[Ibaraki Prefecture Traditional Craft] Wanting to pass the culture of cedar boxes to the next generation.
Orijyu, a traditional craft maker in Ibaraki Prefecture, participates in April Dream to share its vision of passing down the culture of cedar boxes by pivoting towards modern lifestyle goods.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 10:15
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 03:15 (496h 59m after Collected)
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Our company endorses April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to broadcast dreams.
This press release is the dream of 'Orijyu Ltd.'.
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We have been making cedar boxes (Sugi Oribako) in Kawachi Town, Ibaraki Prefecture for about 60 years.
We will pass down traditional techniques that deliver the scent and warmth of cedar to the next era in new forms.
Our dream is that 'cedar boxes become known to many people, and this culture continues.'
Orijyu Ltd. (Kawachi Town, Inashiki District, Ibaraki Prefecture) has been manufacturing boxes using domestic cedar since its founding in 1966. Our cedar boxes are designated as an 'Ibaraki Prefecture Traditional Craft' (No. 67) and are rustic yet high-quality wooden containers that utilize the natural scent and humidity control of unpainted cedar.
## Background of the Dream: Cedar boxes are falling out of use
Once, oribako were indispensable to Japanese food culture. Bento, osechi, tsukudani. Made by gluing thin boards of cedar, these boxes preserved the freshness of the food inside, and the faint transfer of the cedar scent made the packaging itself a form of 'hospitality'.
However, with the widespread use of plastic containers and paper boxes, the use of cedar boxes is decreasing year by year.
Consequently, the number of businesses manufacturing cedar boxes is continuing to decline nationwide.
Rather than just accepting this trend, we want to communicate the value that cedar boxes possess—the beauty of natural materials, the scent, the warmth when held in your hand—in a new way.
## Current Initiatives: From 'Cedar Boxes' to 'Living with Cedar'
To realize this dream, our company is beginning new challenges in addition to making traditional folding boxes as packaging containers.
Introducing cedar gift box...
Our company endorses April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to broadcast dreams.
This press release is the dream of 'Orijyu Ltd.'.
---
We have been making cedar boxes (Sugi Oribako) in Kawachi Town, Ibaraki Prefecture for about 60 years.
We will pass down traditional techniques that deliver the scent and warmth of cedar to the next era in new forms.
Our dream is that 'cedar boxes become known to many people, and this culture continues.'
Orijyu Ltd. (Kawachi Town, Inashiki District, Ibaraki Prefecture) has been manufacturing boxes using domestic cedar since its founding in 1966. Our cedar boxes are designated as an 'Ibaraki Prefecture Traditional Craft' (No. 67) and are rustic yet high-quality wooden containers that utilize the natural scent and humidity control of unpainted cedar.
## Background of the Dream: Cedar boxes are falling out of use
Once, oribako were indispensable to Japanese food culture. Bento, osechi, tsukudani. Made by gluing thin boards of cedar, these boxes preserved the freshness of the food inside, and the faint transfer of the cedar scent made the packaging itself a form of 'hospitality'.
However, with the widespread use of plastic containers and paper boxes, the use of cedar boxes is decreasing year by year.
Consequently, the number of businesses manufacturing cedar boxes is continuing to decline nationwide.
Rather than just accepting this trend, we want to communicate the value that cedar boxes possess—the beauty of natural materials, the scent, the warmth when held in your hand—in a new way.
## Current Initiatives: From 'Cedar Boxes' to 'Living with Cedar'
To realize this dream, our company is beginning new challenges in addition to making traditional folding boxes as packaging containers.
Introducing cedar gift box...