Eco Chopsticks Get Fancy

Japan consumes 25 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks a year. Slowly these bland tree eaters are being replaced. Sleek, eco friendly and uniquely styled personal chopsticks are winning over hearts and restaurant tables.

By Deanne Tonking, Wednesday August 12, 2009 - trends

My Hashi – BYO chopsticks

Wooden, disposable chopsticks (waribashi) have long been part of the Japanese restaurant experience. A trend, to counteract the copious waste, known as My Hashi (my chopsticks) is seeing the emergence of some clever and contemporary chopstick designs.

Stickpecker chopsticks – snap apart and reuse

The Stickpecker chopsticks were designed with ritual and feeling in mind. The beginning of a restaurant meal often kicks off with the snapping open of the waribashi. Stickpecker designers MicroWorks wanted to incorporate that ritual into a pair of reusable chopsticks. The magnet holding these chopsticks together resembles the feeling of pulling apart wooden chopsticks.

Flip Sticks – fold away for another day

Flip Sticks promoted as the world’s first set of bamboo, folding chopsticks FlipSticks are ideal for those living the eco conscious, space saving lifestyle.

Pencil chopsticks – keep them in your pencil case or hashi case

Is it stationary or is it a utensil? Pencil Chopsticks designed by
Takumi Ishida can be found at the MoMA store. Made of ramin wood they are designed to resemble a pencil. Confusing?

Join the utensil revolution and yourself a pair of funky reusable chopsticks. Save a tree or two and show off your individual style next time you slurp down ramen.

Deanne Tonking and Masao Tamaoki connect with independent designers all over Japan to find unique art, handmade treasures and innovative design. They share their stylish discoveries on TokyoMade, offering style conscious shoppers rarely attainable creations.

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