Aizu Paulownia Tansu Co., Ltd.
Bring the blessings of nature-rich Aizu into your daily life
Aizu Kiri Tansu Co., Ltd. not only manufactures and sells Aizu Kiri chests, but also produces a variety of Kiri goods that enrich daily life, such as rice boxes, tea caddies, cutting boards, etc. In recent years, we have been actively working on new manufacturing that incorporates the lifestyle craft techniques of Oku-Aizu, also known as the "home of handicrafts."
Aizu Paulownia trees born after surviving harsh winters
Mishima Town, where Aizu Paulownia Tansu Co., Ltd. is based, is located in the western part of Fukushima Prefecture, a mountain town along the Tadami River, which originates from Oze. There are 18 settlements scattered throughout the town, and in winter the area experiences heavy snowfall, with snow accumulations sometimes exceeding 2m. By surviving the harsh winter, the clear, thick and beautiful grain of the Aizu Paulownia appears. Mishima Town has long been known as a producer of "Aizu Paulownia," and even today the local community comes together to raise and plant paulownia seedlings. In the spring, the pale purple flowers bloom all at once, ready for the rice planting season. (Snowy landscape photo: Hoshi Masataka)
Overwhelming airtightness and excellent moisture control effect
Insect repellent, humidity control, temperature control
Paulownia wood is sensitive to temperature and heat, and has long been known as a good material for keeping the humidity inside a box constant by preventing excessive moisture from entering. It also contains ingredients such as tannin and paulonin that have insect repellent properties, and is expected to have insect repellent effects. This is why it is suitable not only for chests and costume boxes, but also for products such as rice boxes and tea canisters.
Silky glossy wood surface and thick, clear grain
The rarity of a box used to store national treasures
Aizu paulownia is touted to be the highest quality paulownia produced in Japan, and compared to other paulownia woods, the grain is thicker and more clearly visible, which combines with the glossy, dense wood to create a beautiful paulownia wood. The material is so outstanding that it has been designated as the material for storage boxes for national treasure-class cultural properties. The harsh cold and humid climate unique to Aizu creates its rare value.
Incredibly light and highly insulating
Keeps the body from getting tired and cold
Paulownia is the lightest of all domestic woods, with a specific gravity of only 0.3 compared to 1 for water. The large air spaces within the cells make it soft and very easy to carry and handle. Paulownia also has low thermal conductivity and is a material with high heat retention. Aizu Paulownia stools are so light that they can be lifted with just one finger. What's more, your bottom won't get cold even if you sit on them in the winter.
Traditional techniques that continue to be preserved over time
The reason why paulownia chests last 100 years
After felling, Aizu paulownia wood is sawn and then soaked in the tannins, then hung outside to dry, exposed to rain, wind, and sun for about three years. This painstaking process makes it possible to prevent discoloration and warping of the boards. After this, at the manufacturing and processing stage, the boards are cut into individual pieces and finished with a special machine that straightens out any distortions in the paulownia wood. In this way, we carefully finish paulownia products that are extremely durable.
