Nibutani Ita Workshop

Making a Nibutani Ita

Preparation
Prepare a thick board of soft wood, such as walnut, katsura, or Japanese pagoda tree. Choose a board that has been cut parallel to the growth rings (itame-ita), and leave it at room temperature to dry for two to three years. The face of the board nearer the center of the original tree is called ki-ura (back), and the face nearer the bark is called ki-omote (front). As it dries, the board warps and cups towards the bark of the tree. The face that bulges (ki-ura) is used to form the decorated surface of the tray.
Flatten the surface of the wood, and cut it into the size of a tray. Plane down the board, then carve it roughly into the shape of a tray with a woodworking router.