Natural Wood Oval Bottle Cooler

Yuioke · 700-year tradition · OKE-EI, Fukagawa, Tokyo

"I believe I am the only person still making these in Tokyo."
OKE-EI has continued the tradition of Edo-style yuioke — traditional Japanese wooden buckets — in Fukagawa, Tokyo for generations. The fourth-generation craftsman, Eifu Kawamata, is the final master to inherit these techniques at their highest level.

The pure beauty of OKE-EI's yuioke wooden buckets.

The yuioke technique was established in Japan nearly 700 years ago. Thin wooden staves are arranged and bound with hoops — a form that has remained unchanged for centuries. Each piece is polished without paint or coating, revealing the natural grain and a living beauty that mass-produced products cannot replicate.

Fukagawa, where OKE-EI is located, once flourished as a center for fine timber. Hundreds of lumber merchants lined the streets, and crossing the Eitai Bridge, the air was filled with the scent of wood. This heritage still shapes OKE-EI's craftsmanship today.

Only natural Kiso sawara cypress and Japanese hinoki, each over 300 years old, are used. These woods feature tight, stable growth rings — resistant to warping, smooth to the touch, and lightweight, with excellent antibacterial and water-resistant properties.

Eifu Kawamata creates pieces including the iconic Edo Hits and the Container Series, designed to suit both Japanese and Western interiors. These wooden vessels retain heat and cold exceptionally well — traditionally used for rice, they work equally well for bread, ice, or other foods. A subtle, refreshing wood aroma enhances every use.

About OKE-EI's craftsmanship
Yuioke-making is one of the most complex traditional crafts in Japan. The process involves approximately 80 steps, from log preparation to completion, and each piece requires at least two years to finish. Mastering every stage takes about ten years — a rarity that speaks to the depth of this skill.

Precision through traditional tools.

Traditional yuioke craftsmanship centers on the precise joining of wooden staves — work that demands far greater accuracy than factory production. Refined in Tokyo since its founding, OKE-EI's yuioke embody the depth of Japanese manufacturing history and are built to last a lifetime.

Refined beauty and functional design
The Oval Bottle Cooler comfortably chills two bottles. A specially carved upper edge creates an organic line that is both beautiful and stable, with the straight grain of the white wood standing out clearly. First produced in the 1990s — when wine culture became widespread in Japan — this piece fully realizes the insulating qualities of wooden buckets.

Nickel silver hoops add a clean, refined finish. Unlike traditional copper hoops, this alloy resists discoloration and corrosion while maintaining a lasting shine. (Nickel silver is an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc.)

Oval Bottle Cooler featuring beautiful straight-grain white wood.