Tsukushi's Lunch Box
| Item Number | tk001802 |
| Item Name | Tsukushi's Lunch Box |
| Price | 12,600 yen |
| Limited | |
| Size | Upper box: W140mm x D96mm x H47mm |
| Material | cedar (unvarnished) |
| Payment Methods | PayPal |
| Shipping | Shipping costs will be emailed after order (all items ship from Japan) |
| Time to delivery | about two weeks |
| Notes | Returns are not accepted. |
| Buyer | Mikayama |
Children and lunch boxes grow up together
It's still a bit hot for a picnic, but why not prepare for the cooler weather of autumn?
But this is not your average lunch box. This lunch box was crafted by a father for his daughter. It's a happy, not sad story.
In Odate, Akita there's a magewappa workshop called Shibata Yoshinobu. That's where second generation Shibata Akimasa, the father of Tsukushi, works. He's the main lunch box craftsman.
Magewappa comes from two words, "mage", to bend and "wappa", lunch box. Akimasa decided to make a lunch box for his daughter.
However, there was a bit of a problem. Children develop quickly, so of course over time the amount of food they consume increases. Typically that's a happy process to watch unfold, but a bit of a problem when making lunch boxes. The right size will be the wrong size in a year, and a large lunch box looks ungangly in the hands of a first grader. Of course we want the lunch box used for a long time...
This lunch box's true beauty is revealed outside
Seems a bit lonely when empty, but I'm excited
A two story lunch box
A touch of creativity
Akimasa decided to make a slightly small, double layered lunch box, with the lower box large enough to cover the top. In the end you get a lunch box with a versatile amount of space.
This box is made with unfinished cedar and has a delicate, graceful look. When I asked whether the box could be washed and used for long time Akimasa quipped, "You can wash it with cleanser and a scourer." Cleanser and scourer!?, I thought, a bit surprised, then Akimasa brought a lunch box his wife had washed and used for 5 years.
Cedar is soft when you're working with it, but the lunch box in my hands had been polished over the years, leaving only sturdy wood and a fine grain finish. Simply, it felt and looked great.
There's something comforting and happy about this lunch box, from its conception to use. By the way, plain wood absorbs the extra moisture from cooked rice, leaving the grains fluffy even when cold.
Of course this lunch box is more difficult to make than others, but I love the idea it will grow up with the small hands using it.
If you'd like to know more about Shibata Yoshinobu:
> Shibata Yoshinobu Store, LLC.
All the parts
Cover the upper box with the bottom
Store it as one, half the size!