A craftsman named Shigeharu Kamiya, a temple sculptor, began making Mikawa itto-bori in the mid-1940s, and his son Kenji has succeeded him as the main producer. The source materials are red pine and Japanese white pine, and the artist uses sharp chisel techniques to create bold, angular, rough-hewn shapes. Many of the pieces are based on the culture and traditional art of the Mikawa region, Mikawa Manzai, and the variety of works includes Yakkosan, Kira no Nikichi, the three local heroes, Okina, and Takasago.