【Reading】わりばし

【English Name】Disposable chopsticks

Waribashi are disposable chopsticks with a notch, split into two pieces when eating. Their origin dates back to the Edo period, with records remaining in an account book from 1709 (Hoei 6). Shimoichi in Nara Prefecture is known for production utilizing offcuts of Yoshino cedar and claims to be the birthplace. During the Meiji and Taisho periods, five types were devised: choroku, koban, genroku, riku, and tensoge. Tensoge and riku are high-grade products that make use of straight grain (masame) and are often used at sushi shops and ryotei. As for materials, cedar and cypress are high-grade, while birch and aspen are for general use. Japan's annual consumption is about 25 billion pairs, more than 90% of which are imported. In recent years, with the trend away from plastic, overseas demand has also been growing.