Chen Minsheng

陳旻晟（Chen Minsheng／チン）

On March 17 and 18, 2026, six students from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), together with students from two universities in Nagasaki Prefecture, visited Okawa City in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture. Okawa is a small city located next to Saga Prefecture. I had heard about this activity from students who joined it last year, so I was really looking forward to this visit.

Even before the trip, I knew that Okawa City was famous as a furniture-producing area and was known as the “town of furniture.” For this reason, our first destination was a furniture factory that mainly produces doors and other wooden products. There, we observed the process of how wood, mainly cedar and cypress, is transformed from logs into finished products through cutting, drying, joining, polishing, and detailed processing.

After that, we visited a joinery workshop. There, kumiko works were mainly produced and displayed. Kumiko is a technique in which thin pieces of wood are assembled to create various patterns. It is mainly used for decorations on doors, folding screens, and lighting.

I learned that kumiko has a history of about 380 years in Okawa, and that, from a global perspective, this craft has a long history of around 400 to 500 years. This technique requires great precision, and I heard that it can take several months to complete one large piece.

During the tour, we had one question. Okawa City is located on flat land, and there do not seem to be many trees in the surrounding area. So where did the raw materials for making furniture come from? From the explanation, we learned that Okawa City is located next to the Chikugo River. The upper reaches of the Chikugo River flow through Hita City in Oita Prefecture, in central Kyushu, where there are many forests. For this reason, high-quality timber was transported by water to Okawa, where it was processed.

Then, why was Okawa chosen? I learned that one reason was that Okawa City has flat land, which made it suitable for building factories.

After visiting the two factories, we began to feel a little hungry, so it was time for lunch. We had sushi and locally famous karaage. Karaage is eaten in many different regions of Japan, but the flavor differs depending on the area. To me, Okawa’s karaage tasted richer than karaage from other regions, and it seemed to have its own unique appeal.

In the afternoon, we divided into three groups and took part in a woodworking experience. Together with several other students, I made a kumiko piece with a simple pattern. Although a simple pattern could be completed in a relatively short time, I realized once again that making the large display pieces we had seen at the workshop in the morning must require a great deal of patience.

In the evening, we watched the sunset at the Chikugo River Lift Bridge. This bridge is made of steel, and its central section can be lifted upward so that large ships can pass through. When I saw its structure, it reminded me of Tower Bridge in London, England. However, while Tower Bridge opens by rotating its central sections, the Chikugo River Lift Bridge works by moving its central section up and down. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the lifting function that day, so we were not able to walk all the way to the prefectural border with Saga.

On the morning of the second day, the weather was not very good, but our desire to explore Okawa did not weaken at all. On this day, we moved slightly away from the main theme of furniture and had the opportunity to learn more deeply about the history of Okawa as a town.

Historically, Okawa City was located on the border between the Yanagawa Domain and the Kurume Domain. For this reason, different cultures once remained on each side of the area. However, today, these cultural differences do not seem to be felt as strongly.

First, we visited the Former Yoshiwara Residence. There, we experienced a tea ceremony and were also impressed by the high level of architectural techniques from that time. After that, we walked through the traditional townscape and visited a factory that makes vinegar using traditional methods, as well as its attached shop.

Finally, we also visited a small guesthouse that had finished being renovated and was scheduled to open in the summer. Fragrant wood was used inside the building, and while enjoying its pleasant scent, I felt that I would like to come back and stay there during the summer vacation.

After the group activities and lunch, this program concluded with an exchange meeting with local people.

Through this trip to Okawa, I realized that Fukuoka Prefecture has not only the lively city of Fukuoka, but also many small towns full of charm. If I have another opportunity to visit Okawa, I would like to explore the town more deeply next time and buy several bottles of the locally famous fruit vinegar to take home.