{"product_id":"verre-a-sake-en-bois-de-cedre-de-yoshino","title":"Yoshino cedar wood sake cup","description":"\u003cp\u003eOver the approximately 500-year history of Yoshino forestry, Yoshino cedar has mainly been used to make barrels and structural timber, while Yoshino cypress was highly prized for decorative pillars.\u003cbr\u003eThis sake cup made from Yoshino cedar is a true work of art, inviting you to appreciate the unique charm of genuine wood.\u003cbr\u003eYoshino cedar, of exceptional quality, is rare and expensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYoshino cedar is highly renowned in Japan. Yoshino is located in Nara Prefecture, south of the city of Nara, in the mountains near Mie and Wakayama Prefectures. \u003cbr\u003eThese cedar forests are among the oldest forest plantations in the world, and the local forestry culture is still reflected today in the daily lives of many residents.\u003cbr\u003eIn the Yoshino region, cedars are planted at a density three to four times higher than normal, and repeated thinning is carried out to obtain wood with fine, even growth rings.\u003cbr\u003eThis unique cultivation method produces “superior-quality wood” that is knot-free, straight and fine-grained.\u003cbr\u003eYoshino cedar takes much longer to grow than other species. The trees are generally felled when they are several hundred years old.\u003cbr\u003eThis beauty has long been prized for the production of high-end building materials and sake barrels.\u003cbr\u003eThe high density ensures excellent durability and strength, and also offers practical value, as the rich aroma characteristic of cedar enhances the flavour of sake.\u003cbr\u003eTraditional craftsmen working with Yoshino cedar possess advanced skills.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than relying on mechanical production, these craftsmen favour a process of hand-carving each piece. Enhancing the wood grain can take from several days to several weeks.\u003cbr\u003eThe grain of Yoshino cedar is beautiful and rare. As the tree grows, from spring to mid-summer it forms a light ring called “spring grain”, and from late summer to late autumn, a darker ring called “winter grain”. These annual rings make it possible to determine a tree’s age. \u003cbr\u003eYoshino cedars are planted very densely, which means they do not grow as quickly as other species. Consequently, the annual rings of Yoshino cedar are much finer and more regular than those of other trees.\u003cbr\u003eHistorically, these fine rings acted as a “wall” in sake barrels. Yoshino cedar was considered the best material for sake barrels; this industry therefore prospered thanks to the popularity of sake during the Edo period.\u003cbr\u003eRegarding the design and dimensions, as this product is made from natural wood, the grain and colour may differ slightly from those shown in the photos.\u003cbr\u003eIn addition, as each piece is handmade, the actual dimensions may vary slightly from those stated.\u003cbr\u003eAbout “knots”\u003cbr\u003eAlthough Yoshino cedar is known for having few knots, a “knot” may rarely be present. A knot is the mark left by a branch and is not a defect.\u003cbr\u003eExcept for knots from dead branches that may come loose, sound knots are sometimes retained as they are, in their natural form, and used as an integral part of the product.\u003cbr\u003eAbout small “chips or cracks”\u003cbr\u003eBefore a large log is transformed into a finished product, it undergoes various processing stages.\u003cbr\u003eSmall chips or cracks inherent in natural wood, which inevitably appear during this process, are repaired to make the surface as smooth as possible (although some curved or very thin parts may not be repairable).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"YOSHINO KAWAKAMI PRODUCTS Co. LTD","offers":[{"title":"40ml","offer_id":54571214831949,"sku":"NISYOKA1","price":40.83,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"70ml","offer_id":54571214864717,"sku":"NISYOKA2","price":65.83,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0962\/6438\/8941\/files\/YOKA1_ac356d64-03ae-437b-81f9-603fe13c4e62.webp?v=1788160744","url":"https:\/\/www.nishikidori.com\/en\/products\/yoshino-cedar-wood-sake-cup","provider":"Nishikidori","version":"1.0","type":"link"}