Lacquered Noto Hiba Cypress Cooking Spatula

[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.