Harvesting the sedge, Shikano sugegasa

While there are about 80 species of sedge growing in Tottori prefecture, a species known as kasasuge, cultivated by root division, is used for making Shikano sedge hats. This species of sedge grows to about the height of an average adult female – ample length for hat making – and its supple but resilient properties make it perfect for making hats.