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Country of Manufacture: Made in Japan (Odate Kogeisha) / Material: Natural wood, Akita cedar
Size: 18.8 x 12 x 5.8cm / Capacity: 640ml
[Medium Oval Bento] This is an oval bento bento box. It is a product that has been around for a long time and is still loved by many people. The beauty of wood and the warmth of Japan are conveyed to your heart. The standard medium size of 640ml makes it easy to use. This size is also recommended for children who are starting to eat a little more. If you take care of it, it will last for 20 years and is a masterpiece with the durability typical of Japanese crafts.
[What is Magewappa?] Magewappa is a cylindrical wooden box made by bending thin sheets of cedar or cypress. Odate Magewappa from Odate City, Akita Prefecture is famous, but it is a traditional craft that is made all over Japan. They are handmade by craftsmen one by one, and there are a wide variety of types, including those made of plain wood simply carved out of wood, and those coated with lacquer.
[Odate Brand Magewappa] Odate Magewappa has been designated as a national traditional craft. The magewappa manufactured by Odate Kogeisha is made from Akita cedar trees that are about 100 years old. Even among Akita cedar, which has excellent strength, the grain of the wood is straight, which is called the straight-grained wood, making it a beautiful bento box.
[Recommended points for Akita cedar magewappa] Akita cedar absorbs excess water from rice and ingredients and regulates the moisture inside the bento, naturally keeping the rice delicious and making the food less painful. Masu. Another good point is that it doesn't give off that stuffy smell that is typical of bento boxes. Because it does not conduct heat easily, it does not cool easily, and the wood's moisture-controlling effect prevents the rice from becoming hard or soggy even after it cools down, so you can enjoy delicious rice that stays fluffy for a long time.
History: Magemono began to be made from Akita cedar about 1,300 years ago. The Odate Folk Museum has a magewappa made in the early 10th century, and surprisingly, it has almost the same shape as it does today. It was established as an industry in the late 17th century. The Satake Nishiie, the lord of Odate Castle, encouraged it as a side job for lower-ranking samurai, and it developed. In 1980, it was designated as a national traditional craft, and it has grown into a specialty product representing Akita. Nowadays, in addition to traditional products, Magewappa is being made to fit modern lifestyles.
Careful work by craftsmen: Magewappa's components are made from straight-grained annual rings, which have the most beautiful grain of cedar wood. The straight-grained part is peeled off thinly, soaked in boiling water to soften it, then quickly bent to fit a mold and dried. The dried magewappa is sewn together with cherry bark, the bottom is fitted without any gaps, and the piece is completed by sanding. All of these processes are handmade by craftsmen, using techniques that have not changed since Magewappa was first created, and each piece is made with great care and time. Although there are various magewappa found all over Japan, Odate Magewappa is the only one that has been designated as a national traditional craft. The elegant texture and warmth of Akita cedar, and the reliable techniques passed down through generations, create masterpieces that Japan is proud of.
Magewappa made in Odate City, Akita Prefecture, uses Akita cedar, which is known as one of Japan's most precious woods. There are two types of Akita cedar currently on the market: ``Natural Akita cedar'' that grows in nature and ``Akita cedar'' that is artificially planted. Until now, "natural Akita cedar" has been used for Magewappa, but due to the ban on logging in March 2013 for the purpose of nature conservation, the raw material is no longer available except for the use of stockpiled raw wood. Most of the trees are Akita cedar.
"Natural Akita Cedar" is considered one of the three most beautiful forests in Japan, and is characterized by its age of 200 to 250 years, fine ring width, straight grain with no knots, and gloss. On the other hand, ``Akita cedar'' is around 100 years old, so its growth rings are slightly wider, but it has a beautiful reddish color compared to the ``natural Akita cedar'' of recent years. Both have the same uniform grain, lightness, elasticity, and pleasant scent. There is no doubt that it is the best material for magewappa. At Odate Kogeisha, we cultivate forests through systematic felling and planting, and manufacture products while working to secure resources and preserve the environment.
Odate magewappa is made with great care by skilled craftsmen using Akita cedar, known as one of Japan's most precious woods. This is a craft from Odate City, Akita Prefecture, and is designated as a national traditional craft.
Magewappa uses the straight grain of annual rings, which have the most beautiful grain. The straight-grained part is thinly peeled and soaked in boiling water to soften it, then quickly bent to fit the mold, dried, and then moved on to the next process.
Stitch each dried piece with cherry blossom skin. Insert the bottom so that there are no gaps and finish by sanding.
Bento boxes can be said to be the roots of Odate Magewappa.
Since it is handmade using natural materials, individual differences will occur. The color, wood grain, and texture may look different between the photo and the actual product.
