HINOKI FSC BOARD MEDIUM

This cutting board is absolutely perfect for my Miyabi knives! I had been eyeing those popular teak cutting boards for a while, but everything I found was either too pricey or too heavy, so I stuck with my Joseph Joseph plastic cutting board. My husband, who’s the better knife user (and the one who insisted on buying the knife set when I couldn’t even cut tofu properly), always said I’d ruin the knives without a proper cutting board. I didn’t want to invest until I was sure, but now that I’m the one using the knives more often, I see what he meant.It finally dawned on me that the knife company would probably make the best cutting board for their own products. I looked up Shun’s cutting boards, fully expecting to spend a couple of hundred dollars. To my surprise, the price was very reasonable, so I ordered it immediately. It was supposed to arrive later this month but showed up in just three days!First impressions: The board is gorgeous and lightweight, making it easy to handle. Using it today was a dream—it’s gentle on my knives, easy to clean, and feels so much better than my old plastic board.I’m so impressed with the quality and performance that I plan to order the small and large versions next. Highly recommend this cutting board to anyone with quality knives—it’s a worthwhile investment!

Having used this product (the Shun Medium Hinoki) for a week and butchered over 200 lbs of elk with it, I can understand why it is controversial. On the one hand, it is very soft and thus extremely gentle on blade edges. (As the knife sharpener in my family, I can't overstate this quality.) I've been chopping like a madman in the last week without losing ANY sharpness. My bamboo cutting board would not have generated the same result. The Shun is also very light (possibly one quarter the weight of my bamboo board), which makes it easy to wield and clean in my sink. On the other hand, because it is so light, it is more susceptible to cut marks, particularly inadvertent stabs from my blade tip. I've cut it up quite a bit, but the marks aren't more than an aesthetic issue. Also, because it is so thin, light, and soft, it has the tendency to warp if the manufacturers instructions are not followed. It needs to be religiously wetted (and dried with a towel) on both sides BEFORE use. When you follow this procedure, the board stays flat and stable and can be easily cleaned. In sum, I love the new board, while my wife is a little ambivalent about it. But she's not the knife sharpener in the family! :)

Everyone is bound to have their favorite cutting board, and that's great! Not everyone needs the same style of cutting boards. This Hinoki cutting board is great if you use lightweight and fairly sharp knives. My favorite everyday knives are Mac Mighty Santoku knives, which are both lightweight and fairly sharp. I also have a variety of Japanese knives.Most importantly, this cutting board is made from very soft wood which is very gentle on your knives. Your knives won't dull as quickly when using a soft wood cutting board made from Hinoki cypress. Another benefit is that this specific cutting board is nice and lightweight. It's easy for me to rinse in the sink, unlike my larger cutting boards which are more cumbersome.However, there are a few things to consider. These cutting boards stain easily. After a while they'll start to look a bit grungy, and there's no way (that I know), other than sanding them down, to restore their appearance. I would also avoid using them with knives that could leave deep scores in the wood.They also warp easily when exposed to water. However, don't worry too much if your cutting board warps. Over time, it should even out if you treat it right. I'm sure that there are video's on this, but my advice would be: When cleaning this cutting board, always clean both sides, even if one side needs it most. This will ensure that both sides get equally wet, which helps keep the cutting board from warping. When drying the cutting board, make sure that airflow can reach both sides.

My mother is elderly and she needs to use a lightweight cutting board. At the same time, she insists on wood. My Boos board, as durable as it is, is far too heavy for my mother to wash and store. Knowing hinoki is durable and a good material for cutting boards, I got her this and it is perfect. It is thin and lightweight but doesn't feel cheaply made either. It doesn't absorb bad smells and is easy to clean. I really like Shun knives so I was glad their cutting board was good quality too. However it's not cheap. I paid $50.

I wanted a wooden cutting board to get away plastics.Tried a bamboo cutting board that warped after 1 use.Blockier wooden cutting boards were way too heavy and required a lot of oiling/extra care.This cutting board has been perfect for my strength and needs, and with standard care has not warped at all. It's a liittle pricey but not a deal breaker. happy to replace every 1-2 years if need be, or buy additional if they come out with a size bigger.