These woodwork products made in Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, originate from the techniques of palace carpenters and joiners who were invited to build shrines and temples during the Kamakura period. Convenient access to high-quality materials contributed to the development of a local woodworking industry, as wood can be harvested from the mountains of Miyajima, which has been protected as the "Island of the Gods,”and the Hatsukaichi area on the opposite shore is a distribution center for lumber from the Chugoku Mountains. Craftsmen use turning, carving, and other techniques to make ladles and other wooden products characterized by beautiful wood finishes that highlight the color and texture of the wood grain. The region is Japan’s number one producer of ladles.