Kamidana made with lots of kumiko work / Senbon-lattice, Masu-lattice, and Kaku-hemp leaves

When traveling in Japan, your tourist route will most likely include a visit to a shrine or temple.
At shrines and temples, you may receive omamori (amulet) and ofuda (paper talismans), but many people seem to be unsure what to do with them after taking them home.
In Japan, omamori (amulet) are worn and carried around, and ofuda (paper talismans) are enshrined in a "kamidana" (shrine).

For those who are thinking about preparing a Shinto altar, we would recommend a Shinto altar made with Kumiko craftsmanship, which has a strong sense of Japanese culture and is beautiful when displayed.

Product concept

Kamidana is an ancient part of Japanese culture, a shelf for enshrining gods in the home.
Placing a charm in Kamidana is like creating a small shrine or temple in your home. By placing your hands together facing Kamidana, you can pray to the gods at any time.

Kamidana come in a variety of designs and sizes, so you can choose one that suits your taste.
The ideal place to place it is a bright, clean place where the family can easily gather, such as the living room.
If you are renting, we recommend a free-standing type as wall-mounted types will scratch the walls.

Speaking of Shinto altars, in the past, the type that imitated the main hall of a shrine was mainstream, but in recent years, modern types that are compact in size and easy to match with both Japanese and Western interiors have become popular to suit Japanese housing conditions.

Kumiko is a traditional Japanese woodworking technique that combines pieces of wood into geometric patterns without using nails. Kumiko is closely related to shrines and temples. The prototype of kumiko used for building fixtures already appeared in the Heian period, and it developed greatly during the Edo period. At the same time, kumiko began to be used on the transoms of shrines and temples, and the technique evolved significantly. Currently, there are more than 200 different ways of joining the pieces.

In this way, Kumiko work, which gives a sense of purity and beauty, has been used in Japanese shrines and temples since ancient times. We created a Kamidana that makes extensive use of Kumiko work, hoping that when people pray at the Kamidana, they will be enriched by the sight of its typically Japanese form.

 

Product Features

Cypress is a top-quality building material with a beautiful appearance and high durability, and has been used since ancient times to build shrines and temples.
This product is also made entirely from solid Japanese cypress. This is the perfect wood for making Kamidana.

 

This product uses three different kumiko patterns: the "Senbon lattice" on the back, the "Masu lattice" on the front enclosure, and the "Kaku-hemp leaves" decoration in the upper right corner.
No nails are used to create these, but small pieces of wood are combined to create intricate patterns.
Each Kumiko pattern has its own meaning, and they are sometimes used with wishes in mind.

Senbon lattice

This type of construction, which exudes a sense of both delicacy and honest, is still a staple of sliding doors and kumiko transoms in Japanese architecture today. It is a design that never gets old and can easily be matched with modern interiors.Lattice patterns are often seen in historical buildings as symbols of authority and tradition.

Masu lattice

Elegant and stylish, it is structurally strong and is sometimes used to provide privacy.
With its simple form, it is a pattern that can easily be matched with both Japanese and Western interiors.
The squares of the lattice are meant to ward off evil spirits, and are imbued with wishes for good health and prosperity of descendants.

Kaku-hemp leaves (Kakuasanoha)

The hemp leaf pattern is a representative Japanese motif, and this design, which is surrounded by a square instead of a tortoiseshell shape, is called "kaku hemp leaf."
The hemp leaf pattern is believed to ward off evil and bad luck, as well as bring stability to things.

While the modern style can be easily matched with both Japanese and Western interiors, the single-slope roof is designed to be reminiscent of a Hokora, a shrine where gods are enshrined.

The kumiko pattern of "Kaku-asa no ha" (hemp leaf) is placed in the upper right corner of the back to express light and brilliance.
It is designed to give the impression of a halo shining from the ofuda that is enshrined.

The fence that protects the ohuda is made of lattice fences, which are known for their strength. The area where you place the ohuda has a certain amount of depth, so you can put several ohuda in it. It is also strong enough that you can hang amulets and offerings on the front of it without worry.

When installing a freestanding type of Shinto altar, it can be a problem if it takes up too much space or is prone to falling over.
To ensure stability, we used thick wood for the base and made it so that it doesn't have too much depth, creating a design that can be displayed in a small space.

 

The process of making Kumiko

We will introduce the process of making Kumiko door by the Kumiko craftsmen who cooperated in the production of this Kamidana.

(1) Creating a production drawing

A production drawing will be created according to the contents of the order.
When making a type of base called "mitsukumite," which is made up of linked triangles, they are designed so that all of the triangles are equilateral.

(2) Material Selection

He chooses wood that matches the image of the work. Each type of wood has its own natural color, such as yellow, green, red, brown, etc., and by combining these colors, it is possible to create painting-like patterns. In addition, the hardness of wood also varies, which affects the strength and ease of processing. He proposes to the client the type of wood that suits the purpose and budget.

(3) Wood cutting　(kidori)

The "wood cutting" process is carried out to prepare all of the materials for Kumiko craft. To make beautiful Kumiko, it is necessary to cut pieces of wood of precise size, and part of this process is done efficiently and accurately by machine.

(4) Making the base frame (jigumi)

Jigumi is the framework into which the kumiko pattern is embedded. The jigumi is made by combining two types of thin boards with evenly spaced notches.
The notches have a set size and angle, and if they are misaligned the boards will not fit together perfectly, so precision is required.

 

(5) Creating the "leaves" of the kumiko pattern

The small parts needed to make a kumiko pattern are called "leaves." The type, size, and number of "leaves" needed vary depending on the type and size of the kumiko pattern, so we create the ones needed.

(6) Creating the Kumiko Pattern

The kumiko pattern is created by inserting leaves into jigumi. Some small parts are preassembled.
Some parts are smaller than a fingertip, and some will not fit together if inserted in the wrong direction, so this is a job that requires carefulness and patience.

(7) Finishing

For finishing, the pieces are planeed and sanded, the edges of the base are smoothed, and then the piece is assembled into the main body and completed. It may also be painted or lacquered.

 

Experience the beauty of Kumiko up close

This is a work by a Kumiko craftsman who has received awards such as "Contemporary Master Craftsman" and "Yellow Ribbon Medal."
Please purchase it and take a close look at this wonderful masterpiece.