TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE
“One of a Kind” — To Admire. To Serve.
Beautiful wood grain plates crafted from rare and valuable timber
“Tsuki-jiri” —
materials that rarely appear on the main stage, quietly remaining behind the scenes.
Yet in truth, they are exceptionally precious materials,
not merely supporting actors, but worthy of being the centerpiece themselves.
Because they originate from carefully selected solid wood,
chosen specifically for its beauty and exceptional grain.
It felt wasteful to let such materials remain hidden.
And so, the remarkable supporting player, TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE, steps into the spotlight.
SPEC
Wood Species: Oak
Sizes: 12 × 120 × 300 mm / 12 × 150 × 320 mm
Finish: Cerawood coating
Types: Flat / Ridged / Indigo Dyed
TYPE
［Ridged］
Hand-carved wood texture finish created by third-generation master wood sculptor Masahiro Ikawa.
Each piece is individually carved by hand using traditional carving tools,
resulting in unique textures and expressive surfaces.
The gently undulating carved grain resembles ripples on water.
※ IKAWA Sculpture
［Indigo Dyed］
A deep and layered indigo tone often referred to as “Japan Blue.”
Each natural wood plate is carefully dyed by hand using traditional fermented indigo dyeing techniques made only with natural Japanese indigo.
Wood Species
［Oak］
A natural color tone that pairs beautifully with a wide range of foods and table settings.
Oak is a hard and durable hardwood from the beech family, also known as the tree that produces acorns.
Its grain is characterized by medullary rays called “fu,”
and particularly large rays are known in Japan as “torafu” because they resemble tiger stripes.
These rays reflect light depending on the viewing angle,
and the effect becomes even more pronounced when indigo dyed.
ABOUT
“Tsuki-ita” refers to natural wood sliced paper-thin and used as a surface material for furniture and interiors.
Only solid wood with beautiful grain and excellent condition is selected to become veneer.
After slicing these precious woods into hundreds of veneer sheets,
the remaining thicker sections are called “tsuki-jiri.”
These sections, typically 10–20mm thick,
sit above and below the stacked veneer sheets during processing.
However, only the thin veneer itself is normally used for furniture and interiors.
The tsuki-jiri sections were rarely seen,
often left unused as leftover material.
For many years, MORI KOUGEI has specialized in veneer craftsmanship for furniture and architectural interiors.
And one day, we stopped and thought:
“These pieces may not become veneer or decorate furniture surfaces,
but tsuki-jiri are still flawless solid wood with beautiful grain and color.
How wasteful it is not to use them…”
Tsuki-jiri are also precious materials.
Each piece has its own individuality,
making every plate truly one of a kind.
These unique tsuki-jiri pieces are reborn as plates —
subtle supporting actors that beautifully enhance the true stars:
food, tableware, and moments shared around the table.
Bringing overlooked materials into the spotlight.
Simple in concept, yet sustainable in spirit.
This represents a new commitment and direction for MORI KOUGEI,
which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2023.
Product Page： TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE
ABOUT TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE
［What does “Tsuki-jiri” mean?］
“Tsuki-ita” veneer is created by carefully selecting beautiful wood and slicing it into extremely thin sheets.
The remaining section after veneer slicing is called “tsuki-jiri.”
Although these pieces were traditionally left unused,
they are still made from the same carefully selected timber.
TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE transforms these overlooked materials into functional objects with new value.
［What kind of plate is it?］
Even within the same species, every tree grows differently,
creating unique grain patterns and expressions.
TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE allows you to enjoy the natural beauty created by those differences.
Because tsuki-jiri was never originally intended to become a product,
every plate is naturally one of a kind.
We hope you can feel the warmth of the forest carried within each piece.
［What finish is used?］
To preserve the natural texture of the wood while ensuring practical durability for tableware,
we selected “Cerawood” as the top coating.
Cerawood is a high-performance ceramic-based urethane coating with excellent resistance to heat, stains, and UV exposure.
It also complies with Japanese food safety standards.
［How can it be used?］
The rectangular form creates a beautiful contrast alongside round dishes.
It pairs naturally with appetizers, Japanese sweets, tea ware, sake ware, cheese, nuts, desserts, and more.
Its simple form allows for flexible styling in both Japanese and Western table settings.
［Also suitable as an interior object］
By pairing it with flowers or small objects,
it can also be enjoyed as an interior accent piece.
［Care Instructions］
TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE is designed for everyday use.
Wash gently using mild detergent and a soft sponge.
After washing, wipe dry with a soft cloth before storage.
［Other variations and custom orders］
Although oak is the primary species used,
custom production using other wood species is also possible.
Sizes can also be customized depending on the dimensions of the tsuki-jiri material.
We especially welcome inquiries from restaurants and hospitality projects.
Package
A simple yet refined package design,
suitable for gifts and celebrations.
［Message from MORI KOUGEI］
MORI KOUGEI is a decorative plywood and veneer craftsmanship company based in Tokushima, Japan — a region long known for woodworking culture.
Our origins trace back to 1953,
when Hiroyuki Mori’s grandfather began specializing in traditional veneer application by hand.
Today, we produce decorative plywood for furniture, interiors, architecture, and commercial spaces,
carefully transforming clients’ ideas into reality through deep knowledge of wood and veneer craftsmanship.
As MORI KOUGEI celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2023,
we also begin a new initiative:
Reducing waste by making meaningful use of overlooked materials.
That first step became TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE.
Though small in scale,
we hope this effort transforms previously unused materials into products people can truly appreciate and enjoy.
Hiroyuki Mori
Product Page： TSUKI-JIRI WOOD PLATE
Coincidentally, this initiative closely aligns with the theme of the FRaU S-TRIP April issue published by Kodansha, which recently featured MORI KOUGEI: