The baren is made of layers. A flat coil of braided cord forms the core. This is placed on a disk ("ategawa") consisting of 30–40 sheets of high-grade long-fibred hosokawa paper, wrapped in tissue and black lacquer. This is covered by a thin bamboo sheath ("takenokawa") twisted in such a manner as to form the handle on the top. According to Hiroshi Yoshida's manual "Japanese Woodblock Printing" (1939) the madake species of bamboo, grown in Kyushu, southwest Japan, is considered the best one to use.