1600 marks the beginning of an important period in Japanese history. The decisive "Sekigahara Battle" is considered the unofficial start of the Tokugawa shogunate; the last feudal military government in Japan. Military commander Satake Yoshinobu was forced to visit the most extreme part of the main island of Honshu, Japan. There, he was confronted with poverty and a small society that was hanging by a thread. The Satake family, living in Odate Castle, tried to find a way to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of Odate City and finally found a solution to the rich timber supply of the region. At first, lower-ranking warriors were ordered to use cedar wood to make simple handicrafts. As their production increased, instead of paying their annual rice tribute, people were asked to collect more wood in nearby mountain areas. Gradually, the works of art became more complex and the workload increased because they now sold their products in cities up to Edo (modern Tokyo). 

Cedar wood has proven to be an ideal food container because of its flexibility, its heat and moisture retention properties and its antiseptic qualities. The wood is also beautifully colored, light and has an excellent aroma that enhances any type of food stored. Located in colder areas, the trees grow relatively slowly, creating a magnificent pattern of annual rings. The finished products are timeless, simple and undeniably beautiful.