Luxurious practicality from the forests of Hyogo prefecture

Ws Co., Ltd. operates a production facility in the Tamba no Sato area of Hyogo Prefecture, improving distribution of the prefecture’s wood products and working to develop and nurture the forest. It was around 2011 when they encountered TRUNK DESIGN, a Kobe design studio. They considered how they could create products to support the life cycle of the forest and continue to efficiently log trees. Mori no Utsuwa was born a year and a half later with this initial question in mind. Due to the influx of imported materials, the Tamba area is home to many shuttered sawmills. Receiving a lathe and other tools from a retired partner in the industry made the company’s ideas more tangible, helping to transform them into a tableware producer.

The company mainly uses Japanese zelkova and cypress from Hyogo prefecture. Working repeatedly on sketches and sample prototypes resulted in a specialization in thin, pointed designs. The Kagatame Ace-brand bonding glue that the products utilize is also used in the tableware for school lunches, and produces a stable bond. And the strong and resilient wood is difficult to break and easy to maintain. The simple and precise atmosphere of the products results in a dining table that is a slightly luxurious, while still maintaining a sense of practicality. The base is laser-engraved with the date and the coordinates where the wood was harvested. “The first time I went to the mountains in Tamba a few years ago, I thought more people should be able to experience the atmosphere and feel of the area. Those who use the products will be able to imagine this forest, and I’d be delighted if they decide to actually come and visit someday,” says TRUNK DESIGN art director Yasuhiro Horiuchi. Using thinned timber materials that contribute to the health of the forest to create tableware that is easily used in everyday life, the company is creating new jobs in Tamba, and providing funds to help protect the forest. Mori no Utsuwa is an effort to maintain this life cycle.