Hirohashi
Founded in 1986 by Mikihiro Hirohashi, a temple carpenter, in his hometown of Yoshino, Nara Prefecture. The second generation, Makiko Nakaiso, inherited her father's passion and launched a new brand of chopsticks.
While some of the chopsticks are made by machine, the craftsmen carefully finish them by hand to produce high-quality chopsticks. These chopsticks are used in restaurants, hotels, ryokan (Japanese-style inns), and ryotei (Japanese-style restaurants) all over Japan.
Hirohashi chopsticks are made in Shimoichi, Yoshino in southern Nara Prefecture, which has been known for its chopstick making since the Edo period. The natural wood used is mainly Yoshino cedar, which is 60 to 100 years old. The original texture, aroma, and grain of the wood are the characteristics of the uncoated finish. The product is also made by utilizing the scraps of wood that have not been used for construction and other purposes.
By effectively cutting down overgrown trees and allowing the forest to recycle, Hirohashi is making environmentally friendly products. In addition, they use scrap wood without excess. Made of high-quality cedar, these chopsticks can be washed and used over and over again, making them suitable for both celebratory occasions and daily meals.
