Sanuki Bento Box / Nuku-in / Handcrafted Wood / Small

Product Description

Product Story

General Product Information

This lunch box is made using an age-old technique of joining wooden planks.
Everything is handmade, and you can feel the warmth of the wood.

It is also microwave-safe, making it easy to use in everyday life.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：1200 years ago / 800AD / Heian period in Japan

The emergence of barrels and tubs made by tying slats of wood together occurred in several stages:

Period 1 (Introduction Phase): This period spans from the late 11th century to the 13th century. Small barrels and tubs have been excavated from regions in northern Kyushu, such as Hakata, Hakozaki, and Dazaifu, in present-day Fukuoka Prefecture. Since these artifacts are found in areas where a large Chinese population resided at the time, they are believed to have been imported from the continent, likely as a result of trade between Japan and the Song Dynasty.

Period 2 (Spread Phase): This phase occurs during the 14th century, when the use of these containers spread from northern Kyushu to the Saga and Seto Inland Sea areas. In addition to small containers, well covers (ido-gawa) have been discovered. Although these well covers are not made by tying, they share a similar structural form, as they are made by arranging slats of wood.

Period 3 (Establishment Phase): From the 15th to the 16th century, these containers spread further to the Kanto and Koshinetsu regions. In addition to barrels and well covers, early barrels (called hayabuta) and latrines began to use this technique.

Period 4 (Nationwide Expansion Phase): From the 17th century to the early 20th century, the use of these containers expanded across the country. While cylindrical shapes were predominant until then, non-cylindrical shapes also began to emerge. Large containers, such as those used for brewing and holding 100 koku (a unit of volume), appeared. These containers were used not only for household purposes but also in agriculture, fishing, and mining industries. Particularly during the Edo period, it can be said that the world moved through barrels and tubs.

Period 5 (Decline Phase): In the post-war period, from the mid-20th century onward, barrels and tubs began to decline as they were replaced by industrial products such as bottles.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Tanikawa Woodwork Studio
Tanikawa Woodwork Studio was founded in 1955 in Miki-machi, Kida-gun, Kagawa Prefecture, as a sushi barrel manufacturer. 
Since its establishment, the warmth of wood created by hands has been our most important value.
Using domestically grown Japanese cedar, we are one of the few remaining bucket makers in Kagawa Prefecture, offering wooden products centering on buckets.

Craftsman Passion

I feel the greatest happiness in being able to work with wood.

There are many other places that make industrial products that are mass-produced. It is precisely because they are not made in factories that we are able to make some of them.
I feel happy to be able to process such wood by hand and to be able to offer the warmth of wood to as many people as possible.

  

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Width : 15cm
Height : 7cm
Weight : 230g

Material & Caution

Materials

Wood

Caution

If this product is out of stock, please allow approximately one month for production.