Description
Japanese Textile Heritage Meets Activated Charcoal
Uchino is an 80+ year old Japanese company that originally produced mosquito nets using traditional weaving techniques โ a heritage that shaped their approach to textile construction in ways that still define their products today. The Kishu Binchotan towel is one of their most technically distinct lines: a product where an ancient Japanese material tradition and modern textile engineering produce something that no conventional cotton towel can replicate.
What is Kishu Binchotan?
High-quality charcoal from Kishu is made from Ubame oak wood, burned into fine powder, kneaded into rayon fibre, then blended with cotton. The fine pores on the surface of the charcoal adsorb odour molecules and exert a deodorising effect. Binchotan charcoal has been produced in the Kishu region of Japan since the Edo period โ it is not a synthetic additive or a chemical treatment, but a natural material with a centuries-long history of use for purification and odour absorption. In the towel, the charcoal is not surface-applied but embedded into the rayon fibre itself during the spinning process, meaning it cannot wash out or degrade over time the way a topical treatment would.
87% Cotton, 13% Charcoal Rayon
The base construction is cotton and rayon yarn with charcoal kneaded in โ lightweight, soft, and ideal for everyday use. The cotton component provides the absorbency and softness expected of a quality bath towel; the charcoal rayon contributes the deodorising function and a subtle textural quality that is immediately distinctive. Customers who buy these towels consistently report that they stop using other towels because of the texture โ a tactile quality that is difficult to describe but immediately apparent in use.
The Black Colourway
The BK designation refers to the deep black tone โ a colour that works particularly well with the Binchotan construction because the charcoal content in the rayon fibre gives the black a natural, slightly heathered depth rather than a flat dyed appearance. It reads as considered and minimal in a bathroom context, coordinating naturally with white, stone, and concrete finishes.
Free delivery to your apartment is included across Tbilisi.
Product Specifications
- Material: 87% Cotton, 13% Rayon (charcoal-infused)
- Charcoal source: Kishu Binchotan โ Ubame oak (Quercus phillyrae), Kishu region, Japan
- Colour: Black (BK)
- Function: Deodorising, absorbent, lightweight
- Sizes available:
- Face towel: 34ร40cm
- Hand towel: 50ร100cm
- Bath towel: 70ร140cm
- Care: Machine washable
- Made in: Japan
FAQ
What exactly is Binchotan charcoal and how does it work in a towel?
Binchotan charcoal is created by burning oak branches at extremely high temperatures and then rapidly cooling them โ a process developed in the Kishu region of Japan since the Edo period, valued for its natural anti-odour qualities. The key property is porosity: the rapid cooling process creates an exceptionally dense network of microscopic pores on the surface of each charcoal particle. These microscopic pores absorb odour molecules, which are then released during washing โ meaning the deodorising function resets with every laundry cycle rather than diminishing over time. In a towel used daily in a bathroom environment, this is a genuinely practical property: the Kishu Binchotan stays fresher between washes than a conventional cotton towel, particularly in humid conditions.
Is the charcoal content permanent, or does it wash out over time?
The charcoal is not a surface treatment โ the fine activated carbon powder is kneaded directly into the rayon fibre during the spinning process, becoming a structural component of the yarn rather than a coating applied afterwards. This is a fundamentally different manufacturing process from antibacterial or deodorising treatments that are applied to the surface of finished fabrics โ those wash out within months. Because the charcoal is embedded in the fibre itself, its deodorising properties are maintained through years of regular washing. The function does not diminish with use; it resets.
How does the Kishu Binchotan feel compared to a standard cotton towel?
The cotton-charcoal rayon blend produces a texture that is noticeably different from conventional terry โ slightly denser, with a subtle, almost matte surface quality that reflects the rayon content. It is a little thicker than typical Japanese towels, which tend toward lightweight construction, and the texture has a distinctive character that regular users describe as irreplaceable. It is not the plush, deep-pile feel of a thick Egyptian cotton towel โ it is something more precise and functional, with a surface that feels clean and purposeful rather than soft in the conventional sense.
Where in Georgia can I find the full Uchino range in person?
Sleep Gallery is Georgia’s only dedicated premium sleep and bathroom retailer carrying Uchino towels. At our showroom at 24 Irakli Abashidze Street in Vake, Tbilisi, you can handle the Kishu Binchotan alongside other Uchino lines and assess the texture and weight differences in person โ particularly useful for a product where the tactile quality is central to the purchase decision. Our consultants are available at 596 14 9977, and free delivery across Tbilisi is included with every purchase.
