Soba-Inoguchi / Odate Bent Wappa

The wood's heat-insulating property keeps soba-doup from getting wet and condensation from forming, and its conical shape makes it the world's first soba choko that can be stacked for easy storage.

Odate Bend Wappa

Thinly shaved boards of Akita cedar are boiled in boiling water to soften them, then rolled into a cylindrical shape and the joints are glued together. The joints are then glued together, and the bottom board is sewn with the bark of the mountain cherry tree to hold it in place.

Akita cedar, one of the three most beautiful forests in Japan, grows with tight annual rings and fine grain due to the harsh cold weather. The fine grain of the wood means less expansion and contraction, resulting in less distortion and superior durability. The trees must be 200 to 300 years old before they can be used to make bentwood.

Kurikyu

Founded in 1874, Kurikyu is a long-established company representing Odate bent-wood. The sixth generation Kurimori Shunji won the Good Design Award, the first in Akita Prefecture, for his "Kaku-bon" (square tray), and has since produced many other award-winning products. He is a traditional craftsman certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, a master craftsman of Akita, and a master craftsman of today.