I am Shinnosuke Takeshita, representing Takeho Workshop, a bamboo craft studio in Hiroshima. I am selling new bamboo walking sticks crafted from rare natural Hotei bamboo and Kikko bamboo. These bamboo craft items, which usually sell for 14,000 to 18,000 yen, are being offered at a special discounted price as they were completed just last November. The production period is approximately one year. The process involves harvesting the bamboo around November, cleaning it, and then naturally drying it for about two months. After that, the bamboo is roasted to remove oil. Following this, it is polished with rice bran regularly while being naturally dried for about 10 months. For the final, superior finish, the polishing with rice bran is done for a longer period than usual to bring out the luster (about 10 minutes, compared to the usual 3 minutes). Hotei bamboo is a type of bamboo belonging to the Phyllostachys genus. It is named Hotei bamboo because it resembles the bulging belly of the Hotei (a Japanese god of good fortune) and the bamboo's node patterns are similar. Kikko bamboo is a variation of Moso bamboo, with its nodes transformed into a tortoise shell pattern, hence the name Kikko bamboo. Bamboo is considered auspicious. Both Hotei bamboo and Kikko bamboo are one-of-a-kind items, with no two having the same pattern, making them unique bamboo craft walking sticks. Also, please note that the roasting patterns are all different. As a service, we include rice bran for polishing. Size dimensions: Length: Approximately 138cm Thickness: Diameter - Top: Approximately 3.5cm Diameter - Bottom: Approximately 2.5cm Type: Other bamboo craft walking sticks Natural, rare, Hotei bamboo, Kikko bamboo, craft walking stick Handmade, workshop-made. For walking, assistance, or as decorative items for the tokonoma (alcove) or entrance. Other: Materials: Madake (Phyllostachys bambusoides), Moso bamboo (Hotei bamboo, Kikko bamboo)