Baleen is cut, curved, and then polished to form the shape of a whale's tail.

Hair ornaments are delicately crafted. Fin whale baleen is a yellow-gray color, while sei whale baleen is pitch-black.

This is a paper knife in the shape of a whale. The shape of a whale's head is shown on the left.

They are cut, steamed, and then pressed into shape.

These are serving plates for dessert or snacks. They are cut, steamed, and then pressed into shape.

Elastic baleen is used at the tip of the rod.

This baleen was finely cut and carved into an ear-pick. The hand-drawn face of a whale is interesting.

Cut along the baleen fibers and curved at the end with slits, only great skill can produce the curve of this back-scratcher.

Sei whale baleen, with its strong yet flexible structure, made popular shoehorns.

The sails and the bodies of the whales and the dolphins are made of baleen. The technique behind cutting and carving baleen is masterfully done.

Awaji “deko-joruri,” or traditional puppet theater, has a 500 year history. The “tayu” (narrator), the “shamisen” (a traditional, Japanese 3-stringed instrument), and the puppet depict morality and emotions in Japanese culture. Each puppet has three puppet masters, and by moving the eyes, the eyebrows, and even the horns on their foreheads, the puppet's faces can express a variety of expressions. Baleen is used for these detailed facial movements. Two sets of baleen are shaved 1 mm thin and 1 cm wide and are used as springs and tied to the puppet’s eyes and eyebrows with silk threads, which are also used in Shamisen. Thus, pulling the silk threads moves the puppet's eyes and eyebrows. Traditionally, the baleen of the North Pacific right whale has been favored for its smooth movement; however, other baleen is also used now due to their rarity. Puppets in particular use fin whale baleen.
* Tayu: The puppet theater narrator who narrates the story and the character's emotions.

The “usho,” or the cormorant fisherman, uses several cormorants at the same time. “Tsumoso” is a 30 cm long baleen stick which is tied between “kubiyui” (hemp) and “tazuna” (rope). The elasticity of the North Pacific right whale's baleen was traditionally favored along the Nagara River in Gifu; however, plastic “tsumoso” has taken its place since baleen is rare and expensive today. The “tsumoso” in this picture (indicated by the arrow above) is made from the baleen of a North Pacific right whale.

When igniting a fuse, the flame travels through a small hole called a touch hole and then ignites the gun powder inside the barrel. In matchlock guns, the momentum of the explosion fires the bullet. However, after several shots, the narrow 1.0 to 1.5 mm touch hole becomes blocked with soot, so a long tool called a “seseri” is used to clean it. Since there is a curve at the end of the touch hole, this strong, flexible material was used. During the Sengoku (1567-1603) and the Edo (1603-1868) periods, flexible metal was not available, so the baleen of the North Pacific right whale and the fin whale was prized for its flexibility and strength.

Hand-made pipes were popular among whalers in Taiji.

With their strength, durability, and beautiful ivory-like brilliance, inkans made from whale teeth are viewed as luxury items.

Among whalers, “Scrimshaw” is the tradition of carving the bones or teeth of sperm whales or other animals during their long voyages. Whalers carved pictures into the bone, brushed the surface with whale soot oil, and then polished them. They were then used as souvenirs for their family waiting back at home.

The note on the back reads “Caught in the Southern Sea in November, 1961 (Showa 36).”

A variety of figurines such as cranes, penguins, and flowers remain in Taiji.

Experience and skill was required to carve this intricate design onto the hard surface of the sperm whale tooth.

“Sukashi” is the technique behind carving the tooth thin enough let light transfer through it, which requires a large amount of skill.

Detailed carvings of whales in frame. (Author: Mr. Toshio Hamano?)