About the product
[Easy-to-use, sophisticated forms born from artisan tools.]
There are more than 100 processes (124 processes) involved in the production of Wajima lacquerware to complete a single vessel, and the craftsmen use spatulas everyday in these more than 100 processes. This product was first tried out by the proprietress of a lacquer shop who saw such a spatula and felt that it would be easy to use for cooking. The particular form of the spatula, which has been created since ancient times by considering the angle and thinness to make it easy for the Wajima-nuri craftsmen to work with, has a form that is very easy to use and its characteristics are fully demonstrated when cooking.
The handle is designed to widen from the hand to the tip for easy gripping, and the corners of the spatula have been improved to a rounded shape for cooking. The rounded curves work well with the cookware.
Enjoy the warmth of each piece being individually handmade by craftsmen, unlike mass-produced items.
[Versatile cooking spatula with six functions in one, including "frying" and "mixing."]
The spatula is long, easy to handle and can be used for multiple purposes. The spatula can be used not only for frying and mixing but also for serving, stirring, backing and mashing. This single spatula can be used in six different ways, reducing the amount of washing up.
[All-natural material that won't damage the frying pan or the earth.]
Hiba cypress wood is soft and well-flex, so unlike metal kitchen tools, it does not damage pots and pans and can be used on enameled pots and pans and on fluorinated pans.
The cooking spatula is coated with natural lacquer and is made from Noto hiba wood and natural lacquer, so it is made entirely from all-natural materials that are gentle on the earth and the body. Even today, it is said that no synthetic paint has been developed that is superior to lacquer, and the lacquer coating prevents water and oil from penetrating the wood's interior, making it extremely durable, water-resistant, heat-insulating and antiseptic, and allowing it to be used for a long time.
The lacquer coating also brings out the beautiful grain of the Noto hiba wood, adding a gentle atmosphere and a sense of luxury that fits in with the kitchen. The natural lacquer coating is smooth to the touch and the lacquer has a warm, comfortable feel on the hand. Furthermore, the lacquer used in this project has been tested to reduce viruses under certain conditions.
[Updated conventional product to be even easier to use.]
- We have received feedback that the handles of the previous product were angular and the area where they hit the hand was bothersome. The new versatile cooking spatula has been rounded and improved to a shape that is more comfortable in the hand and easier to grip.
- The spatula is now more rounded at the tip to make it easier to use while maintaining its characteristic shape.
- The colour of the wood is now more easily recognisable thanks to the lacquering process that has been changed to wiping lacquer. (woodgrain type)
[Noto wood with high durability and antibacterial properties]
Hiba (cypress) wood is rich in a component called 'hinokitiol', making it one of the most durable and antibacterial types of wood. For this reason, it is often used as a wooden utensil in the kitchen and around the water, and the 'hiba-buro', a bathtub made of hiba wood and bathrooms boarded up with an interior, is known as a luxurious, fragrant and water-resistant bath. Also known as the longest set of three connected arched wooden bridge in Japan, the Tsurunomai Bridge in Tsuruta town, Aomori Prefecture, is a wooden bridge made of hiba (cypress) and still looks beautiful 20 years after its construction. It is also used for Chuson-ji Temple's Konjikido (Golden Hall).
[About lacquer]
Lacquer is a natural, health-friendly paint made from the sap of the lacquer tree trunk (raw lacquer) or refined from it. Many people are concerned that lacquer may cause a rash, but this is only the case when the lacquer is in its sap state and there is little risk of a rash once it has dried completely.
The sap from the lacquer tree is, to put it simply, like Canadian maple syrup. Lacquer is described as drying, but it dries by absorbing moisture from the air and hardening. Also, only about 200 g of lacquer can be extracted from a lacquer tree grown for 20 years. Lacquer is made by scratching the lacquer tree and the sap that the tree produces to form a pressure sore to protect the wound. However, if too many wounds are made, the tree weakens and dies, so only 200 g can be extracted from a tree grown for 20 years, making it a precious natural resource.
*Dried lacquer basically does not cause rashes, but in very rare cases, some people may not be constitutionally compatible with it.
[About lacquering]
Lacquer serves as a paint and adhesive, and its use in Japan has been confirmed since the Jomon period (approx. 13,000 to 23,000 yeas ago). Due to its robustness, durability and ease of decoration, it has been used in a wide range of lacquerware, from soup bowls used daily and stacked boxes used for festive occasions, to buildings, Buddhist statues and works of art representing various periods, supporting Japanese life and culture to the present day. The lacquer coating hardens about a year after completion, making it more durable, and the more it is used, the more its colour and gloss increase, and it also has a high adhesive capacity and is used for gold-jointing.
Lacquer coating is a technique of repeatedly applying and wiping the lacquer, which allows the grain of the wood to show through and gives it a beautiful sheen. The process of applying raw lacquer, wiping with a cloth and allowing to dry allows the lacquer to soak into the wood, making it strong and repelling water and oil.
[User's voice: Asako Aramaki, cookery expert]
The enjoyment of food is a universal human pleasure. Surrounding yourself with food and serving it on cooking utensils and tableware is also a very moving experience. Lacquered cooking utensils and dishes are indispensable props for a quality life. Lacquered dishes are used for entertaining guests and for seasonal meals, and give a sense of the richness and breadth of the food culture. We recommend that you become familiar with the use of lacquerware in your daily life.
Product detail
Specifications
Wiping-lacquered Cooking Spatula
Material: natural wood (hiba wood), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 30 cm (length) x 7 cm (width) x 0.8 cm (thickness) (dimensions vary slightly from product to product).
Weight: 30 g (Weight varies slightly depending on the product)
Colour: wood grain, black.
*Black is made black by adding charcoal to the lacquer. It looks chic and the ash is of natural origin.
Wiping-lacquered Chopsticks
Material: natural wood (hiba wood), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 28 cm (length) x 2 cm (width) (dimensions may vary slightly depending on the product).
Weight: 10 g (weight varies slightly from product to product)
Colour: wood grain, black
Wiping-lacquered Mini Spatula
Material: natural wood (hiba tree), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 12.5 cm (length) x 2 cm (width) (dimensions vary slightly depending on the product)
Weight: 2 g (Weight varies slightly depending on the product)
Colour: wood grain, black
Notes
*Clean as you would any other kitchen tool, with a sponge and detergent. Can be used in a dishwasher, but will deteriorate slightly faster than if not used.
*Can also be used when heat is applied (e.g. stir-frying), such as in frying pans.
*Please consider the durability as consumable as it is a kitchen tool. The spatula is coated with three coats of lacquer, so it is more durable than a standard wooden spatula.
*Use the mini spatula for butter spreading, cutting cheese, etc. The handles can also be used to scoop small amounts of spices and other small items.
*Avoid microwave ovens and open flames.
*Dried lacquer does not generally cause a rash, but in very rare cases some people may have a constitutional problem with it.
About the maker
Taya Lacquerware Store is a manufacturer and distributor of Wajima lacquerware (Wajima-nuri), established in 1818. While faithfully preserving the Wajima-nuri technique, the company is trying various things in search of new lacquerware possibilities, such as lacquer painting on architectural interiors and developing products that suit local lifestyles for overseas markets. For general customers in Japan, the company develops traditional, orthodox products that are never boring. Currently, three generations - Tsutomu Taya the 8th, Akihiro Taya the 9th and Takahiro Taya the 10th - are working at the same time, and together with 10 other craftsmen and employees, they carry out Wajima-nuri lacquerware production in Wajima.
Taya Takahiro, the 10th Generation
I had made up my mind to leave Wajima and live in Tokyo, but I could not forget the charm of Wajima-nuri, the family business, and returned to Wajima four years ago from Tokyo. I decided to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and father and become a lacquerer (a general producer of Wajima lacquerware) in order to bring the robust and elegant (strong and beautiful) charm of Wajima lacquerware to the rest of the world. My future goal is to convey Wajima's lacquerware culture and the appeal of lacquer to Japan and the rest of the world.
I want to bring the appeal of lacquerware to Japanese people, who are increasingly turning away from lacquerware.
We often receive comments from customers such as "I don't know how to use lacquerware" or "I think lacquerware is not durable.
In the past, all households had furniture and tableware made of real lacquer, but nowadays only a limited number of households may have lacquerware. We developed this product in order to make people aware of the appeal of lacquerware in the first place. We hope that many people will have the experience of using lacquerware through this cooking spatula.
You will see the strength of this cooking spatula when you use it daily as a kitchen tool. When you actually touch the cooking spatula with your hands, you can see the quality of its texture. When the cooking spatula is stored in a corner of the kitchen, you can see the beauty of the grain and the warmth of the lacquer. First of all, we hope that through the experience of using the lacquerware, many people will be reminded of the lacquerware culture that has existed in Japan since ancient times.
