Kawanabe Butsudan - Kawanabe Butsudan

Japanese: 川辺仏壇 - かわなべぶつだん

A regional brand of Kyushu, Okinawa region, Kagoshima prefecture.
This Buddhist altar was made in Kawabe-cho, Kawabe-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, using techniques or methods designated as traditional crafts. The Kawabe region of southern Satsuma is a land with deep ties to Buddhism, with cliff-carved Buddhas and Sanskrit characters believed to have been carved by Heike refugees for the funeral of their clan, mainly in the valleys of Shimizu, Kawabe-cho, Minamikyushu City. The Kawabe Buddhist altars are said to have been made by these people, who devoted themselves to memorial services and the propagation of Buddhism, and have a history of over 800 years. Kawabe Buddhist altars are characterized by the complete division of labor in their manufacture. They are made in seven steps: woodworking, carving, palace, metal fittings, lacquering, lacquer painting, and foil finishing, and each craftsman carefully creates them using their traditional techniques. The wood is made of cedar or cypress, and after being painted with natural black lacquer, pure gold leaf is pressed on to finish. In terms of production value, it is one of the leading Buddhist altar production areas in the country. In May 1975, it was designated as a national traditional craft by the Minister of International Trade and Industry (currently the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry). In March 2007, it was registered as a regional collective trademark with the Japan Patent Office. The trademark registration number is No. 5033691. The owner of the regional collective trademark is the Kagoshima Prefecture Kawabe Butsudan Cooperative.

Source: Nichigai Associates "Encyclopedia of Japanese Regional Brands and Specialties" Encyclopedia Information on Japanese Regional Brands and Specialties

Japanese:

九州・沖縄地方、鹿児島県の地域ブランド。
伝統的工芸品に指定された技術又は技法により製作された旧鹿児島県川辺郡川辺町産の仏壇。南薩の川辺地方には南九州市川辺町清水の渓谷を中心に平家の落人が一門の弔いのために彫ったとされる磨崖仏や梵字が残されており、仏教にゆかり深い土地である。供養や仏教の伝道に勤しんでいた彼らによって川辺仏壇はつくられたとされ、800年余りの歴史がある。川辺仏壇は完全分業で製造する点が特徴。木地・彫刻・宮殿・金具・塗り・蒔絵・箔押仕上の7工程に分別され、それぞれの職人が伝統の技を駆使して入念につくりあげる。杉・檜などを木地とし、天然本黒漆塗りをほどこしたあとに純金箔を押して仕上げる。生産額からみても全国有数の仏壇の産地である。1975(昭和50)年5月、通商産業大臣(現・経済産業大臣)によって国の伝統的工芸品に指定。2007(平成19)年3月、特許庁の地域団体商標に登録された。商標登録番号は第5033691号。地域団体商標の権利者は、鹿児島県川辺仏壇協同組合。

出典　日外アソシエーツ「事典日本の地域ブランド・名産品」事典日本の地域ブランド・名産品について　情報

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