Keep it long, treasure it long.

Round and reliable lunch box

It is a lovely lunch box with a round shape. Yamaichi's lunch box is made of cypress that is light enough to hold in one hand. The lunch box has a bottom plate, a top plate, and sides. Because the craftsmen are carefully made using natural wood, the grain is beautiful, the feel is gentle, and it is comfortable to hold.

The craftwork for the lunch box is also called Mage-Wappa (literally means bending plate), that is, the traditional technique from ancient Japan. It is said that the history of Mage-Wappa dates back to the Nara era (A.D. 710 to 794). Why has Mage-Wappa been loved since ancient times? Its secret is not only in this aesthetic beauty but also in its excellent functionality.

The raw wood for Mage-Wappa is very compatible with rice. The natural wood regulates the moisture of rice and side dishes inside a lunch box. Therefore, rice does not become dry, even if it gets cold. The best thing about Mage-Wappa is the scent. The scent of natural wood makes the taste of rice better. When you open the lunch box, the scent of natural cypress will soften your appetite. Once you eat rice inside the Mage-Wappa, you can no longer say that cold rice is bad.

The lunch box is lightweight but contains about 550ml. Even on days with little side dishes, it looks delicious when packed. It is recommended not only for those who love cooking but also for those who are particular about the appearance of lunch boxes.

From Kiso, remarkable wood producing area

The land of Kiso, Nagano Prefecture, Japan still has deep mountains with large trees of old age. Five different kinds of wood are known to represent the Kiso valley, that is, Hinoki, Sawara, Nezuko, Asunaro, and Koyamaki. Hinoki (i.e., cypress) is treated as the highest quality building material and has been carefully cultivated since ancient times. It is said that "Kiso Hinoki" is still used at the transition of the Ise Jingu Naiku, which is held once every 20 years, and many other shrines and temples are built with Kiso Hinoki as the main material. For the sake of the blessed soil and harsh climate, many high-quality wooden materials are produced, and the fine wood-producing areas attract skilled artisans, and many woodwork products have been produced in this area since the Edo period.

Work that can only be done with trees

In the Kiso region, it takes time for trees to grow due to the steep terrain and severe climate, but wood grown in a harsh environment is very durable, and the wood itself has properties that can be used for a long time. While many mass-produced products are made of timber of unknown origin, YAMAICHI chooses only heartwood of Kiso Hinoki that has been grown more than 100 years. In pursuit of things that are glad to be wood, and things that can only be done with wood, YAMAICHI manufactures from traditional products such as chests and pail to products that are familiar to modern life like cutting boards.