柴田 玉樹
博多曲物
18th generation Artisan . Hakata Bentwood Craft
Tamaki Shibata
400 years of Makers' Heritage
in Maidashi
Tamaki's bentwood-maker lineage traces back 400 years when the Hakozaki Shrine's doctrine designated Shibata as one of the 3 families in Maidashi to produce fine ritual wares for the shrine.
Tamaki Shibata's family's bent-ware was also highly praised by Mingei Movement founder Soetsu Yanagi and British potter Bernard Leach for its functional beauty in the early 20th century. Her predecessors' work was recognized by Japan's Omotesenke tea ceremony practitioners as first-class tea ceremony wood vessels.
15th Generation Shibata Kichiemon, Great grandfather of Tamaki (Mariko) Shibata
A Story of Resilience of a female artisan
Tamaki Shibata
An empowering story of a female artisan working in traditional Japanese craft.
Against all odds, Tamaki Shibata took over a 400-year-old family craft business and spent over decade to build respect and recognition.
Tamaki Shibata
18th generation bentwood artisan at Tamaki Magemono
Traditionally, women in craft families handled errands, cleaning, stitching bentwood boxes, and painting motifs, while heritage techniques were passed only to the eldest sons.
Born into a magemono craft family in Hakata, Tamaki (birthname Mariko Shibata) was eager to learn and began stitching wood boxes in elementary school. But daughters weren’t seen as successors—women were expected to work only until marriage. Her father had no reason to train her, yet she insisted on helping at the workshop. She learned by observing and imitating her father. And mastering even the basics in bentwood craft takes a decade.
In many Japanese craft industries and Shinto rituals, women’s participation has long been restricted—and in some cases, still is today.
"I often ask myself, 'Am I getting a passing grade?' Succeeding a family heritage business means looking up and meeting the standards of your father and grandfather even though they are no longer around."
Rebuilding a family business from ground up,
vowing to guard Hakata bentwood heritage.
Tamaki's father passed away suddenly at 64 in 1995. As a guarantor for an affiliate's debt, his death bankrupted the family business, costing them their shop and home. The 400-year-old legacy seemed destined to end.
At the time, Tamaki had just given birth to her eldest son but was determined to carry on as the 18th-generation artisan. Starting from scratch, she found a workshop a few miles from Maidashi, hung an amulet from Hakozaki Shrine at the shop front and restarted. Facing skepticism from relatives and trade affiliates, she knew she had a long road ahead. It takes a decade just to learn how to read wood grains. As a woman with a tarnished business reputation, wood suppliers refused to work with her. Instead, she focused on honing her skills, day by day, one box at a time, recalling her father’s techniques, and striving for the day she could make magemono as effortlessly as an artisan.
That day came 14 years later, when her work was accepted by the Japan Mingei Exhibition in 2007. She formally took on the genealogical artisan name Tamaki, and people finally praised her for “resembling her father.”
Today, Tamaki works 7 days a week at her wood shop. Her 2 sons grew up watching their mother work relentlessly to continue a family legacy, and both are determined to learn the craft to become the next successors. As Tamaki said, "I believe magemono will endure, as it is a craft rich in material intelligence. I strive to pave a broader path for my sons to become successful in continuing Hakata magemono heritage."
Maidashi used to have 20 some families making bentwood objects. The main street was lined with artisan shops. Shibata Tamaki's shop was located right next door to Shibata Toku's shop.
After the foreclosure of Tamaki's old shop, she set up a new wood shop a mile away from Maidashi, embarked a new journey for a 400-year-old family business.
form-work for bending wood to circular shape
Maidashi used to have 20 some families making bentwood objects. The main street was lined with artisan shops. Shibata Tamaki's shop was located right next door to Shibata Toku's shop.
Making Hakata magemono requires exceptional cedar and hinoki wood from Kyushu or Akita. It takes a decade just to learn how to read wood grain and color. Bentwood artisans procure logs whole, cutting them open to assess quality. A skilled craftsman can determine if a tree was nurtured with proper sunlight and nutrients.
Only 30% of a log—light in color, with tight rings and no knots—is suitable for magemono; the rest becomes firewood.
After all, Hakata magemono originated as ritual wares for serving the Shinto gods.
The Pristine 30%
Classic Bent Wood Bento Box Handmade by Tamaki
As the last remaining Hakata bentwood artisans, Tamaki Shibata has accepted our commission to continue making beautiful wood bento boxes.
Here, we present our 3 classic, popular bento box sizes and will continue to expand the collection.
Beyond Bento designed by Goenne, made by Tamaki Shibata
The Making of Shibata Tamaki's Magemono
Bentwood craft begins from sourcing high-quality wood. Tamaki works on her own with the help of her 2 sons in-training. She is determined to pass her knowledge to the next generation and Tamaki's family will be the last-remaining makers of Hakata magemono bentwood boxes.
Don't forget to get accessories for your bento box
"I believe magemono will endure, as it is a craft rich in material intelligence. I strive to pave a broader path for my sons to become successful in continuing Hakata magemono heritage."
- Tamaki Shibata, Hakata Magemono bentwood artisan
