DESIGN /
INTERIOR
March 13, 2015
Series | Yoko Ueno Lewis: Notes on Living – Part 1: Living with Thinned Shimanto Cypress
The Way We Live with “STYLE”
暮らしノート Vol. 1: Living with Thinned Hinoki Wood from Shimanto
“Shimanto Hinoki” refers to the cypress trees that grow around the Shimanto River in Kochi Prefecture. Alongside the Niyodo River, the Shimanto is one of Kochi’s grand, beautiful waterways. Surrounding this river are the cypress mountains, rising in lush abundance. Venturing down a thinned forest path, where the only sound is the chirping of cicadas, one enters a serene tunnel of dappled sunlight, rich with oxygen.
Photos and text by Yoko Ueno Lewis (Sep. 2010)
To Create, To Use, and Finally, To Return to the Earth
We have been crafting everyday items from Shimanto hinoki, a wood packed with “carbon” – the carbon dioxide absorbed and densely stored within. To create, to use, and finally, to return to the earth… this should be simple. However, it requires processing the hinoki wood into attractive forms, ensuring it is seen by as many people as possible, and then creating a flow for its use.
This flow has begun to take shape with the launch of the online shopping site “rumors.jp.” To strengthen and broaden this flow, I revisited Shimanto hinoki, both as a designer and, more importantly, as a user.
Bathtub Stools — Four Types
There's “FROISU,” gentle even if a child bumps into it; “ONSEN STOOL,” reminiscent of a classic step stool; the popular “SAUNA STOOL”; and the “HIGH STOOL” with a shelf. FROISU features a timeless, artisanal design that evokes a warm, bathhouse feel. The other three embody the vigorous growth of hinoki with their straight lines, possessing a simple elegance suitable for the living room. They offer a classic modern aesthetic that complements both tatami and wood flooring.
Tab Bar
This is from the KYOTO series, inspired by the lattice work seen in traditional Kyoto townhouses. The shorter version serves as a soap dish. It took eight years from the creation of the first tab bar to the latest KYOTO design. Place your sake cups and small glasses here… or perhaps wine glasses. Since it creates a surface right where you need it, please enhance your personal bathing enjoyment.
Table Entertainer
MOON TRAY, MINI SUSHI BAR, GRIP BOARD…
The “MINI SUSHI BAR” gained popularity in America over ten years ago. Fueled by the sushi boom, many thinned Shimanto hinoki pieces have traveled across the ocean. Hinoki pairs beautifully with white ceramic. I tried adding olive oil. The olives in my garden were just beginning to bear small green fruit. Dip in some flaxseed bread… and you have a healthy, simple finger food.
The “MOON TRAY” is a hinoki version of the traditional half-moon tray. Its shape harmonizes wonderfully with unusual varieties of seasonal tomatoes. I placed it with an air of Zen contemplation, alongside chopsticks and cherry tomatoes… or perhaps watermelon tomatoes.
GRIP BOARD
There are two versions: the straight-edged type shown in the photo, and a curved version finished by artisans. The type pictured functions less as a cutting board and more as a serving board. Its clean hinoki surface enhances the texture of foods like yellowtail or creamy cheeses such as Camembert. Puncturing it with fate is a ceramic cheese stick by Piet Stockmans, a national artist of Belgium. The Piet blue resonates dramatically with the hinoki.
Cutting Board
Hinoki counters, found in sushi and tonkatsu restaurants, have long supported the flavors of the cuisine. Shimanto hinoki, naturally rich in oils, is known for its rapid water drainage, self-cleaning properties, and hygiene. Above all, the satisfying thud when the knife strikes provides an effortless experience, even when slicing large amounts of cabbage. Compared to plastic, it is incomparable in this regard. Available with a stand or as a lightweight type, which can also be used as a serving tray.
For those who wish to learn more about thinned Shimanto hinoki wood items,
please visit the “hinoki stories” section of the weBlog on www.yokoueno.com.
