The Plum Branch Saibashi is a pair of cooking chopsticks made from branches of the domestic Japanese ume (plum) tree. Unlike chopsticks produced from milled and finished lumber, these are shaped from actual plum branches, which gives each pair natural variation in grain and surface character. At 30cm, they are longer than most standard saibashi — built for situations that call for distance from a heat source.
The extra length makes them well-suited to deep pots, open flames, or any application where keeping hands clear of heat matters. The natural plum wood provides inherent grip without machined patterning, and at around 20g, the chopsticks carry enough weight to feel solid in the hand without fatigue. Ume wood is a traditional Japanese material known for its density and tight grain.
Yamacoh is a Japanese manufacturer specializing in chopsticks and traditional wooden kitchen utensils. Their use of domestic plum branch reflects a focus on natural, locally sourced materials — an approach that has defined traditional Japanese chopstick craft for generations.
