The item is exactly as pictured, right down to the decal shown in the photo. It arrived in a box that was labeled entirely in Japanese, repacked by Amazon in a slightly larger box. It arrived unscathed and in perfect condition. It is perfectly "squared" in its corners and the workmanship does not look at all shoddy. I ascertained that the box has not been hanging around for long because the interior still smells of the carpenter's glue used to assemble it. Incidentally, no assembly glue is visible, which indicates attention to detail when assembling. Surprisingly, the joints are all dovetailed, both on the box itself and on the lid. All very nice!
I live in the city where storing rice, grains, flours, etc., are like flashing a neon sign that says, "Hey, rodentia, hey insects ... BUFFET!" I was looking for something that was protective yet more stylish than the Tupperware-type containers I've been using (which are airtight and effective/functional). I was hoping for a more traditional version of something like those. The ad does say that it keeps rice "fresh."
But ... this box does not seal. To my discredit, neither does the ad say that it seals. The top does not have any sort of tight fit but rather simply rests on the box. The sliding top also just closes; it does not do so tightly nor does it seal. Again, neither does the ad say that it does.
The smell of the carpenter's glue concerns me. I do not find this an offensive odor but I am afraid that it might impart a taste upon the rice. Currently, I have the top removed and am letting the box air-out. Being January in New England, I cannot set it outside in the yard to be exposed to fresh air and sunshine. I know the glue will eventually finish degassing and will no longer be an issue but how long will that take?
If the glue smell dissipates in a reasonable length of time, I will use a couple of large rubber-bands around the entire assembly to hold the lid on. But that solution is limited as well since half of the top slides open. I don't want a rubber-band inhibiting the opening so the most I can tighten the top involves only one-half. I may devise some kind of clamp to hold the sliding top in place. At the end of the say, if it proves to be too much effort for too little result, I'll sell it on ebay. Why not return it? Because I think in this case, there is a combination of my over-assumption of an under-descriptive ad. In other words, equal fault.
My first impressions in a word: Very nice ... but not (yet) useful.
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It looks great and works well for rice storage. We love using the masu (little wooden box) to measure out the rice too! The only negative is the top (lid) does not stay on sometimes when I'm trying to open the sliding door on top. But all in all we love it! :) Perfect for rice storage!!Best Deals for Japanese Wooden Rice Storage Container 11 lbs H-5549
I buy Japanese rice and have a Japanese-decor kitchen, so I liked the idea of this box more than the practicality (in all honesty, it's not very practical). I am pleased with the quality and appearance of the container. The sliding panel in the lid moves smoothly, and all edges are clean and well finished. The wooden measuring cup is a nice detail. I keep my rice in a plastic bag inside the box because my pantry has been raided by mice many times, and they do love rice! If you want to store rice loose in this container, I suggest that you devise a rubber or silicone seal between the lid and the box to seal in the mouse-and-pest-attracting rice smell and to seal out moisture.Unlike another reviewer here, I did not notice any glue smell with this item.
Honest reviews on Japanese Wooden Rice Storage Container 11 lbs H-5549
I make rice often. So, having plastic bags of rice in my cupboard just felt too ugly and boring. Every time I slide open the lid for this bin it makes me smile. It's such a pleasant little sound. The outside of the box has been cauterized by fire, creating a protective seal. I could not tell from the photo if it just had a finish so that it *looked* cauterized like a traditional rice box or if it was the real deal. So, I was pleased also to find that the dovetail-joints and all aspects of craftsmanship are correct. The lid, as another reviewer mentioned, just sits on the box but this is how every other box I've seen has worked.Concerns about insects should not be a problem since it is made out of the correct type of wood (unless you don't use rice often, then a plastic bin might be better)
The seller has responded to all of my questions quickly so I'm very happy.
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