OKECRAFT refers to a local brand of wooded handicrafts made in Oketo, a town in the mountains on the east side of Hokkaido. The Ezomatsu Bowl is a series of wooden bowls made from the Ezomatsu tree, which is designated as the tree of Oketo. Each bowl is carefully carved from a block of wood using a carpenter’s lathe and features a texture that is smooth to the touch, both hand and mouth, and is very lightweight.
The Ezomatsu tree is a coniferous tree with fine, beautiful grain and white bark that has become a symbol of Hokkaido. In the past, its timber was used mainly as a building material, but it can now also be used it for tableware to make the most of the eye-catching grain by applying a resin treatment to increase its strength. Urethane coating is applied to the surface of the bowls so that they can be used every day without the need for any additional treatment. Since the bowls do not soak up water, they can be kept clean with a sponge and detergent. There are currently 24 workshops producing OKECRAFT wooden handicrafts in Oketa. Each one produces tableware that includes cutlery and other articles made using a lathe, with all the products showcasing the charm of wooden handicrafts from this part of Japan.