Kyoto Brand Bamboo "Ibushi-susudake" Chopsticks (Traditional Crafts of Japan) TKN-007 Dimension: 9.4" x 0.31 x 0.31" (LxHxW in inches) ; Weight: 0.40ounces They are unpainted bamboo-made chopsticks. [Made in Japan] In 2013, Japanese cuisine was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as a traditional diet culture. There is no other country than Japan that has such a variety of crockery for each cuisine. There are various chopsticks made for each cuisine, too. Both crockery and chopsticks play an important role to make Japanese food look delicious. Please rest assured to use safe and comfortable chopsticks made in Japan. Bamboo-made chopsticks are light-weight, comfortably fit in your hand, and are designed to be very easy to use, with which you can hold food without slipping. Ibushi-susudake: A bamboo which has been smoked to be colored like soot. Generally, bamboo from which oil has been removed is used to make bamboo handicrafts.There are two ways to remove oil from bamboo. One is called yunuki, which means boiling green bamboo in hot water to remove oil. The other is called hinuki, which means scorching green bamboo with fire to remove oil.The surface of hinuki-dake or the bamboo that has undergone hinuki is glossy and very beautiful. This hinuki-dake is usually used for bamboo handicrafts made in Kyoto. It makes a wonderful piece as combined with Kyotos traditional sophisticated handicraft skills. :How to Handle Bamboo-made Chopsticks: 1.Do not leave chopsticks soaked in cold or warm water after use. 2.After use, rinse them with warm or cold water, and then wipe water off with a soft cloth. Never use any scrubbing brush or cleanser to clean them. 3.In case they are soiled, you can use detergent to wash them, but never use an automatic dishwashing machine or a dish dryer. 4.Keep them away from fire. Do not store them in the direct sunlight or in excessive humidity to prevent them from getting discolored or deformed. 5.Never use a microwave oven. 6.Let them dry well in the shade to thoroughly get rid of any moisture before storing them. 7.Keep them in a well-ventilated area. Japanese bamboo culture Bamboo exists closely to Japanese life, and it goes without saying that the Japanese have been using it as a tool for a long time. Bamboo also deeply influenced the traditional culture arts of tea ceremony and flower arrangement. Bamboo has the power to grow one meter a day and is seen to be green all year round. Because of its straight shape and flexibility, and the fact that people believed God was living inside of it, bamboo has been used as a plant that is mysterious and brings good luck for local traditional events. It is said that there are about 620 kinds of bamboo in Japan (1,350 kinds in the world). They are located between tropical and warm climate zones. Japan is the northern end in which bamboo can grow.Although Japanese bamboo is especially high quality and perfect for artifacts, the bamboo that can be used for artifacts is rarely found. Madake is one of the best bamboo for artifacts due to its flexibility, sturdiness and beautiful skin. Kurochiku, Hachiku, Torafutake, Nemagaritake and Mousouchiku are also used often. We could call Japan a country of bamboo.