have long been used as boundary dividers between areas that should not be entered, as blindfolds for areas that should not be seen, as a tool for improving ventilation, and as a means of making gardens look more spacious and spaces more colorful. Bamboo fences can be seen especially in Japanese gardens, around buildings, and in shrines and temples, and are designed and created by the craftspeople in various ways to harmonize with the beautiful scenery of the place where they belong.

Bamboo fences developed along with the tea ceremony culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Especially in Kyoto, the center of the tea ceremony culture, bamboo fences were often used in gardens. There are several types of bamboo fences, some of which are named after famous temples in Kyoto, such as "Kenninji-gaki" and "Kinkakuji-gaki.

Nagaoka Meichiku, a bamboo specialist that designs and creats beatufiul bamboo fences that fit the space in an instant.Nagaoka Meichiku Corporation has a workshop by the river flowing through Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture. Nagaoka Meichiku is a group of craftspeople who make bamboo fences and other bamboo products in Kyoto, the center of bamboo culture. The company has gained a high reputation for their high level of techniques for handling bamboo and foresight in selecting quality bamboo, and has been involved in the production and restoration of bamboo fences for historical temples and shrines, such as the restoration of Katsura Rikyu's bamboo fence.

Founded in 1952, the company was highly regarded by the people of Kyoto for its elaborate bamboo fences made of Kyoto's high-quality bamboo called Kyo-Meichiku. However, around 1991, Japan as a whole fell into a major recession, and people's perception of value changed from quality to price, forcing Nagaoka Meichiku, which specializes in expensive bamboo fences forced to retreat. In this situation, they did not give up and continued to cultivate their techniques for the sake of their customers, who demanded them even in the middle of a recession. Although their studio had been destroyed by fire, they overcame the difficulties and have continued to grow without giving up their enthusiasm for bamboo fences and their craft.

Today, in addition to traditional bamboo products, they are developing new products that expand the possibilities of bamboo, such as wine bottle holders, bamboo QR codes, and bamboo art. They are able to create these products because they understand the charm and potential of bamboo better than anyone else, and they hope to brighten people's lives and bring smiles to their faces.