Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan
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Japan Cultural Expo
beyond2020
The Japanese Craft Expo 2022

Traditional houses in the village
of Shirakawa Gifu,
a World Heritage site

Obtaining Thatch

A Durable Material Preserving an Ancient Tradition

Japan Thatching Cultural Association

 Designated in 2018 

184 Hojo, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture
300-4231

Thatch has long played a part in people’s lives in Japan. It has been used in roofing, screens, blinds, bags, and other items, before ultimately ending up as farm compost. This association promotes the sustainable production of thatch by burning off and maintaining areas that are a source of this material, and by selecting and grading thatch according to its uses.

Setting fire to a field in the spring to ensure a supply of good quality thatch
Setting fire to a field in the spring to ensure a supply of good quality thatch
Harvesting the thatching material with a sickle once the plants have died off. This is done between late October and March, depending on the area.
Harvesting the thatching material with a sickle once the plants have died off. This is done between late October and March, depending on the area.
Stacking thatching material to dry.
Stacking thatching material to dry.
Bundling thatch
Bundling thatch
Dried and stored thatch being used for roofing
Dried and stored thatch being used for roofing
Thatched roofs in theTogakushi conservation area, Nagano City
Thatched roofs in theTogakushi conservation area, Nagano City
Thatched roofs in Ouchi-juku, an old post station in the village of Shimogo, Fukushima
Thatched roofs in Ouchi-juku, an old post station in the village of Shimogo, Fukushima