[Feature] Kaba-zaiku Cherry Bark Craft: Semboku Company Develops New Products Using "Non-Standard" Bark—Earning International Acclaim and Building a Sustainable Industry in Akita
Broadcast on Friday, January 16, 2026, on ABS Akita Broadcasting's "ABS news every."
Kaba-zaiku is one of Akita’s most iconic traditional crafts, celebrated for the unique colors and elegant luster of the wild cherry tree bark (Yamazakura) from which it is made. However, because it is a natural material, the reality is that a large portion of the harvested bark is deemed unsuitable for conventional products and remains stored away in warehouses.
In response, a company in Semboku City has developed new interior design products utilizing this previously unused "non-standard" cherry bark. These creations are now receiving high praise internationally.
Report by Tsutomu Takahashi, Kennan Bureau.
■ Watch the full feature video here: (Link to the official ABS Akita Broadcasting website)
[Design] Mauricio Clavero Kozlowski