Kumiko is a Japanese woodworking technique in which pieces are assembled without the use of nails, Kanuma Kumiko is a craft tradition in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture. Kumiko was introduced to Kanuma in the early Edo period when skilled craftsmen from across Japan gathered for the construction of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Kanuma was rich in timber such as cedar and cypress, and Kanuma Kumiko crafts became popular for their designs. The techniques used by Edo period craftsmen hundreds of years ago continue to be passed down to this day.