Hinoki wood is renowned for its beauty, delicate fragrance, naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and water resistance. Used on a cutting board, this medium-soft wood "gives" as you cut, helping to preserve the delicate edges of your fine Shun cutlery. Quite simply, hinoki is the perfect cutting surface for all your finest knives. The wood for Shun's hinoki products is grown in Japan and is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified for sustainable forest management practices. Also, all our hinoki products are made from wood resulting from forest thinning, which is required to maintain healthy growth.