History of Asahi Cookin'Cut

In 1965, Japan made its first sythetic rubber cutting board, the Parker Asahi's Cookin' Cut cutting board. Today, I want to tell that story.

■The Beginning

In the 1960s, although the use of wooden cutting boards were significantly restricted by the amendment in the Food Sanitation Law there were still some wooden cutting boards as well as imported pink plastic cutting boards on the market.

Since the exchange rate was $1 = 360 yen, it is easy to assume that imported cutting board were not affordable.

One day, an Asahi supplier visited the United States and found a synthetic rubber cutting board (not currently produced in the US) made by Goodyear, a brand known for their tires. After coming back to Japan, the supplier wondered if Asahi could make the synthetic cutting board as well.

■The Aim

The wood cutting board has wood grain, and it damages the knife if it's too hard meanwhile the board gets damaged if it's too soft. Since the hardness of the wooden cutting board is not constant, a wooden cutting board isn't necessarily good.

Generally, if the cutting board is soft, it would get scratched easily and compromised its sanitation. On the other hand, if it's too hard, the knife blade will get damaged.

Is it possible to make an ideal cutting board that looks like wood, has a uniform surface hardness, maintains appropriate softness, and is scratch-resistant?

■Trial and Error

Even if we say that we are working on developing the cutting board, all we have is Goodyear's cutting board to go by. We know that a powder was mixed in, but we didn't know what it was. The development was off to a rough start.

Then, as a result of repeatedly testing the ratio of wood powder, rubber, adjusting the fineness of wood powder, crosslinking temperature, pressure, and many other factors, the Asahi Cooking Cut was born.

■The Final Product

Parker Asahi is the maker of the current cutting board made from synthetic rubber, and probably has the oldest history not only in Japan but in the world. 

The history of the Cooking' Cut includes the feeling of consideration for its user and a heard that loves nature. We take pride in producing a cutting board that truly embodies Japanese culture. We hope that it will be of interest to you.