About the product
[Magical case to keep bread fluffy and tasty]
'I want to enjoy my favourite bread, which I have found in bakeries, for as long as I can.' "I want to enjoy the taste of my favourite bread (shokupan) from Japan." This magical bread box is recommended for such people. The characteristic feature of Japanese fine bread (shokupan) is that it is moist and glutinous and has a high moisture content. Therefore, if the bread is kept airtight, it is prone to damage due to condensation, and if it is left outside, it can dry out and lose its flavour and become less tasty.
The Noto Hiba Bread Box uses the non-condensing, moisture-absorbing properties of hiba and lacquer to keep bread from becoming tough, fluffy and tasty. The antibacterial properties of the lacquer also keep the bread tasty for longer.
This item accompanies you every day when you enjoy your favourite bread, not only shokupan.
[Humidity control with wood and lacquer for long-lasting taste]
The lacquer and wood provide temperature and humidity control for the food inside. The hiba (cypress) wood is particularly airtight and can be closed tightly, which keeps the humidity more constant. In winter, it protects the bread from drying out and prevents it from becoming hard; in summer, it protects the bread from humidity and prevents mould. As a result, the bread is less likely to become hard and remains fluffy and tasty.
[Durability and antibacterial properties due to natural lacquer]
The wood used for most kitchen tools is coated, as using only solid wood inevitably makes it less durable. The Noto Hiba Bread Box uses lacquer for its coating. It has excellent durability and antibacterial properties. Hiba wood is also rich in an ingredient called 'hinokitiol', which makes it one of the most durable and antibacterial types of wood.
*About the antibacterial properties of lacquer, no antibacterial tests have been carried out on this product.
[Luxury wooden warmth]
The simple patterning of the beautiful wood grain matches any space coordinated with any taste. Even if it is placed in the kitchen or living room, it keeps bread well hidden and well preserved. Recommended for those who want to create a room without a lived-in feel. The tray underneath the bread box can also be used as a cutting board for slicing bread as it is.
The Noto Hiba Bread Box can be used not only for bread, but also for storing rice, seasonings and other important items. The soft, cornerless design of the bread case makes it an excellent product for customers who love bread, but also for rice lovers who love rice.
[The warmth of artisans handcrafting each item.]
Because it is something you hold in your hand and use. We want you to enjoy the lightness and ease of use, and richness of using it for many years to come. Each item is handmade with this in mind.
No nails or other metals, which can rust or discolour, are used. The lid and the box are connected together like a puzzle - a magical box made of wood. The box is assembled without the use of any metal fittings or nails, by craftsmen who know the characteristics of wood inside out.
[All-natural materials with a focus on safety.]
The wood is naturally dried for two years after being sterilised by boiling without using any chemicals or bleach. It is coated with natural lacquer and made from Noto hiba wood and natural lacquer, so it is made from only all-natural materials that are gentle to the earth and to the body.
[Story of the Noto Hiba Bread Box.]
One product that has been made at Taya Lacquerware Store for a long time is the Wajima-nuri zushi (miniature Buddhist altar). It was originally a food storehouse where food was stored for long periods of time. This is because the lacquer and wood keep the humidity and temperature of the materials inside well and protect them from deterioration. It is said that it was transformed into a simple Buddhist altar because it was used to store important items and to store and preserve the tablets of the deceased. This functionality of the zushi led to the creation of a magical bread box suitable for storing bread.
[About lacquer]
The Chinese character 'lacquer' (漆) is made up of the parts 'water' (水), 'wood' (木) and 'human' (人). As the origins of this character indicate, 'lacquer' is the result of 'water', 'wood' and 'human' becoming one.
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.
[History of Wajima-nuri lacquerware]
Wajima-nuri lacquerware was born from the connection between the natural features of Noto and its people.
Wajima-nuri is considered the representative of Japanese lacquerware, but the technique was established in the Edo period (1603-1867), and its remote location away from the capital has forced it to differentiate itself from other renowned lacquerware production areas such as Kyoto. Wajima-nuri, which emerged relatively late, was the first in the country to be designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property and has grown to become Japan's number one in terms of production output.
Product detail
Specifications
Noto Hiba Bread Box (Large)
Materials: natural wood (hiba wood), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 36 x 18 cm, height 22 cm
Weight: approx. 850 g
Colour: wood grain (normal), black
Noto Hiba Bread Box (Small)
Materials: natural wood (hiba wood), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 18 x 18 cm, height 22 cm
Weight: approx. 425 g
Colour: wood grain (normal), black
Wiping-lacquered cooking utensils 3-piece set (versatile cooking spatula, mini spatula and chopsticks)
Versatile 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 from product to product)
Colour: wood grain (normal), black.
*Black is made black by adding charcoal to the lacquer. It looks chic and the ash is of natural origin.
Mini Spatula
Material: natural wood (hiba wood), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 12.5 cm (length) x 2 cm (width) (dimensions may vary slightly depending on the product).
Weight: 2 g (weight varies slightly from product to product)
Colour: wood grain (normal), black
Chopsticks
Material: natural wood (hiba wood), natural lacquer
Dimensions: 28 cm (length) x 2 cm (width) (dimensions vary slightly from product to product)
Weight: 10g (Weight varies slightly depending on product)
Colour: wood grain (normal), black
Notes
Noto Hiba Bread Box
*If you feel that it has become dirty, wipe it with a soft cloth. Immediately afterwards, polish with a dry cloth to make it more beautiful.
*Durability: cracking, deformation and peeling of the lacquer rarely occur. Therefore, it can be used for a long time with maintenance.
*Maintenance should be carried out by washing with a sponge and detergent and drying well after washing.
Versatile cooking spatula, mini spatula and chopsticks.
*Care should be taken in the same way as other kitchen tools: wash with a sponge and detergent. You can also put them in the dishwasher, but they will deteriorate a little faster than if you don't.
*Can also be used when heat is applied (e.g. stir-frying), such as in frying pans.
*Durability: Please consider this a consumable kitchen tool. It is coated with three coats of lacquer and is more durable than ordinary wooden spatulas.
*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.
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 cutting board.
You will see the strength of this bread box when you use them daily as a kitchen tool. When you actually touch them with your hands, you can see the quality of their texture. When the bread box 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.
