“Black Diamond” household golds for convenient use in daily life

“Coming to see how charcoal is made, the more I learned about Kishu Binchotan, the more I was charmed by its splendor, ” says Selene head Yasuhiro Okamoto. “Though I’m from the area, I didn’t know much about Binchotan charcoal production. But I decided I wanted to play a role in showcasing its appeal, thinking that those outside the prefecture would appreciate it as well.” Established in 1998, the company operated first as a health food supplier. Then they received an inquiry about whether they could also deal with Kishu Binchotan charcoal. Kishu Binchotan charcoal is highly beneficial to health, purifying water and air. And as a fuel, it supports people and shops who are looking to live a natural lifestyle. However, there was an issue in that there were lots of knock off products made to imitate the charcoal’s favorable points. Okamoto realized a sense of purpose: to show people the genuine Kishu Binchotan. With that, he transitioned his company from food to charcoal. Now the company has made hundreds of items with the processed coal, using it for everything from sweets, soaps, seasonings, interior goods, and more. In particular, the company pioneered entering the food industry by using charcoal, and their black “Coal Mont Blanc” cake became a topic of discussion on television.

The company has been making cutlery for 10 years, chiseling and polishing the Kishu Binchotan coal. Utilizing the characteristics of the oak, each piece has a unique expression. Shining brightly, the surface of the charcoal produces its own glossy shine, and there is no painting required. This makes it possible to be used for any number of applications in addition to cutlery. It can be used as decoration, to purify the water quality of beverages, put into a rice cooker to create delicious white rice, and more. Educating on its unknown effects, Okamoto says that you “can also put the charcoal in the bath for beneficial health effects, and it’s even capable of purifying frying oil.” There is so much to love about Kishu Binchotan charcoal.