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別府竹細工（別府市）
BEPPU BAMBOO HANDCRAFTS / Beppu City
別府竹細工 （別府市）
別府市といえば温泉ですが、「竹細工」でも有名なことをご存じでしょうか。別府の竹細工は、室町時代にさかのぼるといわれるほどの長い歴史を持ち、江戸時代には、湯治客が滞在中に使用する生活用品やお土産として需要が高まり、さらに発展。暮らしの中で使いやすいかごやざる、さらには美しい工芸品が生まれていったのです。1967年には別府出身の作家が竹工芸の分野で初の人間国宝に認定され、1979年には「別府竹細工」が国の「伝統的工芸品」にも指定されました。
市内には、竹細工の伝統技術を次世代に伝えるための職業訓練機関として、「大分県立竹工芸訓練センター」が設立されています。全国で唯一、竹工芸を専門的に学べる公立の職業訓練施設であり、今も多くの職人を輩出。そうした土壌に支えられ、竹のアクセサリーやキッチン雑貨など気軽に竹細工を楽しめる多彩な商品が販売されています。工房によっては、実際に竹細工を体験できるプログラムが提供されています。
BEPPU BAMBOO HANDCRAFTS / Beppu City
Although Beppu City is renowned for its hot springs, it is also well recognised for its ‘BAMBOO HANDCRAFTS’. The history of bamboo crafts in Beppu is believed to trace back to the Muromachi period. During the Edo period, the demand for bamboo crafts grew and developed further into creating souvenirs and essential items that could be used by visitors to the hot springs. Later, both functional baskets and colanders, along with beautiful handicrafts, were added to the offering. In 1967, the first bamboo crafts artisan was honoured as a ‘Living National Treasure’, and in 1979, ‘Beppu Bamboo Crafts’ were formally recognised as a ‘Traditional Craft’ by the Japanese government.
The Oita Prefectural Bamboo Crafts Training Centre was established in the city as a vocational training institute to teach traditional bamboo crafting techniques to the next generation. It is the only public vocational training facility in Japan that offers specialized instruction in bamboo crafts, and it continues to cultivate numerous artisans to this day. Thanks to this, a wide variety of products like bamboo accessories and kitchen goods are readily available. Some workshops also provide programmes for visitors to engage in bamboo craftsmanship first-hand.
