About SHIZQ
Every drop comes full circle.
Connecting life and living through the forest.
Giving new purpose to Japanese cedar that was once at risk of being left unused.
Reconnecting the cycle of forests, water, and everyday life through thoughtful craftsmanship.
That is how SHIZQ began in Kamiyama, a small mountain town in Tokushima, Japan, whose name literally means "Sacred Mountain."
Rain falls on the forest, seeps into the soil, becomes streams and rivers, and eventually reaches our everyday lives.
Caring for the forest means protecting water.
Protecting water means nurturing the future of our everyday lives.
We explore new ways to bring value to Kamiyama cedar, bringing the richness of this remarkable forest into everyday life.
For us, this is about more than making products.
It is about carefully restoring the connection between forests, water, and the lives we share.
Protecting the source of life: water
In Kamiyama, it is said that the volume of water flowing through the rivers has declined to around 30% of what it was 30 years ago.
As planted cedar forests become overcrowded, less sunlight reaches the forest floor, reducing biodiversity and gradually weakening the forest's natural ability to store rainwater.
To restore healthy rivers, sunlight must return to the mountains so that diverse forests can thrive once again. That also means carefully thinning overcrowded cedar forests and giving the timber a meaningful new purpose.
Designing New Value for Kamiyama Cedar
"Cedar is too soft to be practical."
"Its red and white grain is considered undesirable."
That was what people familiar with cedar often told us.
We saw things differently.
The softness of cedar and the beautiful contrast between its heartwood and sapwood are qualities found nowhere else.
Our goal has always been to reveal the beauty in what others saw as imperfections—to discover new value in a local resource that was gradually losing its place as a building material.
That belief remains the foundation of everything we create at SHIZQ.
The artisan's skill creates miracles
From Hands to Home
Every SHIZQ vessel is shaped by a deep understanding of the forest, a discerning eye for wood, and the skillful use of finely honed tools.
Each piece is one of a kind, brought to life by the hands of our craftspeople.
杉と向き合い続ける
In Constant Dialogue with Cedar
Japanese cedar is soft, and every piece has its own character. Shaping it into vessels made for everyday use is an exceptionally demanding process.
Through their knowledge and skill, our craftspeople have overcome these challenges one by one.
製造拠点
The SHIZQ Approach
Our process begins by entering the mountains ourselves and respectfully harvesting cedar from Kamiyama—the “Sacred Mountain.”
The cedar is then left to season naturally for approximately two years. Through this slow passage of time, the wood develops a distinctive depth and radiance found nowhere else.
Small Actions, Meaningful Impact
Designing New Value for Kamiyama Cedar
We rediscover the unique qualities of Kamiyama cedar and transform them into objects designed to be used and cherished for years.
Creating What Only Cedar Can Become
Rather than seeing its softness, lightness, and distinctive grain as imperfections, we celebrate them as the qualities that make SHIZQ products truly unique.
Using Every Part with Purpose
Even the parts that cannot become products are never wasted. We give them new purpose as resources that continue to support everyday life.
Forest, Water, and the Future We Share
Caring for forests means caring for water.
Caring for water means nurturing life for generations to come.
SHIZQ’s wooden creations are made to bring warmth, beauty, and a deeper connection with nature into everyday life.
At the same time, they offer a small opportunity to reflect on the cycle that connects forests, water, and our lives.
Using them.
Giving them.
Cherishing them for years to come.
We believe that each of these simple actions can deepen our connection with forests and the life they sustain.
Every drop comes full circle.
From the forest,
to our hands,
to everyday life.
SHIZQ will continue to explore what true abundance can mean,
creating objects and initiatives that carry the values of Kamiyama’s forests into the future.
Forest, Water, and the Future We Share
Caring for forests means caring for water.
Caring for water means nurturing the future we all share.
Every SHIZQ creation is designed to bring warmth, beauty, and a deeper connection with nature into everyday life.
At the same time, it offers a small opportunity to reflect on the cycle that connects forests, water, and our lives.
Using it.
Giving it.
Cherishing it for years to come.
We believe that each of these simple acts can deepen our connection with forests and inspire a more thoughtful way of living.
Every drop comes full circle.
Connecting life and everyday living through the forest.
As we continue exploring what true abundance means, SHIZQ will continue creating products and nurturing initiatives that carry the spirit of Kamiyama's forests to future generations.