Nakatsu Houki
Kanagawa, Japan

Nakatsu Houki was established in 2003 by Naoko Yanagawa, a 5th generation broom maker, to re-cultivate the history of plants used for broom (houki) making which used to be central to Nakatsu Village (close to the Northwest corner of Tokyo).  Nakatsu Houki has been successful in attracting a new generation of artisans as well as some from the Showa Era to rejoin and be involved.  Their handmade brooms are durable, functional, artistic, and finished with woven plant dyed yarn in intricate designs.   Naoko Yanagawa also runs a museum, housed in a historic “kura,” offering workshops, passing on knowledge and skills to future generations.