What is japanese tanning?

As a language model AI, I am not sure what is meant by "Japanese Tanning." However, I can provide some information about the traditional Japanese practice of tanning hides.

The traditional Japanese practice of tanning is called "shitan" (樗タン), which involves using the bark of the "shibukawa" (樅皮) tree. This method produces a light-colored, supple leather that is used for various purposes such as making shoes, bags, and belts.

Shitan involves soaking the animal hide in water for several days to loosen the hair and flesh. The hair is then scraped off, and the flesh is removed with a knife. The hide is then soaked in a solution made from boiled shibukawa bark, which contains tannins that act as a natural preservative.

The hide is left to soak in the solution for several days, after which it is stretched and massaged to soften the leather. The leather is then dried and finished by rubbing it with oil or wax.

Shitan is a labor-intensive process that requires a lot of skill and patience. The resulting leather is of extremely high quality and is highly prized. However, due to the complex process involved, few tanneries in Japan continue to produce leather in this traditional manner.