Ohitsu Rice Container 8-Cup

In Japanese cuisine, ohitsu is a traditional wooden container used for holding freshly cooked rice. The ohitsu keeps the rice at the perfect texture, where each grain is separate and plump. The wood container also regulates moisture, preventing the rice from becoming soggy. Hinoki wood is often used to make ohitsu because it is naturally antibacterial. So it is safe and hygienic to store rice in this type of container.

The 8-cup ohitsu has a fine polymer coating on the outside to prevent discoloring, bending and cracking. The ohitsu is crafted with a process called magewappa, a traditional steam-bending woodcraft technique, which began generations ago in Odate, Akita Prefecture. The results are a unique and beautiful piece. The main body of the vessel is formed from a single sheet of wood and wrapped into a cylinder. Additional pieces are added, depending on the use.

The ohitsu features a robust lid, covering the top portion of the container. This style, popular in Tokyo, is known as edobitsu.

Yamacoh, founded in 1972, is based in Natsugawa, Gifu Prefecture, specializes in natural wooden products. Their Youbi brand can be described as ‘functional beauty.’ Youbi’s wood products are primarily made from Japanese cypress, hinoki and sawara. These skilled craftsmen produce refined products that are delicately lined, with smooth beautiful surfaces.

Details

• Brand: Yamacoh
• Size: body, about 195x138mm tall/ lid, about 210x35mm tall/ total height, about 150mm
• Capacity: about 8 cups
• Weight: about 439g (About 16oz)
• Material: tono and kiso hinoki
• Made in Japan

Precautions

• Before using, always briefly immerse in water. Wood is highly absorbent and make soak up unwanted flavors. 
• Wood is not dishwasher safe. Excessive detergent and soap may damage the wood products and natural oils as well.
• Avoid putting away wet. Hand drying with a towel generally works well. Avoid storing in damp, humid or excessively hot areas. And avoid direct sunlight.
  
• This is a handmade product, so there may be slight variations in appearance, which may include small scratches that occur in the manufacturing process. 
• Photos shown are one example. The specific item you receive may differ slightly in appearance.