While typical tableware made from natural materials may seem difficult to care for, all bamboo and wooden tableware from each brand is dishwasher safe for everyday use.
(Limited to use with hot water set at 70°C or less. Dishwasher detergents containing bleach or abrasives cannot be used.)
Of course, you can wash it with a sponge and mild detergent, just like you would wash any other ceramic or glass tableware you use.
After washing, wipe off the water and store in the shade.

Each brand's tableware is made from natural materials.
Do not use a microwave or oven, scrub with bleach or disinfectant, or disinfect by boiling.
This may cause damage, deformation, discoloration, and peeling of the paint.

Each brand's bamboo and wooden tableware is carefully coated with up to six layers using a unique painting technique.
The layer coating penetrates deep into the material, preventing oily, soupy, or dark-colored foods from soaking in, and the thick coating also increases the material's strength.
In terms of heat resistance, it can be used without any problems with food and liquids up to 70°C.

The reason it cannot be used in a microwave is due to the presence of small amounts of air and moisture that remain inside the material, which is sealed by a thick coating.
The high heat of the microwave oven causes the air and moisture inside the material to expand, pushing the coating film outward and causing it to float on the surface of the dish.

However, this is also proof that the coating is applied to the entire surface without any gaps, effectively preventing oil and moisture from seeping in.
It is this unique coating technology that makes it possible for our tableware to pass household dishwasher resistance tests, creating tableware made from natural materials that is easy to use.

The smooth-to-the-touch clear coating retains the texture of the natural material, and is only possible thanks to the careful and delicate techniques unique to Japanese craftsmen.
The coating paint we use is also made in Japan and meets food hygiene standards.

After use, wash thoroughly, wipe off any moisture, and then store in the shade, avoiding high temperatures and humidity, and there will be almost no change in color or texture.
In addition, after the lumber is dried to the maximum extent possible during the sawing stage, it is coated with six layers of coating to effectively prevent warping and deformation over long-term use.

The urethane coating applied to each brand's bamboo and wooden tableware naturally meets food hygiene standards.
During the drying process after painting, which is a common cause of odor, the temperature and humidity are controlled, and each piece is soaked in hot water to thoroughly remove the paint odor.
We also request that a third-party public institution conduct leaching tests to verify safety.

If you notice an unpleasant odor when you first start using it, pour hot water (70°C or less) into it and leave it until it cools. Repeat this process several times to remove the odor.

The lumber is sawn and shaped 100% at our own factory in Jiangxi Province, China, and then shipped to Japan.
After that, each piece is carefully polished by a craftsman at our workshop in Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture. Everything from coating and delicate polishing to packaging and shipping is done here at our workshop.
(※ All products for the commercial line "taffeta-PRO-" are finished in factories in China.)

[About quality labeling]

The products of each brand are displayed with an overview based on the lacquerware regulations or textile regulations of the Household Products Quality Labeling Act.

[About country of origin indication]

The product details of each brand are displayed in accordance with the country of origin labeling standards of the Household Products Quality Labeling Act and the Premiums and Representations Act.
The country of origin, according to the country of origin labeling standards, refers to the place where the product's performance is added and where substantial changes are made. In the case of our brand's "bamboo and wooden tableware," the finishing molding, laser processing, and painting are carried out within Japan.
In the case of other "Nigi Nigi" products, sewing is carried out in Japan, so both are labeled "Country of Origin: Japan."
However, since the raw materials and some of the upstream processes are produced overseas, we feel that simply labeling a product as "Made in Japan" is insufficient, so as much as possible we indicate the origin of the raw materials and the country and region where each process is carried out.
Therefore, some products may have long descriptions of quality and country of origin, but we ask for your understanding.

The bamboo and wooden tableware for each brand is made from natural Moso bamboo (grown in-house in China).
・Beach (Europe)
・Hard maple (Nordic)
・Rubberwood (Southeast Asia)
We use Japanese sugar maple for our wooden toys and organic cotton for our fabric products.

Based on the principles of the SDGs, we carefully select "wood (tree species) with low environmental impact" depending on the situation and use it as raw material.

The basis of manufacturing lies in the materials.
Since its founding in 1988, the company has begun researching bamboo and purchased a bamboo forest of 18 km2 (an area equivalent to Shinjuku Ward) in Jiangxi Province, China.
We grow and manage approximately 1.5 million bamboo trees in-house.
To ensure our customers can use our products with peace of mind, we ensure safety by carrying out everything in-house, from growing the materials to shipping the finished products.

Nakayoshi Shoji is a comprehensive manufacturer of bamboo lumber and also ships a large amount of solid bamboo lumber for use as building materials such as flooring.
However, the sawing methods for the solid wood used for building materials and the solid wood used for tableware are completely different, and the solid bamboo used for tableware is sawn using a proprietary sawing method that takes safety into consideration.
Our products are made from highly safe solid bamboo (tableware material), which is possible because we produce our own lumber. They are dishwasher safe and have achieved "no detection results" in various harmful substance tests.
Years of research and development into materials have led to the creation of materials with high strength, quality, and safety.

In order to deliver gifts to loved ones as quickly as possible, all personalization is done in our own workshop.
We quickly engrave the name using our proprietary laser system, and then immediately apply a clear coating to the baked areas to prevent moisture and oil from seeping in.

The name is engraved by laser.
Because the engraving is done by browning, there is no need to worry about it chipping off or flaking off like ink or dyes.
After processing, an additional coating is applied to prevent staining and fading.

Depending on the extent of the damage, once chips, cracks, or breaks occur, even if the item is repaired, cracks will be more likely to occur in the same place again.
In order to prevent injury from broken pieces or accidental ingestion, repairs are generally not possible.

In the unlikely event that a defect occurs under normal use conditions that follow the prohibitions and precautions listed in the instruction manual, we will promptly replace the product even if it has been used within six months of the purchase date.
For details, please refer to the instruction manual included with the product.

Each piece of tableware is handmade from natural materials, so if you experience any problems, please contact support.
If the item has been used within six months of the purchase date, we will promptly exchange it.

*Products purchased from non-authorized stores may not be covered by the warranty.
*Products that have been processed outside of the Koshigaya factory (such as name engraving, logo processing, shape modification, painting, etc.) are not covered by the warranty.
*We are not responsible for any malfunctions or damages caused by failure to follow the instructions in the instruction manual.
*Only available to those who reside in Japan. (Delivery is only available within Japan.)
*Damaged items can only be exchanged once per item.
*If the same product is not available due to a discontinued item, etc., we will exchange it for an equivalent product.

[Regarding exchange of personalized items]
Due to changes in the font size specifications for personalized products, the font size may differ slightly before and after the exchange.
Please be aware of this in advance.

Moso bamboo, which is used in many of agney*/RIVERET's products, grows large in a very short life cycle of 3 to 5 years.
In addition, there is no need to replant as it spreads by underground stems that creep underground.
Of course, there is no need for pesticides or chemical fertilizers to speed up growth.
Bamboo is an innovative natural resource that can be used efficiently and repeatedly with minimal land requirements.
It is an effective way to utilize resources and stop deforestation, which is one of the causes of environmental problems and global warming.

As you can see, bamboo is a very well-balanced material in a variety of conditions.
Its greatest feature is its unique texture that is not found in other woods.

In order to steadily provide these products to Japanese restaurant chains, bento box chains, and convenience stores for many years, we have established independently-funded factories not only in Japan but also overseas to meet the needs of these customers.

We are a company that is full of dreams, with as little outsourcing as possible, and if there is a product we want to make, we will immediately improve and develop our equipment and move straight towards making it a reality.

Nakayoshi Shoji Co., Ltd.'s Koshigaya factory manufactures and sells only its own brand products.
In principle, we do not accept OEM contract manufacturing, but depending on the season or item, we may be able to accommodate your request, so please feel free to contact us.

In addition to our own brands, taffeta RIVERET and agney*, Nakayoshi Shoji Co., Ltd. currently holds the manufacturing rights to other brands of bamboo tableware and miscellaneous goods through business transfer agreements.
Currently, we are not manufacturing or selling any products other than our own brands, taffeta RIVERET and agney*. However, we have made a large investment in order to enter into a business transfer agreement and purchased the rights to another brand of bamboo tableware and miscellaneous goods, which we of course still hold and have not given up.
*The products of this other brand are still being manufactured and sold on the market without our company's permission, but they are not related to our company. We have confirmed that our products that do not have the registration numbers of the patent, design, trademark, and design protection association are our original products based on many other evidence, including this business transfer agreement.

If you do not receive an email within two business days, please contact us using the "Inquiry Form."