About Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture This video, “Enjoy Rice Wine and Salmon Cuisine in Murakami!” (村上で堪能！日本酒と鮭料理（Enjoy rice wine and salmon cuisine in Murakami!)), is an introductory video of the local specialties, sake and salmon, in Murakami City, located in Niigata prefecture in Japan's Koshinetsu region. The video is produced by “City Murakami Channel, Murakami City, Niigata prefecture.” Murakami City in Niigata prefecture is a place where Murakami Castle and Samurai residences developed long ago, and there still remains the elegant castle town scenery. Take a sightseeing trip to Murakami City and enjoy watching the spectacular scenery of the Murakami Castle ruins, tasting local cuisine, or relaxing at some secret hot springs. In the video, 3 girls from the local idol group “Negicco,” active in the Niigata area, introduce the local cuisine in cute Kimonos. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the video introducing the charms of Murakami City, Niigata. There's plenty of delicious food to be seen! Murakami City, Niigata- Sake and Salmon Source :YouTube screenshot The Niigata area is surrounded by the sea and mountains, and is known as the most flourishing rice crop area in Japan. High quality rice made in Murakami City makes for the highest quality sake you can find. And it just so happens that the sake here is popular as the local specialty. Murakami City is also known as “the city of salmon,” and you can enjoy many kinds of salmon dishes, being that it is the other local specialty of Murakami City. You might be surprised hearing that there are more than 100 varieties of salmon dishes in Murakami City. However, In Murakami City, people enjoy all parts of the fish without wasting anything. From the bones to the skin, everything gets eaten. When going sightseeing in Murakami City, stop by some local restaurants and try delicious gourmet dishes like Ochazuke (boiled rice in tea) and Shiobiki Salmon (salty salmon). There's also the superb salmon roe. These salmon dishes are introduced at 1:14 in the video. Just looking at the myriad of salmon dishes is enough to get your mouth watering. Enjoy the Exquisite Cuisine of Murakami City When purchasing local sake made by Murakami City’s sake breweries as well as Murakami City’s specialty salmon, we recommend purchasing them at the road side station Sasagawanagare Yuuhi Kaikan. The salmon museum Iyoboya Center is also a popular sightseeing spot. If you want to purchase some traditional Japanese crafts, stop by Machiya’s Gallery Yamakichi, a gallery shop renovated from a historical building. Source :YouTube screenshot You can also find Murakami City's first-class sake online. Murakami City’s sake can be seen at 0:55. It is explained that "thanks to fresh, clear water and the careful manual labor of brewers, high quality rice turns into sake that is easy to drink without any off-flavor. Summary of Murakami City's Local Cuisine In Murakami City, Niigata, you can enjoy top notch sake and salmon cuisine. Through the video, you can feel the luxurious taste of sake and salmon. It's something you've got to try at least once in your life! We hope you enjoy your trip to Murakami CIty! 【Official Website】Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture City Hall Website http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.city.murakami.lg.jp%2F

Murakami Kibori Lacquerware - A Traditional Craft of Niigata Prefecture This video, titled "手技TEWAZA「村上木彫堆朱」Murakami Kibori Lacquerware／伝統工芸 青山スクエア Japan traditional crafts Aoyama Square," was released by "Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square." Murakami Kibori Lacquerware (Murakami Kibori Tsuishu), introduced in the video, is a general term for six types of carving, including tsuishu, tsuikoku, and shumarinuri, and it is a traditional craft of the Murakami region of Niigata Prefecture, which has been widely known as a natural lacquer production area since the Heian period (794-1185). Murakami Kibori Lacquerware was introduced by a lacquer maker in Kyoto at the beginning of the 15th century as a technique for painting lacquer on wood carvings. This was done in imitation of Chinese tsuishu (lacquerware), and the technique was introduced to the Murakami region after a temple was built there. The technique was first learned by the carpenters who built the temple, after which it was was passed on to samurai duringEdo period (1603-1868), then to the townspeople, and finally to present day Japan. In this article, we'll go over Murakami Kibori Lacquerware, a traditional lacquer technique of Niigata prefecture. The Process of Making Murakami Kibori Lacquerware Source :YouTube screenshot Along with the video, we'll be introducing some of the steps in the 18 to 20 step process that craftsmen use to make Murakami Kibori Lacquerware by hand. 1. Sketching (0:40~) This serves as a guide for engraving and is drawn directly on the wooden plate. Drawing with a brush that can express stronger and weaker lines is fundamental to the process. 2. Carving (0:47~) Wood carving is performed by using a chisel called an "Urajiro" on the sketch drawn in step 1. There are two types of carvings, the two-dimensional Shishiai-bori and three-dimensional Hikisage-bori. In the video, the craftsman explains that the most important thing is to carve the wood as though it were a living thing, making the most of the different grains of each tree. 3. Sanding (1:18~) This is the process of sanding the roughness of the blade marks with sandpaper (in the old days, horsetail was used) to give roundness and softness to the carving. This makes the work even more three-dimensional. 4. Hardening This involves adding a small amount of red husks to raw lacquer and using a brush to soak the entire wood with lacquer. This is also an important step because it is done to solidify the foundation of making a durable Tsuishu. Source :YouTube screenshot 5. Smoothing (1:29) In the important undercoating process to make durable lacquerware, raw lacquer and polishing powder are mixed and applied 2-3 times to the plain areas without engravings. 6. Polishing The process of water-polishing the coated surface using an imperial whetstone. This is done with applying rust lacquer and is repeated 2-3 times and the lacquerware is allowed to dry for at least a few days after the rust lacquering process. 7. Middle Coating (1:40~) The process of dabbing on lacquer on with a pad or fingertip and then finishing painting with a brush so that the engraved pattern is not filled with lacquer. Generally, oil-free refined lacquer is used for this. 8. Polishing the Middle Coating It is a process of carefully water-sanding the surface with a fine-grained natural stone whetstone called Murakami whetstone or a water file. 9. Top Coating (2:06~) Brightly colored vermilion lacquer is dabbed on with a pad or fingertip and finished painting using a brush so as not to fill the carved patterns similar to the intermediate coat. Source :YouTube screenshot 10. Matt Finishing (2:23~) An important process for polishing the top-coated glossy surface with charcoal or polishing powder evenly with water to make it a deep and calm-looking product. 11. Engraving (2:44~) The designs are carved once more. This fine carving is made to supplement the earlier wood carving with a fine-pointed triangular chisel. Expressions such as leaf veins, feathers, and mountain surfaces are re-engraved. 12. Finishing (3:06~) This step involves adding a small amount of red iron oxide to high-quality raw lacquer and rubbing it with a brush over the entire vessel. The matte surface is moist and firm, and this completes the production process of Murakami Kibori Tsuishu. The beautiful, finished product, like a work of art, can be seen from 3:23 in the video. These unique techniques have been designated Intangible Cultural Properties of Niigata Prefecture and Murakami Kibori Lacquerware was designated a National Traditional Craft. Summary of Murakami Kibori Lacquerware, A Traditional Welcome Gift of Niigata Prefecture Source :YouTube screenshot Murakami Kibori Lacquerware, a traditional craft that has been handed down since the Heian period, includes products such as jubako (stacked boxes), sake cups, tea ware, flower ware, confectionery ware, sake ware, etc. that are all great for celebrations, souvenirs, and gifts. Murakami Kibori Lacquerware is a testament to the living history of Japan, through which you can enjoy the techniques that craftsmen have refined and passed down since ancient times. 【Official Website】Murakami Kibori Lacquerware | Traditional Crafts | Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square https://kougeihin.jp/en/craft/0509/

Check out This Video Introducing Uetsu Shinafu, a Traditional Japanese Crafts! This video, titled "Handmade Crafts "Uetsu Shinafu Weaving" / Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square," introduces uetsu shinafu. The video was uploaded by Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square. Uetsu shinafu fabric is the oldest fabric in Japan woven using tree bark fibers. They were first created during the Jomon period (14,000 BC to 400 BC), and are counted as one of Japan's Three Ancient Woven Fabrics. Today, uetsu shinafu is produced in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, the Sekigawa District of Uzen, as well as Murakami, Niigata Prefecture. In 2005, these uetsu shinafu products were designated Traditional Crafts by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Information. In this video, the production process of uetsu shinafu is introduced in detail. Do enjoy this video showing a tradition of Japan from days past. What Is Uetsu Shinafu? Introducing the Production Process and Methods Used to Make Them Source :YouTube screenshot The raw material of uetsu shinafu is bark derived from the Japanese Linden Tree, as shown from 0:33 in the video, with other sources being the bark of the, tilia maximowicziana, as well as the tilia noziricola. Firstly, the bark is peeled and dried, then boiled in water containing wood ash. Next, as shown in the video, the fibers are scrubbed in a river then dried once more. Following that, the fibers are shredded by hand into thin threads in a process called shinasaki. These threads are then joined to form one long thread in a process called shinaumi. Then, the threads are twisted into a spool and called shinayori . The skill of the craftsman is critical in this entire process, as it is all done by hand. Lastly, the threads are placed on a platform known as the uttate, and the threads are then reeled (3:26). Finally, the threads are woven into a piece of fabric. Where Can You Purchase Uetsu Shinafu Products? Source :YouTube screenshot From 4:19 in the video, works created using uetsu shinafu fabric are introduced. Different kinds of bags, decorative items such as tapestries, name card holders, wallets, obi sashes, hats, fabric dividers – there is a wide variety of products. Besides tourist areas in Yamagata Prefecture, uetsu shinafu products can also be purchased through mail order. As for those who would like to try their hand at uetsu shinafu, the Uetsu Shinafu Promotion Council (振興協議会), the Shinaori Center (織センター), or Sekigawa Shinaori Village (関川しな織の里ぬくもり館) are all places you can visit. Summary of Uetsu Shinafu Source :YouTube screenshot Uetsu shinafu: exquisite works of art with a pleasant texture. Isn’t it unbelievable that its origins date back to the Jomon period thousands of years ago? As shown in the video, uetsu shinafu fabric is created through a complicated process, with the craftsmen ensuring that every single step is done to the best of their ability. Thus, uetsu shinafu products can be used for a long time. If this video has you interested in uetsu shinafu, do take the opportunity to purchase an uetsu shinafu product or try an uetsu shinafu experience in Japan! 【Official Website】Uetsu Shinafu Promotion Council Yamagata Prefecture-Tsuruoka City・Niigata Prefecture-Murakami City, Ancient Fabrics Village http://shinafu.jp/