A Beautiful Table Set with Chizu Cedar Vessels

Chizu Town in Tottori Prefecture is a renowned forestry region, often mentioned alongside Yoshino in Nara and Kitayama in Kyoto, and is nationally famous as the "Town of Cedar." In July 2012, the 12th "more trees Forest" was established, initiating activities to transform forest resources into products and deliver them to urban areas. "Kasane-gasa" was the first product launched as part of this initiative.

"Chizu Cedar" is a prized timber harvested from ancient forests with cedar trees over 300 years old, characterized by its cherry-blossom-colored heartwood and dense, beautiful growth rings. Designed by Shinichiro Ogata, "Kasane-gasa" beautifully showcases these characteristics of Chizu Cedar. The lid can be inverted to serve as a plate, the M-sized box can be used as a pitcher for pouring liquids, and the S and XS sizes can function as sake cups, akin to traditional masu boxes. This innovative design allows for versatile use beyond just serving food.

The challenge in developing this product was to create something that could be used in everyday life while fully leveraging the characteristics of the wood. It was also an endeavor to fuse advanced craftsmanship with contemporary design to develop new woodwork. Making everyday items from cedar is inherently difficult due to the wood's nature. Through extensive trial and error in drying, finishing, and joinery techniques, the team overcame cedar's drawbacks, such as its softness and tendency to split, to finally complete the product.

"Kasane-gasa" stands as an excellent example of overcoming product development challenges posed by wood characteristics through the power of technology and design. Such endeavors enhance the value of domestic timber products, revitalize the forestry industry, and contribute to sustainable forest conservation. This product offers significant insights for future forest and product creation.

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