Sonobe Sangyo's vessels are 99.9% made from hardwoods such as cherry and zelkova, which are hard and suitable for tableware, valuing their durability as daily necessities. The remaining 0.1% is made from softwoods.
Risu Bowl made from thinned cypress are conifers, which are softwoods. Conifers are soft because of the low density of the wood cells. The softness of the wood can be felt through the plump and chunky design.
Take the Hakone Tozan Railway from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto, Tonosawa, and Miyanoshita, and the deep mountains on your right are the Odawara Forest. There, in the quiet and refreshing coniferous forest, bowls like those used by squirrels in their daily lives were made from the cypress that is left over from thinning and grooming.
Carefully crafted bowls by Odawara artisans, filled with a yearning for the forest, are a perfect accompaniment to vegetables and focaccia with delicious olive oil. With your favorite cup or wine. Nuts, cheese, and even soup.
No pressure, no waste, until it returns to the soil. This vessel is filled with Sonobe Sangyo's desire to use thinned wood until the very end.
Odawara Woodenware
As the neighboring Izu and Hakone contained rich nature within the regions, production utilizing wood as material prospered in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture.
In the Edo period, woodenware made at Odawara became popular among travelers traveling Hakone and Tokaido.
The popularity showed no signs of slowing down, and even during the post-war period, the woodenware utilizing high-quality wood and technology was highly regarded, exporting salad bowls abroad.
Even today, the high-quality wooden materials and technology are surely handed down.
Thank you once again for another fantastic order. I am so grateful for how perfectly packaged the items are and this time, for also gift wrapping each one so beautifully. Every item was a thank you gift for my childrens' teachers who were so delighted to receive such beautiful items from Japan. The Azmaya chopstick rests are so classy. The design is simple yet striking and the packaging makes for a beautifully presented gift. I am a HUGE admirer of Sonobe Sangyo and have a collection of Meibokuwan so you know I absolutely adore those bowls. The Risu bowl is also another beautiful work of art while still being an item that can be used everyday to bring you joy.
Thank you so much Shinya. I will always be a loyal customer because I love your store, your dedication and pride in your work and your desire to bring beauty to the world. I follow your facebook and it is always such a joy to read your posts about the items and any related history and even recipes. The time you take to provide so much information is really appreciated. I hope to visit your store in person one day! With 3 young children, I don't know when that will be!
Wishing you and your staff at Shokunin.com a very merry Christmas and an abundance of love, joy and peace in the new year.
W.T. from Australia
This item is usually shipped in 3 business days. We will inform you of the estimated shipping date if shipping is delayed due to a shortage.
Sonobe Sangyo
Risu Bowl S
Size: About Ø9xH4.5cm
Weight: About 100g
Material: Thinned Cypress (Japan), Urethane Coating
Unavailable: Open Flame, Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher, Bleach
Price: 3,000 JPY
Sonobe Sangyo
Risu Bowl M
Size: About Ø11xH6cm
Weight: About 130g
Material: Thinned Cypress (Japan), Urethane Coating
Unavailable: Open Flame, Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher, Bleach
Price: 3,500 JPY
Sonobe Sangyo
Risu Bowl L
Size: About Ø13xH7.5cm
Weight: About 210g
Material: Thinned Cypress (Japan), Urethane Coating
Unavailable: Open Flame, Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher, Bleach
Price: 4,500 JPY
Sonobe Sangyo
Founded in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1949. Due to their performance of exporting many wooden salad bowls to Europe, they have received a certificate from the Japanese government, which highly evaluates their contribution to the Japanese trade and industry, for 6 years in a row since 1965. They have been manufacturing simple and strong tablewares.
