紀州備長炭の硬度は20と鋼鉄に近い。炭素成分が多いが不純物がきわめて少ないため、燃焼時間が長いのが特徴。和歌山の山中でウバメガシを切り出し備長炭を作る若き炎の職人。【伊藤商店　伊藤弘貴】

Hidakagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture, boasts the highest production of Kishu Binchotan charcoal in Japan. We follow Hirotaka Ito of Ito Shoten. [What is Kishu Binchotan?] Kishu Binchotan is a hard, high-quality white charcoal made from raw materials such as Ubamegashi oak. Wakayama Prefecture is one of the leading producers in Japan, producing about 927 tons (R5) per year. The high quality of Kishu Binchotan is outstanding among charcoal burned around the world, and it is said that the high quality is related to the presence of raw materials such as Ubamegashi and oak, as well as the structure of the kiln and the charcoal-making method. It is characterized by its hardness, which makes a metallic ringing sound when struck. In addition, charcoal makers in Wakayama Prefecture have passed on their techniques to other parts of the country, contributing to the formation of the Binchotan brand in each region. Besides Wakayama's Kishu Binchotan, there are other famous ones, such as Kochi's Tosa Binchotan and Miyazaki's Hyuga Binchotan. Because part of Mie was Kishu until the Edo period, Kishu Binchotan was also produced in Mie, but it is now sold as Ise-Shima Binchotan. In 1974, the charcoal-making technique for Kishu Binchotan was designated an intangible folk cultural property of Wakayama Prefecture. You can find Ito Shoten here instagram itomarket About Ito https://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg... #artisanhands　#binchotan #japanesecraft Japanese craftsmanship #Artisanhands #artisan #japaneseculture #japanesecraftsmanship #makingcharcoal #kishubinchotan #binchotan #charcoal #Kishubinchotan　#Ubamegashi　#GlobalAgriculturalHeritage #UmeSystem artisanhands is a YouTube channel that promotes the charm of Japan to the world through the techniques of artisans. Artisanhands' YouTube channel is here    / @artisanhands   Homepage is here (sorry! Japanese only) https://www.ogog.today