MUKUROJI is the name of a tree. Written "無患子", meaning "No illness for children", its fruit has been used for KAMPO (Chinese medicine). It is said to have tonic effect and soothe pain. The tree is deeply related to Buddhism, since monks wear 108 stringed MUKUROJI seeds and use them for meditation. Its seeds are also used for the ball of HANETSUKI, a traditional Japanese game similar to badminton, enjoyed around New Years season. Its English name is "Soap Nut", and in the old days, people used it for washing soap. MUKUROJI trees can be seen in temples. It is a common tree in India.
Econoix was another company we met at Eco-Products Exhibition, led by a young lady Ms. Muto. Soap Nut is commonly used by nature-oriented people in European countries. However the seeds are usually roughly cracked, and is difficult to use without damaging clothes or dishes. Well here comes the Japanese virtue of "making things small"... "Ecoarai" (Ecological Washing) is a new way of using Soap Nut, cracking the shells into powder so it is easy to use even for less nature-conscious people. The ingredient is 100% MUKUROJI shells, and can be used just like ordinary detergent or dish soap.
Econoix Website
http://ecoarai.com
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