Himepla Hinoki Cutting Board

Made from hinoki wood, a durable Japanese cypress, these featherlight cutting boards are perfect for small prep tasks—and the board essentially “heals” itself. Unlike typical wooden cutting boards—which can be heavy, cumbersome and hard on knives—hinoki’s special properties make it Japan’s best-kept secret for food prep and knife maintenance. The medium-soft wood is gentle on knives. Every slice cuts into the hinoki a little, helping blades stay sharp; hard cutting surfaces like fabricated bamboo have almost no give, eventually dulling knives. (Tip: If you give your hinoki board a good scrub and wipe it mostly dry with a cloth, the grain of the wood will swell, repairing most cut marks). Hinoki’s soft, piney scent comes from its natural resin, or yani. Yani helps the board wick water, fight mold and bacteria naturally, dry quickly and easily resist odors—it’s no wonder this type of cutting board is the tool of choice for sushi chefs.