Research Page¶
I'll write what I research here as a note.
Bamboo¶
I'd like to First I'm interested in bamboo which is one of the most common plant in Japan. We also use them in many ways and even eat bamboo shoot. There are many bamboo forest in Japan and we've managed them. Recently however, it becomes difficult to keep proper environment. So I'd like to research and do something with bamboo at the fabricademy.
Why?¶
We Japanese have lived with bamboo from the ancient time. Bamboo is one of the most popular familiar in Japan and we can see the bamboo bush many places.
Ecology¶
From the explanation in the HP in ministry of Agriculture;
Bamboo is evergreen perennial plant belonging to the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family.
It has approximately 130 species of plants and around 20 growing in Japan. Every year, bamboo shoots emerge from the buds on the nodes of the rhizome, and within half a year they grow into fine young bamboo.
The part of the plant corresponding to the trunk of a tree is called the 'culm'; the culm has nodes and is hollow inside. As the culm grows so fast, rhizome grows rapidly. There are some record of growing 5 to 8m a year.
Variety¶
There are several representative varieties of bamboo in Japan.
Madake(真竹): Japanese timber bamboo
One of the most common bamboo in Japan.
This is a large species, reaching 10~15cm in diameter and 10~20m in height.
There is 2 rings in a node.
As it has long and straight internodes and highly elastic, it is often used for a wide range of purposes, such as crafts and building materials.
It is said to flower every 120 years. After flowering and bearing the fruit, all the bamboo dies off at once.
Mosochiku(孟宗竹): Moso bamboo
It is native to China and came to Japan in 18 century.
It is also large species, with culms reaching a height of 20m and a diameter of 20cm,
and is said to be the largest bamboo in Japan.
There are 2 rings in a node and shorter internodes.
Although the material lacks elasticity, it is used as resource in agriculture, fisheries and construction. It's not suitable for weaving items such as baskets. Although we used and consumed widely, their uses declined because of imported cheap bamboo. there is also a serious problem about the 'neglected bamboo groves' caused by a lack of management.
Bamboo shoots are often eaten in the beginning of spring in Japan. We think it is one of the flavours of spring.
Hachiku(淡竹): Henon bamboo / Hachiku
Hachiku bamboo is also native to China. They have been transplanted and became naturalized mainly in middle and west area in Japan.
This is also large species, 3~10cm of diameter and 10~15m height.
Though it's similar to the Madake, it seems covered with whitish powder.
It has cold-hardy.
As material is soft and easy to split into fine pieces, it is used to make tea whisks, paper lanterns, and bamboo blinds.
How to use it?¶
As a material¶
Future possible¶
Links¶
bamboo¶
Thesis PDF¶
Download thesis here