Sakamoto has used Chidu cedar as a manufacturing material for over 60 years. Fourth generation president Harunobu Sakamoto is taking active initiatives within the company, starting Sugi Life, an online shop offering lifestyle products made from natural cedar, and collaborating with other industries.

“The Luncheon mat were originally designed by my mother, the company’s third generation president, but each segment in the placemat had to be hand assembled piece by piece. In 2015, we introduced a machine that could mass produce the Luncheon mat, which allowed us to sell larger amounts on our online shop,” says Sakamoto. Sakamoto wants to use 100% Chidu cedar, a precious material with hundreds of years of history. This desire explains the decision to use the material in manufacturing various accessories.

“To achieve a beautiful, knot-free wood grain, we cut the Chidu cedar branches while the tree is still slender and young. The prepared woodgrain of the carefully processed cedar is resistant to warping and bends, which makes it perfect for making accessories”, says Sakamoto.

Coated with a natural paint from Germany, the colorful placements coordinate perfectly for western-style table settings. While the paint is typically used in construction, it has passed certification for use in children's toys and other applications, making it suitable for Luncheon mat too. “The paint is highly durable. It can be used as a coating, in construction, and works on cedar too. We used it to paint our office 15 years ago, and it still maintains its beautiful color,” says a pleased Sakamoto.