On November 16th, we visited Sosogi Kobo, a workshop located in Isshoji, Kumamoto Prefecture, which has been extremely popular since it began selling its products. Masashi Rin, a bentwood craftsman who makes bent wood boxes called Isshoji Mage, was a very friendly person who taught us many things about bentwood.

Our store sells three types of bento boxes: round, square, and oval.
A row of bent items in the process of being made. The bentwood lunch boxes made by Isshoji Mage that we sell in our shop are made through many steps.
First, the bangi (large logs) are left to dry naturally for about a year.
After drying for a year, it is cut to the appropriate thickness for the product and then polished.

Bend the wood and fix it in the bent position as shown in the photo, then leave it to dry naturally for about a week.
Little by little it takes on the shape of a bent object.
The lid and bottom plate, all of which are made by hand, are then put together to complete the piece.

"I make them while imagining how the customer will use them."
"Handmade work is great because it conveys human warmth to customers," says Rin.
I was touched by those words and am grateful to you for doing business with us again.

Techniques that have been handed down for ages and the technology that makes them possible.
I also felt that this product was the product of the experience that has been built up over many years.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.

Click here for the Sosogi Kobo page