Traditional craft
Inami Chokoku
井波彫刻
Woodcarving from Inami in Toyama, deeply carved right through both faces of a panel with over 200 chisels and knives.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 10 May 1975
- Type
- Wood and bamboo
- Region
- Chubu
- Official name in Japanese
- 井波彫刻
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 砺波市、南砺市
Carved from both sides
Inami Chokoku carves camphor, zelkova and paulownia with scenes of landscapes, flowers and birds, and people, using sukashi fukabori: deep openwork carved from both faces. Craftsmen use more than 200 chisels and carving knives. It is made in Nanto and Tonami in Toyama as ranma transom panels, Tenjin and lion head figures, screens and panels.
From design to frame
- For ranma, wood dried for several months or more is used.
- The design is drawn and transferred to the wood.
- The carver roughs out, rough carves, then finish carves.
- The panel is framed and given final adjustments.
Learning from a Kyoto carver
In the mid-18th century, Inami's highly skilled carpenters rebuilt the main hall of a temple that had burnt down, and learned carving from an official carver sent from Kyoto. At first carpenters also carved, mostly for temples. From the Meiji period carvers specialised, and created products for homes such as ranma transoms.
Good to know
- Look at a ranma from both sides: it is carved through from front and back.
- Close-grained zelkova from trees 200 to 300 years old is said to carve best.
Questions travellers ask
What is a ranma?
A carved transom panel above sliding doors, letting air and light pass between rooms.
How many tools does a carver use?
More than 200 chisels and carving knives.
Where it comes from
More crafts from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.