My HASHI (my chopsticks)

HASHI, meaning chopsticks, is our common utensil. It is originally made of wood or plastic to be used many times, but many restaurants were serving "disposable chopsticks" to lessen their costs for washing. (Just like plastic forks and knives) Also the 24 hour stores gave out "disposable chopsticks" to increase customer satisfaction. Disposable chopsticks are called WARIBASHI, meaning "splitting HASHI" because it is made of a piece of wood with a cut-in so can easily be split in two before using. As you know, HASHI is two sticks.

So here comes the My-HASHI movement. People started to bring their own HASHI to restaurants so they don't have to use the WARIBASHIs. It started a few years ago, and the past two years, it has been a big movement.

WARIBASHI itself is not necessarily bad for the environment. Many Japanese producers make WARIBASHI from leftover wood within Japan, which is good because it vitalizes forestry and growth of trees. As you know, 40% of Japanese forests needs maintainance by people to grow properly, and for this to work, timber must be used at a adequate price. So WARIBASHI made of Japanese wood, or more better by thinned wood is contributing to the health of forests in a way.

However, cheep WARIBASHI (which is the majority) is made in other Asian countries, particulary in China. These are likely to be made of destructive lumbering. It is also said to be bad for your health since bleach is used for whitening and disinfection. So the My-HASHI movement is good for lessening this kind of disposal chopsticks.

Thinking ecology could be a change in your mindset about a small effort. Instead of using something just once and throwing it away, use a better thing many times. What is so wrong about taking just a few seconds to wash your chopsticks?

So if you noticed that there are too much plastic forks around you, how about starting your own movement of "My-FORK" or "My-SPOON"?

left WARIBASHI (disposable), right normal HASHI (chopsticks). I carry it in the small cloth bag.

↓Here is an interesting HASHI to carry...
read about KATTOBASHI