Among Japanese cypress, SHIMANTO HINOKI has an immensely high oil content. The surface is characterised by an unusual and very striking pale pink. It is resistant to common wood diseases such as mould, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli. The HINOKI boards flexible, elastic surface is extremely forgiving to the sharp edge, enabling the user to maintain the working for far, far, longer. The HINOKI board is especially recommended for very high quality extra sharp Japanese knives (usually in excess of HRC 60) which are more prone damage with ordinary wooden and high density plastic boards.

Japanese cypress HINOKI is known as an outstanding building wood, which possesses anti bacterial and insect repellent properties. HINOKI wood was used in the creation of the 1300 year old Horyuji temple, the world’s oldest wooden structure, thus proving its incredible enduring quality.

The Shimanto river (which runs through South West of Shikoku) is rich in elements that nourish the HINOKI cypress. HINOKI cypress wood as well as being anti bacterial is highly water resistant as well as possessing an unusual degree of inner flexibility.