A few years ago, I reclaimed an old Kyoto-style mizuya dansu from a house that was about to be knocked down. The mizuya wasn’t in perfect condition, but it had a certain muted elegance that I felt was typical of Kyoto design — quiet, simple, and refined. That mizuya is what sparked my interest in collecting and repairing old Japanese tansu.
Tansu are traditional Japanese chests. They come in many different sizes and designs, made for specific purposes. Many were built using woods such as cedar, cypress, and paulownia, and often featured iron fittings for strength and decoration. For example, a kaidan-dansu was used both for storage and as a staircase. Mizuya were kitchen chests used to store dishes, utensils, and food.
Funa-dansu were strong ship chests, sometimes used by captains to store important documents, contracts, and money. These are just a few examples from the rich and varied world of Japanese tansu.
Recently, I acquired another kaidan-dansu from an old, rustic farmhouse in Shiga prefecture. It is 220 cm tall and over 100 years old. The steps are incredibly shallow, making going upstairs rather precarious. It has been nibbled a little bit by termites, but nothing too serious.
Kaidan-dansu began to appear in the mid to late Edo period, around the late 1700s to early 1800s. They were made mainly in the Kanto region and used as both stairs and storage in homes. These tall chests were carefully built without using iron nails, relying instead on traditional wooden joinery. Kaidan-dansu were often made from strong woods like cedar or cypress, and their clever design saved space in small houses.
Japanese tansu reflect the rich traditions and craftsmanship of Japanese joinery. I take pleasure in rescuing tansu that might otherwise be discarded. Preserving these antiques is important so future generations can appreciate Japan’s history and culture. At the same time, these chests remain practical and functional pieces of furniture that can still be used today.