These chopsticks are made of natural wood and have the typical shape of traditional chopsticks: square handle and round tip. In Japanese families, it is common for everyone to have their own pair of chopsticks, so patterns are often sought to distinguish the pairs from each other, or in accordance with the seasons. Here, the handle is decorated with Japanese yosegi marquetry.
Good to know: yosegi zaiku, usually shortened to ‘yosegi’, is a type of traditional marquetry that appeared at the end of the 18th century, in which different types of wood are used to form different coloured patterns by cutting and gluing. The result is a block of wood containing all these patterns which is then planed into thin sheets, which are applied to various everyday objects, in the manner of wallpaper. This video from the Densan workshop shows the many stages of this process, which is done entirely by hand.
Precautions for use :
– After use, wash with hot or cold water and wipe with a soft cloth.
– Keep out of direct sunlight to avoid discoloration.
– Do not use near fire, in boiling water, in the oven or microwave.
– Do not put in the dishwasher.
About Kawakami Shoten
Registered in 1952, the company has actually existed under a different name since 1905: Senkichi Kawakami, the founder, honed his skills as a craftsman in a certain chopstick shop in Tokyo, before becoming independent under the name ‘Sen’. From the beginning, the company focused on the production of wooden chopsticks, and even after the war, when cheaper and easier to make plastic chopsticks became popular, Kawakami Shoten sought to make wooden chopsticks easier to use, without making concessions. This spirit is still present in today’s shop, which offers wooden chopsticks that are ergonomic and suitable for all shapes of Japanese cooking.
