Authenticity of Our Binchotan

Origin, Production and Authenticity of Our Kishu Binchotan Charcoal

Where to buy Kishu Binchotan

Our binchotan charcoal for water purification comes from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan (Kishu region).

Wakayama Prefecture is the birthplace of binchotan, where it has been produced for centuries.

How is our Binchotan produced?

Our Binchotan is made from Ubamegashi oak, the traditional wood used to produce binchotan charcoal. It is a very dense oak that is cultivated and maintained by a small number of foresters in various forests across Japan, particularly in the Kishu region (Wakayama Prefecture) and the Tosa region (Kochi Prefecture).

The oaks come from protected and sustainably managed forests. They are free from pesticides and chemicals.

The manufacturing process of our binchotan is entirely artisanal, following the traditional binchotan production method.

How is our Kishu binchotan certified?

Contrary to what is stated on some websites, there is no official certification of binchotan authenticity. Although no official certification exists, the yellow sticker shown below is the only element that certifies the authenticity of Kishu binchotan. This sticker certifies that the charcoal comes from the Kishu region in Japan and that it is safe for air freight. It was originally used to authorize the transport of Kishu binchotan (from Wakayama Prefecture) by plane and for export.

It should be noted that this sticker is affixed to each carton sent by our partner in Japan to allow air transport, and genuine binchotan manufacturers issue only one yellow sticker per carton.

Providing additional labels would create the risk of using the remaining labels to export counterfeit products.

Kishu Binchotan (from Wakayama Prefecture) is the only binchotan charcoal that requires this yellow label to be authorized for export. This is not the case for binchotan charcoal from other regions of Japan, such as Hyuga binchotan (Miyazaki Prefecture) or Tosa binchotan (Kochi Prefecture).

We appreciate that you care about the origin of the products you use. Therefore, a copy of this sticker is attached to each package of Kishu binchotan sent to you whenever possible. We can send you the original upon request after your purchase (subject to availability).

Is there any risk of radioactivity?

This is a question we are sometimes asked. Japanese authorities impose strict regulations and are very cautious. Since 2011, measurements have been carried out monthly in all Japanese prefectures to verify the absence of radioactivity. Wakayama Prefecture, where our binchotan originates, has never been affected by radioactivity since these measurements began.