A Culture Built with Wood

Kishu, in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula, faces the Pacific Ocean and is famous among chefs worldwide for its charcoal production. The charcoal is known as Kishu Binchotan, and the wood used to make the charcoal is sourced from local mountains. For over 200 years, local charcoal makers have used an eco-friendly technique called selective cutting to cut down suitable trees and simultaneously promote new growth. Join us as we examine what fuels the charcoal culture of Kishu.

The Kiso region in Nagano Prefecture is covered by coniferous forests that have been tended by human hands over generations. The Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest is known as one of Japan's 3 most beautiful forests and is home to 300-year-old hinoki cypress trees. Locally-produced lumber is used to make a wide range of products. One of them is the sushi barrel, which is indispensable for making delicious sushi. Join us as we savor the rich culture shaped by the forests of the Kiso region.