Hiba Kitchen Natural Aomori Hiba Cutting 39 x 24 x 2 Flat Grain x Straight Made in Warp Resistant Board, Handcrafted, cm, Approx. 785g, Grain, Japan,

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 【Sold by Japanese Sellers・Shipped from Japan】 ・ Operated by Japanese Sellers – Japanese sellers carefully handle everything from product selection to shipping. ・ Direct Shipping from Japan – Your order will be shipped directly from Japan. ・ Product Selection with Japanese Quality in Mind – We introduce products while valuing the usability and sense of reliability that Japanese products are known for. ・ About Included Manuals – If a manual is included, it will mainly be written in Japanese. We recommend using an image translation app if needed. ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー [100% Natural Aomori Cypress from Trees Approximately 200 Years Old] We select and use only the heartwood from natural forests in Tsugaru and Shimokita, where more than 80% of Japan's cypress reserves grow. Along with Akita cedar and Kiso cypress, it is one of Japan's three most beautiful forests, and it is a rare tree that cannot be cultivated through planting and regenerates naturally over 200 years. [Cleanliness supported by hinokitiol / Antibacterial and deodorizing] Aromatic components stored in the heartwood suppress odors and the growth of bacteria without relying on paint or coatings. In wood decay fungus resistance tests, it received the highest rating of 10/10 among 10 major building material tree species including cypress, cedar, larch, Douglas fir, and hemlock. [Because it's rare, we use it without waste - Laminated timber with flat grain and quarter-sawn grain] Instead of using up the finest natural Aomori cypress wood, which takes 200 years to grow, as a single board, we combine the beautiful "flat grain" and the stable "quarter-sawn" to create a single piece. Laminated timber is the choice to make the most of this rare resource. It is also lightweight at approximately 785g and resistant to warping due to changes in humidity. [Wood is gentle on blades - Air-dry specific gravity approximately 0.41] Plastic and metal are durable, but they are too hard to withstand daily use and tire out the blade. Wooden cutting boards have a softness that gently accepts and returns the blade. With an air-dry specific gravity of approximately 0.41, it is almost the same as cypress, which is why chefs have long chosen wood. There is no logo branding on either side, so it can be used on either side. [From sawing to inspection, every step is done within Aomori Prefecture] Designed and supervised by a long-established lumber company in Hachinohe, Aomori, founded in 1952, each piece is handcrafted at three sites within Aomori Prefecture. 100% Made in Aomori. Please consider it as a souvenir or memento of your trip to Aomori. [Important Notes] As natural wood is used, the grain and color of each item will vary slightly. Please understand this. Although we have taken measures to prevent warping, warping or cracks may appear on the sides with prolonged use. Bringing the essence of a 200-year-old forest into your daily life. 100% natural Aomori cypress, approximately 200 years old, bringing the softness of its heartwood and the power of its essential oils to your kitchen every day. — Why a wooden cutting board? Plastic and metal are durable, but they are too hard to withstand daily use, tiring out your blade. The beauty of a wooden cutting board lies in its softness, gently receiving and returning the blade. This is why chefs have long chosen wood. Furthermore, natural wood stores its own essential oils and pigments in its heartwood, giving it the ability to protect itself from decay without relying on paint. — Why Aomori cypress? The heartwood of cypress contains hinokitiol (β-thujaplicin), a plant-derived essential oil component known for its particularly strong antibacterial properties. In wood decay fungal resistance tests, it received the highest rating of 10/10 among 10 major building material species including cypress, cedar, larch, Douglas fir, and hemlock. This is the strength of wood that has supported Hiraizumi's Chuson-ji Golden Hall and Aomori's Hirosaki Castle for over 900 years, without relying on paint. More than 80% of Japan's cypress reserves are concentrated in Aomori Prefecture. Natural forests that grow to around 200 years old amid the winds and fog of Tsugaru and Shimokita cannot be increased quickly by planting. — Why "this laminated timber" among all types of cypress? Even in Aomori, where 80% of the world's cypress trees are gathered, the resources of natural forests that regenerate naturally over 200 years are limited. That's why the first Hiba Kitchen piece isn't made from a single, solid piece of high-quality wood, but rather from laminated wood combining the beautiful grain of "flat grain" and the stable "straight grain" perpendicular to the annual rings. It's a responsible choice that makes the most of rare natural cypress without waste. Weighing approximately 785g, it's light enough to lean against a wall every day without any hassle, and it's also resistant to warping due to changes in humidity. With an air-dry specific gravity of approximately 0.41 (almost the same as cypress), the blade surface is soft enough to prolong the life of your knives. Neither side has a branded logo, so it blends quietly into the kitchen landscape no matter which side you use. — Handcrafted one piece at a time in Aomori Prefecture. The sawing, drying, and lamination are done at sawmills within the prefecture, the shaping, chamfering, and finishing are done at a woodworking shop in Hachinohe City, and the final inspection and packaging are handled by a long-established lumber store in Hachinohe, Aomori, that has been working with cypress for over half a century. Made in Aomori 100%. — Care Instructions When using for the first time, quickly wet it with water. Wash with lukewarm water and a neutral detergent, wipe off the moisture with a cloth, and let it air dry upright in a well-ventilated place. Avoid direct sunlight and dish dryers as they may cause warping.