Men's Prayer Beads, Kiso Cypress, 18 Beads, Crystal Finish

Men's Prayer Beads, Kiso Cypress, 18 Beads, Crystal Finish

A striking large-bead strand celebrating the fragrance of cypress. Kiso cypress grows in the Kiso Valley region of Nagano and, thanks to the area's cold climate, takes 70-80 years to mature into building-grade timber -- far longer than the usual 30-40 years elsewhere in Japan -- giving it an exceptionally fine, beautiful grain. Cypress has long been prized in Japan's most important architecture, including the core pillar of Horyu-ji Temple's five-story pagoda, for its durability and antibacterial properties. This is said to be the first time Kiso cypress has been used so generously as a prayer bead material. Simply holding the beads releases the wood's fragrant aroma, finished here with crystal for a simple, natural look.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 631w890000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.71 in (1.8 cm) – Crystal
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.63 in (1.6 cm) – Kiso Cypress
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.47 in (1.2 cm) – Crystal