秋田杉の町二ッ井には林業や製材業といった、木に関係するさまざまな仕事が多く、たくさんの人が従事している。また、かつては船大工や漁師など米代川と密接に関わっていた人もたくさんいた。現在、ほとんどの人（特に後者）が時代の変化につれて転廃業したり、残っているにしてもごくわずである。最盛期を知る人たちにとっては、まことにさみしいかぎりである。
　しかしながら、こうした仕事は、二ッ井にとっては大変重要な「町の記憶」であり、まさに町のアイデンティティと言うべきものでもある。この項では、こうした川や山が育くんだ文化を、現在も体現している二ッ井のものつくりを訪ねてみた。

　A variety of work in Futatsui is related to trees, such as forestry and lumbering, and many people work in these industries. A number of people, such as ship carpenters and fishermen, have been closely related to the Yoneshiro-gawa River in past years. We introduce the artisans in Futatsui who make goods related to the river and forests.

〈桶・樽〉Keg & bucket　　
畠山喜美男　Kimio Hatakeyama

［連絡先］〒０１８−３１５２　秋田県山本郡二ッ井町三千苅５−１５　
畠武天杉工芸社　ＴＥＬ０１８５−７３−２１０８

　Virgin Akita cedar features beautiful grains, scent, ease of processing, and sturdiness. Kimio Hatakeyama has 50 years of experience, and uses only natural Akita cedar aged more than 100 years. He does not rely on a machine, and devotes his time to the work with his same aged cousin and his eldest son. Sushi-oke (Sushi rice paddle), O-hitsu (cooked rice container) and water buckets are particularly excellent traditional crafts.

〈木の小物〉Small wooden articles　
マルトモ工房 Marutomo Kobo

［連絡先］〒０１８−３１４１　秋田県山本郡二ッ井町山根20-19　
マルトモ工房 　ＴＥＬ０１８５−７３−２６８８

　Mr. Ogasawara and Tanaka who are cousins have operated this studio for more than 40 years. They specialize in fittings or doors and Shoji (paper sliding screen doors), and are devoted artisans with long experience. When the Futatsui Commercial and Industrial Cooperative had its 30th anniversary, they entered their work in a specialties competition and won a prize. From that time they have been manufacturing small wooden articles, many of which are used in daily life: coasters, tidies, standishes, and picture frames. They are made of natural Akita cedar.