A piece of Nepal in museum Japan

Eight woodcarvers of Bungmati are behind the creation of this unique door. They had worked together for one whole month to create this artifact. And the workers have agreed not to make a replica of this door for anyone else since it is a gift to Japan. In no other Japanese museum can one find an object de’ art like this and the makers of this door want it to be one of a kind gift

A beautifully carved wooden door, six feet tall, three and half feet wide greets the onlookers in Ochyano Soto museum in Japan. This door is a fine specimen of craftsmanship of woodcarvers from Bungmati village. It is also a symbol of friendship between the Khanaya city and Bungmati village of Nepal

Nepali idols of Buddha and various gods and goddess are no uncommon sight in museum in foreign countries. But the presence of a six feet tall, three and half feet wide door in a Japanese museum may surprise any onlooker. And this door is no ordinary door. It’s decorated with highly artistic images of deities like Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and special vessel like kalasha. This door depicts the fine craftsmanship of Nepali woodcarvers of Bungmati village. The door stands proudly in Ochyano Sato museum situated in Khanaya city of Japan.

Eight woodcarvers of Bungmati are behind the creation of this unique door. They had worked together for one whole month to create this artifact. And the workers have agreed not to make a replica of this door for anyone else since it is a gift to Japan. In no other Japanese museum can one find an object de’ art like this and the makers of this door want it to be one of a kind gift.

The man who made it possible for this door to find a place in Japanese museum is Anuj Shakya. Shakya says that he choose woodcraft among so many other art mediums to represent Nepali workmanship because people of Bungmati village are renowned for woodcarving. So famous are these craftsmen that they had the opportunity to take part in restoration activities of the historic Gorkha Durbar few years back.

Regarding how this door made its way to Ochyano Soto museum, Shakya says that the authorities of the museum were in search of a Nepali national to decorate a room in the museum for ‘Nepal Day’ and he got the opportunity to do this work. Meanwhile it struck Shakya that the museum didn’t even have a single Nepali item on display. He then declined the remuneration he received for the decoration and instead requested the authorities to give woodcraft created in his village, Bungmati a place in the museum. When he got the permission, he returned to Bungmati and asked the woodcraftsmen there to create a unique gift for Japan.

On October 9, 2002 he handed the door to the mayor of Khanaya city. Today this door greets the museum goers as a symbol of friendship between Bungmati and Khanaya.

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