Kamaasa Shoten x Tokyo Chainsaws Release "Tokyo Wood Cutting Board," Exclusively at the Kappabashi Store

Bringing Tokyo Wood into the Kitchen

Kamaasa Shoten, a cookware specialty store in Kappabashi, has joined forces with Tokyo Chainsaws, a forestry company based in Hinohara Village, Tokyo, to launch a new initiative that delivers wood grown in Tokyo as cooking tools. As the first product, the "Tokyo Wood Cutting Board," made from a kaya (Japanese nutmeg yew) tree about 200 years old that stood at a shrine in Tokyo, will go on sale exclusively at the Kamaasa Shoten Kappabashi store from October 13, 2026.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounter with a Kaya Tree

The wood comes from a kaya tree that was the sacred tree of a shrine. A neighboring cedar was in danger of falling, and the kaya was to be cut down along with it when the cedar was felled. Tokyo Chainsaws inspected the logs on site and took them over because kaya is a rare species and the logs could yield straight-grained (masame) lumber suited to cutting boards. Tokyo Chainsaws handled the processing, and the finishing was done by a workshop that Kamaasa Shoten has long entrusted with making its cutting boards. Through "choshiage," a process of thinly shaving the surface, the boards have a smooth finish that brings out the beautiful grain of the kaya.

Product Details

• Product name: Tokyo Wood Cutting Board – Kaya (Japanese nutmeg yew)
• Sizes and prices (tax included): Small 30 x 20 x 3 cm: 9,900 yen / Large 40 x 25 x 3 cm: 33,000 yen
• Available at: Exclusively at the Kamaasa Shoten Kappabashi store

Features of Kaya Wood

Kaya has a moderate springiness and hardness, making it gentle on knife blades. Its fibers are supple, so cut marks are less likely to remain, and its natural oils give it antibacterial and water-resistant properties. Another appeal is its mild scent, which is unlikely to transfer to food.

The store is located at 2-24-1 Matsugaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo, and is open from 11:00 to 17:30 (open every day except the New Year holidays).