EVENT

Workshop: Making Kairo Pocket Warmers with Aomori Hiba Wood


青森ヒバ　カイロ

Make your own re-usable kairo pocket heat warmer with aromatic and calming Aomori Hiba wood powder.

A member of the cypress family, Aomori Hiba grows mainly in the forests of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on the island of Honshu in the Tōhoku region of Japan. The tree is known for its long lifespan and ability to survive in a harsh natural environment weathering the strong winds and heavy snows of the region.

Strong and durable, but also famed for its aromatic scent and anti-bacterial, deodorizing and insect repelling properties, Aomori Hiba has been prized as a building material of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for centuries.

This workshop is led by Muraguchi Mineko, founder of Cul de Sac. The daughter of the owner of a timber mill specialising in Aomori Hiba wood, she aims to spread awareness of the value of Aomori Hiba in and outside Japan. Committed to promoting sustainable development in forestry, her company Cul de Sac uses cuttings and scraps from the lumber process to create its products. 

In this workshop Muraguchi introduces the special properties of Aomori Hiba wood while showing participants how to make their own eco-friendly kairo pocket warmer using Aomori Hiba sawdust, brown rice and salt.

Continue to explore the forests of Tōhoku, as well as the nightscape of Tokyo, in the interactive exhibition WOW: City Lights and Woodland Shade on display in the Gallery at Japan House London until 22 March 2020.