STYLE OF JAPAN describes OEDO as a sustainable chopstick series designed to contribute to the effective use of Japanese forest resources and to support its broader “PURE JAPAN MADE” concept.

The origins of OEDO lie in Obama, Fukui, an area with approximately four centuries of history in lacquered-chopstick production. STYLE OF JAPAN was established in 2003 with a mission to bring Japanese chopstick culture and craftsmanship to contemporary consumers and overseas markets.

The company sought to address a modern environmental challenge within the traditional chopstick industry: continuing to produce high-quality wooden chopsticks while making better use of local forest resources. This led to the development of OEDO using thinned Fukui cedar. Forest thinning is essential for maintaining healthy forests; rather than allowing this material to go unused, OEDO incorporates it into its products. This approach links forest management, local manufacturing, and consumer goods.

The brand has been presented internationally through Japanese trade and cultural initiatives, including programs supported by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization). JETRO materials identify OEDO as one of STYLE OF JAPAN’s key products, emphasizing its sustainable Japanese cedar construction and modern interpretation of Japanese design.

The name OEDO refers to “Ōedo” (大江戸), literally meaning “Great Edo,” which evokes Edo-period Japan and historical Tokyo. This historical association is central to the brand’s visual language. OEDO does not simply reproduce antique Japanese designs; instead, it uses motifs associated with the Edo period as a starting point for contemporary products.

According to collection descriptions, OEDO’s designs are inspired by patterns originating during the Edo period (1603–1867). The objective is to preserve a recognizable Japanese aesthetic while ensuring the resulting products are suitable for modern everyday life [1].

OEDO’s design philosophy combines traditional Japanese aesthetics, modern functionality, and environmental responsibility. The products avoid excessively ornate interpretations of Japanese culture, favouring clean forms, restrained geometric patterns, and colour combinations compatible with contemporary tableware.

A notable example is the OEDO Ichimatsu design. Its asymmetrical colour blocking is inspired by the ichimatsu pattern associated with Edo-period textiles and the kabuki actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu [2][3]. This gives OEDO a distinctive visual position: it appears recognisably Japanese without resembling a traditional souvenir.

A defining characteristic of OEDO is its use of Fukui cedar. Rather than relying on imported timber, the brand emphasises locally sourced cedar obtained through forest-thinning projects. This provides the material with a sustainability narrative that extends beyond the finished chopstick itself.

The company describes this approach as part of its “PURE JAPAN MADE” philosophy, where the material, manufacturing, and craftsmanship are connected to Japanese production regions and supply chains. The chopsticks are finished with a food-safe polyurethane-based lacquer or coating, featuring a textured surface designed to improve grip. Product specifications also indicate that the chopsticks are dishwasher safe [2].

Although OEDO has a distinctly modern appearance, its production is rooted in the traditional Wakasa lacquered-chopstick industry. STYLE OF JAPAN describes its manufacturing approach as involving careful shaping and coating, with products passing through the hands of craftsmen. The company emphasises that its items are produced in a historic lacquered-chopstick region rather than treating Japanese craftsmanship merely as a decorative marketing element.

This distinction is central to the brand’s positioning: OEDO is not simply “Japanese-looking” tableware but is intended to connect contemporary product design with an established Japanese manufacturing tradition.

Sustainability is a primary element differentiating OEDO from standard decorative chopstick brands. The brand’s environmental approach comprises several components:

• Use of thinned local cedar: OEDO utilises Fukui cedar generated through forest management and thinning.
• Local production: Manufacturing is connected to the historic Fukui chopstick-production region.
• Long-term use: Dishwasher-safe finishes are intended to make the chopsticks convenient for everyday use rather than occasional decorative purposes [1].
• Reduced reliance on disposable chopsticks: STYLE OF JAPAN’s broader mission includes encouraging reusable lacquered chopsticks as an alternative to disposable waribashi.
• Traceability: The company emphasises traceable wood and a controlled supply chain.

STYLE OF JAPAN describes its broader vision as “HASHI for EARTH,” connecting chopstick culture with forest conservation and decarbonisation.

OEDO is offered in several designs and colourways rather than as a single fixed product. Examples include:

• OEDO Green
• OEDO Blue
• OEDO Ichimatsu / Ichimatsu Checker
• OEDO Eight
• Various colour-blocked and nature-inspired combinations

The OEDO Ichimatsu collection is particularly recognisable for its geometric colour blocking and its connection to the traditional Japanese ichimatsu pattern [3].

Despite its emphasis on craftsmanship and aesthetics, OEDO is designed primarily as everyday tableware. Typical product characteristics include:

• Lightweight wooden construction
• Textured, non-slip surfaces
• Food-safe coating
• Dishwasher compatibility
• Approximately 23 cm length for many models
• Production in Japan [2]

This practicality is integral to the brand’s philosophy. The objective is not merely to preserve traditional chopsticks as cultural artefacts but to make Japanese craftsmanship relevant to contemporary daily life.

OEDO has been marketed beyond Japan as part of international interest in Japanese craftsmanship, design, and sustainable products. JETRO has featured STYLE OF JAPAN and OEDO in overseas-oriented trade materials, and the brand has appeared through international retailers and Japanese cultural and design initiatives.

The company’s international positioning can be summarised as: Japanese heritage leading to contemporary design, sustainable materials, and a global lifestyle product. This formula allows OEDO to appeal to both Japanese consumers and international customers interested in Japanese design, sustainable homeware, and artisanal products.

It is important to distinguish OEDO from STYLE OF JAPAN. STYLE OF JAPAN, Inc. is the corporate entity, while OEDO is one of its principal chopstick collections. STYLE OF JAPAN also operates other product lines, including ihana and various HASHI-related collections [1].

The company’s business includes the planning, manufacturing, wholesale, and sale of lacquered chopsticks and Japanese miscellaneous goods, as well as OEM and personalised products.

OEDO can be understood through four central brand pillars:

Japanese heritage

The brand draws from the 400-year-old lacquered-chopstick tradition of Fukui and Obama, as well as the cultural aesthetics of Edo-period Japan.

Modern design

Rather than copying historical tableware literally, OEDO translates traditional patterns and Japanese visual concepts into clean, contemporary designs.

Sustainability

The use of locally thinned Fukui cedar gives the brand an environmental purpose beyond selling reusable chopsticks.

Everyday functionality

Dishwasher-safe finishes, non-slip surfaces, and lightweight construction make the products intended for regular household use rather than display alone [1].

OEDO represents a broader movement in contemporary Japanese product design: using traditional regional craftsmanship to create products appropriate for modern lifestyles. Instead of positioning tradition and sustainability as opposites, the brand treats them as interconnected. The 400-year-old manufacturing heritage provides the craftsmanship, local forest resources provide the material, and contemporary product design provides the modern application.

In this sense, OEDO focuses less on nostalgia for Edo Japan and more on reinterpreting Japanese tradition for the present day.

The OEDO collection has been described by STYLE OF JAPAN as particularly popular in the United States, where its combination of modern design, functionality, and Japanese character has helped it appeal to international customers. International retailers similarly position OEDO as a Japanese-designed and Japanese-made product combining contemporary aesthetics with the traditional craftsmanship of Fukui [3].

Readers should note that there is an unrelated fashion brand also named OEDO, produced by Shamior Co., Ltd. That brand specialises in waterproof, non-slip leather loafers and is distinct from the OEDO chopstick brand manufactured by STYLE OF JAPAN [4].

1. OEDO Chopsticks Ichimatsu Checker | IPPIN PROJECT
2. STYLE OF JAPAN OEDO CHOPSTICKS | NIMI OBJECTS | BICOLOUR JAPANESE HASHI CHOPSTICKS
3. OEDO ICHIMATSU CHOPSTICKS | JAPANESE HASHI | MADE IN JAPAN – NiMi Projects
4. OEDO | PLUG IN | Editorial SHOWROOM