These bamboo crafts are made from Tiger Bamboo (Torafudake), grown exclusively in Toratake no Sato (Tiger Bamboo Village), located in the Awa district of Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture.

Torafudake is a type of hachiku bamboo, distinguished by the striking tiger-like patterns that appear naturally on its surface. This mysterious bamboo grows nowhere else in Japan but in Tiger Bamboo Village, and no two stalks ever share the same pattern.

Remarkably sustainable, Torafudake reaches the same height as mature bamboo within just three months after sprouting, and can be harvested and crafted into products within three years. As a precious regional resource found only in this area, each piece reflects the bamboo’s natural texture and the artisan’s handwork, resulting in subtle variations in color and pattern. With continued use, the surface develops a deeper luster and becomes increasingly comfortable in the hand, maturing beautifully over time.

Founded in 1894 (Meiji 27), Yamagishi Bamboo Products Co., Ltd. is a specialized bamboo manufacturer engaged in the production and wholesale of bamboo materials and bamboo crafts. Based in the tranquil and scenic Tiger Bamboo Village—the only place where Torafudake grows—the company proposes a lifestyle enriched by tiger bamboo, drawing on the expertise of a long-established bamboo specialist.

With the guiding belief that “the 21st century is the age of bamboo,” the company continues to take on new challenges to revitalize Japan’s declining bamboo industry. In addition to tiger bamboo products, Yamagishi produces and sells a wide range of bamboo crafts and bamboo charcoal items, striving for a circular manufacturing approach that uses every part of a single bamboo stalk without waste. Through this philosophy, the company aims to coexist harmoniously with local communities and the natural environment, while carrying bamboo culture forward into the future.

Tiger Bamboo Village lies in the Awa area of Susaki City, Kochi Prefecture, where expansive groves of Torafudake spread across a narrow valley approximately 1.5 km wide. From the mid-slope of Mt. Yakesaka, one can overlook the entire village, with views stretching beyond Susaki Bay to the Yokonami Peninsula.

The tiger-like markings characteristic of Torafudake are believed to result from environmental factors such as parasitic fungi and sea breezes. Despite repeated attempts to transplant the bamboo elsewhere, the distinctive patterns have never been reproduced, suggesting that the unique climate and geography of the Awa region are essential to their formation. It is through this rare natural environment, combined with the meticulous craftsmanship of artisans, that the beauty of tiger bamboo and its refined bamboo crafts come into being.

Awards & Recognition (Selected)
•    2025 Sustainable ★ Selection 2025 – One Star Certification
•    2025 Rakuten Shop of the Year 2024 – Special Prize: Sustainability Award
•    2024 9th Women’s Tomorrow Award – Excellence Award
•    2024 4th Japan Traditional Culture Grand Prix – Encouragement Award
•    2024 71st Yosakoi Festival – District Performance Float Encouragement Award
•    2023 64th National Bamboo Conference (Tochigi) – Commendation
•    2023 Kochi Prefecture Wood Culture Award
•    2021 Furusato-Zukuri Grand Prize – Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award
•    2019 7th Good Life Award (Ministry of the Environment) – Environmental Regional Branding Award
•    2019 RED BULL BOX CART RACE TOKYO – Runner-up
•    2019 4th Spain Box Cart Race – Special Commendation (“Mención Especial”)
•    2019 33rd Kochi Local Industry Grand Prize – Encouragement Award
•    2018 6th Good Life Award (Ministry of the Environment) – Environmental Regional Branding Award
•    2018 2nd Green Ocean Award – Excellence Award
•    2018 Appointed World Bamboo Ambassador by the World Bamboo Organization
•    2015 2nd Japan Net Economy Newspaper Award – Regional Contribution Award
•    2015 56th National Bamboo Conference – Chairman’s Award, All Japan Bamboo Industry Federation
•    2014 Susaki City 60th Anniversary – Industrial Contribution Award
•    2010 7th OSMC National Practice Conference – Grand Prize
•    2009 Ebisu Award – Grand Prize
•    2009 IT Management Capability Award – Certified IT Practice Company
•    2007 Best EC Shop Award – Runner-up
•    2007 Certified Good Design Shop
•    2006 WEB1 Grand Prix – Aisle Award
•    2006 Japan Online Shopping Award – Jury Special Prize (Affiliate Division)
•    2006 New Japanese Lifestyle 100 Selections
(Observers: METI, MOFA, MLIT, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
•    2004 7th Japan Online Shopping Award – Best Medium-Scale Site Award
•    2003 Super Recommended Email Magazine Award – Grand Prize