In the Sagatani area (Hashimoto, Wakayama Prefecture), charcoal is made in traditional earthen kilns. Charcoal making has long been practised as winter work in mountainous areas. Hard woods such as sawtooth oak, oak and konara oak are mainly used, but a variety of other trees available at the time are also made into charcoal. Depending on the species of wood, the fire burns differently, as well as the appearance, texture, hardness and cracking properties, and the sound when tapped. The shapes and textures are emphasised even more in a single colour, and each piece of charcoal has a different beauty. During charcoal making, the fire is built for a whole day and the charcoal is left to cool for 10 days to two weeks before it is taken out of the kiln. Usually, the charcoal is cut into usable pieces with a saw, but some long pieces are given to us and kept in storage.