Brand & Maker Overview

woodpecker

Ginkgo MANAITA made from solid Japanese ginkgo wood, handcrafted for everyday cooking.

woodpecker is a craft brand based in Gifu, Japan, making wooden kitchen tools with a focus on its signature product, the “Ginkgo MANAITA (Japanese chopping board)”. The brand explains that its MANAITAs are made from solid Japanese ginkgo wood (not pressed boards), designed to be gentle on knife blades, and offered in a wide range of sizes. It also provides care guidance and maintenance options so the board can be used for a long time.

1502-2 Kitagata, Kitagata-town, Motosu, Gifu 501-0431 Japan woodpecker
woodpecker

PROFILE About the Company / Workshop

woodpecker was founded in 2007 by Kenji Fukui in Gifu Prefecture, an area known for woodworking. The brand story explains that the very first piece was a “ginkgo tree MANAITA” made as a gift for his wife, which became the starting point of the brand.

By listening to customers directly at events and continuously improving the product, the “Ginkgo MANAITA” gradually gained popularity and the brand expanded its lineup to other wooden tools for everyday life.

Because each piece of wood has its own grain and character and the products are finished by hand, each item is unique. The brand positions this individuality as part of the warmth and sense of security that natural materials provide.

Made from solid Japanese ginkgo wood (not pressed boards)

The official English page states that their MANAITAs are made from Japanese ginkgo trees and use only solid wood. It also explains why softer wood like ginkgo has traditionally been used for Japanese MANAITA to be gentle on cooking knives.

Wide size lineups for different kitchens and uses

The English page lists multiple size categories (Large / Medium / Small / Others) and provides example dimensions, emphasizing that customers can choose based on their kitchen space and purpose.

Care & maintenance for long-term use

woodpecker publishes care guidance and notes that a wooden board can be refreshed by removing a thin surface layer (maintenance such as planing/reshaping), supporting long-term daily use.

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