Sanka Hand Weaving Landscape: Bamboo Techniques and the Rhythm of Drifting (Showa Period)

Sanka Hand Weaving Landscape: Bamboo Techniques and the Rhythm of Drifting (Showa Period)
Although urbanization and mechanization were progressing in farming villages from the mid- to late-Showa period, bamboo and wooden tools were still a necessity to support the foundation of daily life. Before the widespread use of plastic products, it was common practice to continue to use and repair such tools as winnows, bamboo baskets, miso strainers, vegetable baskets, etc. The bamboo craftsmen called otakarashu, who were descended from the Sanka, filled in the gaps in the culture of daily life. Their skills prolonged the life of farm tools, reduced the labor of farmers, and quietly supported the backside of the local economy.
Craftsmen like Mr. Asada walked from village to village, reading the seasons of busy and off-season farming, repairing broken winnowing rims, reweaving baskets, and sometimes creating new farming tools. The shape of the winnowing winnowers required for each region varied according to the wind conditions. In mountainous areas, a lightweight winnowing basket was preferred, while on the plains, a basket that could catch the wind was required. Ou understood these differences and had the flexibility to adjust his tools on the spot.
The life of the Sanka is somewhere between drifting and settling, neither completely nomadic nor sedentary. They maintained their position as mobile professionals who returned to the same village year after year and were entrusted with work based on trust and expectation. Rural society at that time had the openness to accept these artisans, and there was still a strong sense of community in which people complemented each other's labor.
The technique of splitting bamboo and adding twists at the beginning of weaving to reinforce the load-bearing parts was not just a craft, but a system of knowledge that supported people's daily lives. The dry sound of bamboo splitting from the heat of a bonfire, and the quiet appearance of farm tools awaiting repair. These are proof of the connection between the land and the way of life of the Sanka, and they convey the pride of the craftspeople who lived between the mountains and the villages.