| Japanese | Korean | E-mail |    Arts & Products Tsugaru jamisen The tsugaru jamisen is a traditional three-stringed shamisen which is characterized by a thicker neck than that found on shamisen in other areas of Japan. The playing style is famous for the virtuoso hard, rapid picking action with the plectrum. Born of the harsh Tsugaru climate and the warmth of the local people, this 100-year-old folk tradition now enjoys side renown as one of the representative folk music styles of Japan. Apples Apples were introduced to Hirosaki in 1875. It is said that it all began when John Ing, an American who was a guest teacher at the private To-oh Gijuku School, treated his students to some apples. The seeds from those apples were planted and the resulting seedlings grafted onto other trees. This started the breeding efforts which have made Hirosaki the cradle of apple cultivation in Japan. Now, thanks to he unflagging work and research of the pioneers, Hirosaki produces the largest volume of fresh apples in the nation and also many processed apple products. Local Sake In hirosaki the combination of good quality rice, pure water and cold weather have since the early days provided the ideal conditions for producing many renowned brands of delicious sake. Tsugaru Lacquerware Production of this colorful, elegant lacquerware is centered in Hirosaki. Most items made are of practical use, such as tables, canisters and chipsticks. In creating Tsugaru Lacquerware, fabric is fist stretched over a wooden or metal base. A primer coat is applied adn then coated with successive layers of lacquer. Because each piece entails the application of more than 40 layers of lacquer. Tsugaru-nuri is also known as buka-nuri, fool's lacquerware. Bunako Bunako is modern wood cratf made by slicing beech wood into this strips, coiling the strips by hand and then setting the shape with glue. Items for everyday use-such as bowls, trays, vased and lamps predominate. Bunako products, with their simple forms and beautiful wood grains, have come to be associated with the Tsugaru region. Akebi-vine Basketry This basketry is woven of akebi vines which grow wild in the mountains surrounding hirosaki. With their sturdiness and simple designs, akebi-vine pieces are valued as items which are both beautiful and practical. Kogin Embroidery IThis craft began during the feudal period(1590-1871) when peasants, who were forbidden to use cotton fabrics, embroidered their hempen work clothes with cotton thread to both strengthen them and improve their insulating qualities. Women did this work during the long, snowy winters. Nowadays, the name card holders, wall hangings, table centers and many other items produced are valued for their beautiful geometric patterns. Tsugaru Pottery This simple, earthy pottery, with its thick coating of black and white glazes made respectively from wood and straw ash, evokes images of the northern snow country.