Bringing Rattan Craft Loved Through the Ages into the Modern Era

Please tell us about the history of rattan craft.

Rattan is a climbing plant that grows entwined around rubber trees and the like in tropical rainforests, and rattan craft produces items such as mats and chairs, as well as baskets and bags.

Its origins are ancient—there is a relief from around 4000 BC in Egypt that depicts a chair made of rattan. During the Age of Discovery in Europe, Southeast Asian rattan furniture became extremely popular.

It arrived in Japan over 1,000 years ago and was used to wrap the handles of weapons such as bows and naginata.

When did your company begin operations?

Founded in Showa 6 (1931), I'm the third generation. The business started when the founder moved to Tokyo. At first, the company processed raw materials and sold items like rattan bark and core rods.

During the bubble economy, rattan mats for hot springs and golf course changing rooms were particularly popular. However, as times changed, demand declined, and for the past 30 years or so, we've also been producing and selling rattan furniture.

Can you share what led you to take over the family business?

I was helping out at the family business since my student days and always thought, "I’ll probably take over the business someday," so I naturally eased into the company.

Back then, during the bubble economy, many artisans were making rattan mats in the factory. I once worked as a regular office worker, but seeing craftspeople choosing retirement or closure due to aging, I made up my mind to seriously carry on the family business.

Craftwork That Grows More Charming with Time: The Sustainability of Rattan

What makes rattan, a natural material, so attractive?

As a natural material, rattan is full of tiny tubes just like wood, offering excellent breathability. It absorbs humidity, so it feels pleasantly dry to the touch even in summer.

Its extreme lightness is another big draw. You'll notice as soon as you pick one up—rattan goods are exceptionally light. Even large furniture pieces, like chairs, can be carried comfortably, even by seniors.

Plus, it’s remarkably durable and can be used for decades.

But the biggest appeal is the natural luster. Japanese rattan products aren’t coated with chemicals at the end, so you can enjoy a natural, glass-like sheen called "shōshitsu." Over decades of use, the pieces mature into a beautiful amber color.

It sounds like the more you use it, the deeper its charm becomes.

Traditional Japanese techniques ensure these items are designed to be repaired and enjoyed for decades. Many customers return to have rattan goods purchased decades ago restored. Even a chair with a ripped seat can be rewoven and used again.

Overseas products are often more affordable than their Japanese counterparts, but their wooden frames are glued together, making repairs nearly impossible if they break. Japanese pieces, on the other hand, are not made for single use.

Once someone buys a rattan piece, they likely won’t need a new one for decades—so it's not the most lucrative business, but that’s part of its charm (laughs).

Please tell us about the manufacturing process that utilizes the unique properties of rattan.

Rattan craft requires a diverse set of skills: processing raw materials, weaving, constructing frames, dyeing, and more—all involving multiple steps.

The most challenging part is processing the raw material. "Peeled rattan" used for weaving chair seats or baskets is shaved down to about 1mm thick. Because the strips are so thin, it takes a high level of technique to keep their thickness even and prevent breakage at the joints.

Rattan also softens when exposed to fire or steam. By steaming it in a steamer or heating it over a flame, it becomes supple, allowing it to be shaped using patterns for various purposes.

Because so many techniques must be mastered, nurturing new craftspeople is a time-intensive process.

Seeking Higher Quality Materials: Crossing Over to Indonesia

It seems you are very particular, going as far as purchasing materials overseas.

I import materials by dealing directly with factories in Indonesia. Before the spread of COVID-19, I would travel several times a year to procure materials locally.

The turning point was when the import agent for raw materials retired, making sourcing them more difficult. I decided to take the plunge and handle it myself. At first, I didn’t even know the language, but after studying Indonesian in university courses and meeting various people, I started doing business with different factories.

How do you determine what constitutes high-quality rattan?

In Japanese rattan crafts, the natural vitreous quality is essential. This glassy layer is critical for the luster and flavor of mats and furniture, and also helps prevent stains. I look for rare materials with a beautiful shine and free from stains.

Developing New Rattan Craft Products Leveraging Traditional Techniques

You have been developing new products like uchiwa (traditional fans), folding fans, earrings, and diffusers, all showcasing the qualities and techniques of rattan.

About ten years ago, I started creating rattan goods that are chosen as gifts.

These days, people may not place as much large furniture in their homes as they once did. Even in department stores, the space for furniture has slowly been shrinking.

On the other hand, uchiwa and folding fans allow customers to pick them out and take them home on the spot. We collaborate with designers, students, and others to develop rattan products aimed at younger generations and international customers.

"Rattan and Japanese Paper Uchiwa" was awarded the Governor of Tokyo Award at the "Tokyo Teshigoto," a project where traditional crafts and designers collaborate.

"Rattan and Japanese Paper Uchiwa" is a fan that combines Hosokawa washi paper, registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, with rattan. Its biggest appeal is how incredibly light it feels and how gracefully it bends when used.

Instead of the typical radial pattern, the framework is built in a swirling shape, and the grip is wrapped with comfortable rattan. We struggled to attach the washi paper to the rattan, but by utilizing technologies like lasers, we've created a new type of fan that stays true to tradition. The fan has also been released as a licensed product for the Tokyo Olympics and Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

Further, in response to customer requests for a portable version of the rattan and washi fan, we developed the "Rattan Folding Fan." By using Naoron, a washi paper made from recycled polyester fibers, we ensured material strength while also keeping sustainability in mind.

You’ve gone overseas to procure materials and enthusiastically develop products. What drives you to keep challenging yourself, Kiuchi?

I think it’s because there are so many challenges right in front of me.

The artisans themselves are aging — the average age is about 75 — and there’s no spare resources to train newcomers. Even securing a stable supply of natural rattan is tough. The rattan, which grows deep in the jungle and is covered in thorns, is hard to harvest, and some locals have stopped working with rattan entirely.

There’s also the established image that traditional crafts are expensive and mostly bought by seniors, which is another barrier. Items like furniture that used to sell well are no longer moving. I think it’s a sign of changing times.

I want to overcome those challenges. To do that, I’m trying to create new rattan crafts by leveraging our techniques. To keep going, you have to keep changing. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I’ve faced many challenges alongside shifting times before, so I’m determined to overcome this new hurdle as well.