Charcoal around the house

On a ramen shop counter, I saw a water pitcher with what looked like a black stick inside. I poured a glass of water for myself and savored this refreshingly clean, surprisingly sweet tasting water. I learned from the server that this was a piece of bamboo charcoal in the pitcher to purify the water.

Charcoal, called 炭 sumi in Japanese, often in the form of 竹炭 takesumi, or bamboo charcoal, has dozens of household uses.

In the kitchen, I keep a stick of bamboo charcoal in a pitcher like the ramen shop staff. Charcoal is porous, so particles and chemicals in the water stick in the pores. Every few days, I dry the stick of charcoal outside in the sun to get it fresh again. In the fridge, I keep boxes of charcoal powder to eliminate smells, but apparently, the charcoal can also help vegetables and fruits keep longer.

Nestled in my sweaters, there are charcoal powder bags. I used to buy plastic buckets with dessicants, but when they're full, they become plastic garbage. The charcoal powder bags do a good job to keep my sweaters fresh smelling and ward off the damp. When they are done, they get emptied into the garden. Charcoal is alkaline, so it can be used as a good soil conditioner. 

Other places I put bamboo or cedar charcoal are in the shoe cabinet, in the genkan front hall, under the sofa, and in baskets around the house. Charcoal in a bamboo basket has a sculptural quality, too, so it makes a pretty decoration.

There are many bamboo products available in shops in Japan. At 100 yen shops, you can often find charcoal in bags or boxes suitable for placing in the fridge, closets, and even shoes. At hardware and DIY stores, there are often different kinds of charcoal, including softwood, hardwood and bamboo charcoal. 

An onsen that I frequent provides bamboo charcoal body soap, shampoo and conditioner. It's got a subtle scent, and the porous nature of the charcoal makes it a good for exfoliating and removing oil, and has a mild deodorant effect. You might find charcoal soap at drugstores and specialty shops, too.