Types of Bamboo
There are approximately 1,250 types of bamboo globally. Most of these grow in Asia, and Japan alone has about 670 different types. In Beppu, most bamboo products are made using madake and moso bamboo.
Madake is native to Japan and is found throughout the country, in places as far north as Aomori Prefecture. This bamboo can grow up to 20 meters tall, with a diameter of up to 10 centimeters. Kyushu produces particularly large, high-quality bamboo because of its warm climate, and Oita Prefecture boasts the highest madake production in Japan. Madake bamboo has fewer nodes (joints) and longer sections between nodes than many other types, making it relatively easy to work with. It is used to make all types of bamboo craft products.
Moso bamboo, native to China, is also grown widely in Kyushu because of the suitably warm climate. This type grows particularly well in Kagoshima Prefecture (southern Kyushu), where the tallest reach are more than 25 meters and are more than 20 centimeters in diameter. The stalks are used to make tube-shaped flower vases, tableware, and other containers. The shoots of moso bamboo are edible and are a standard ingredient in Japanese cuisine.