<Picture Book on Disability Employment and Traditional Earthen Walls Donated to 80 Schools in Kawaguchi City, Saitama>

Mariko Ito, President of Masui Living Company, Ltd., donated picture books to 80 elementary and junior high schools (52 elementary schools and 28 junior high schools) in Kawaguchi City at the Kawaguchi City Office Second Government Building 5th floor on Monday, May 25, 2026. The donated picture book is 'Saki-san's Chiritonbo' - The Earthen Wall Material Supported by a Woman with Down Syndrome (published by Laguna Publishing). This picture book depicts the journey of a woman with Down syndrome, Saki-san, who works at Masui Living Company, as she makes the production of the earthen wall material 'chiritonbo' her job.

Chieko Masui, Chairperson of Masui Living Company; Kiyoyuki Inoue, Superintendent of Education, Kawaguchi City Board of Education; Mariko Ito, President of Masui Living Company

This picture book aims to convey to children the importance of understanding disability employment, preserving traditional techniques, and supporting people who work hard.

Through this donation, the company hopes to foster a spirit of mutual understanding among diverse people within the local community for elementary and junior high school students.

Scene explaining how chiritonbo is used in earthen walls

At the donation ceremony, actual chiritonbo and the production process were introduced.

Earthen walls are a building material that is currently gaining attention again for being environmentally friendly and healthy.

Chiritonbo, which was once familiar, is now unknown to many people.

Chiritonbo is one of the materials used to increase the strength of earthen walls.

The number of craftsmen making it is decreasing, and plasterers are facing difficulties.

Chiritonbo (hemp string tied to iron nails)

Chiritonbo is used when using a wooden lath base.

After the base coat, a middle coat of earth is applied. Then, rush (igusa) is applied, and chiritonbo is used on top of that. Iron nails are driven into the wooden lath base, and the hemp string is spread out.

This shows the chiritonbo neatly spread out. For the middle coat, the middle and top coats are applied immediately on top. This is a moment when the chiritonbo can only be seen for an instant. Using this chiritonbo creates a strong earthen wall that is resistant to cracking.

The donated picture book

On February 1, 2026, the construction company Masui Living Company published the picture book. The book is modeled after 'Saki-san,' a woman with Down syndrome who works at Masui Living Company. Mariko Ito, a director of the construction company, wrote and illustrated the book.

The reason for publishing the picture book is to support disability employment, spread awareness of earthen wall culture, and increase the number of companies and people who create warm human connections.

Saki-san has elevated the production of chiritonbo, a plastering material, to a level recognized as a commercial product. Chiritonbo is a material for earthen walls, and the number of people making it has drastically decreased, becoming a problem. It is now recognized by leading plasterers and plaster material suppliers in Japan and is sold as a product.

Saki-san working

Saki-san working