INTRODUCTION

 

I make sushi but haven't had any for a while. Just recently we started eating all kinds of sushi again.

Then it dawned on me I could make my own "Sara" or sushi plate. It's made out of Pine. Shellacked and a couple of coats of wood butter.

 

 

DETAILS

 

“Sara” is a Japanese word for “dish” or “plate.” Many sara are round-shaped, but they also come in a variety of shapes like square, or long and narrow.

On the ends, I made small bevels for your fingertips when lifting. The legs are full length sliding dovetails. Everything is made with hand tools only. 

 

In addition, I made the chopstick stand known as the "hashi-oki" chopstick rest. Sometimes also referred to as a "hashi-makura", or chopstick pillow.
.... and I made the chopsticks as well!

 

 

All in fun. I'm sure I'll be asked to make more. LOL.

Thanks for looking! 
Cheers! 
MrRick

 

 

Very inspiring (for bait-lovers?)!   My version would have a burner to cook those morsels.  

Beautiful work.  Saw a lot of these when I was in based in Japan.

Love sushi!

 

Many years ago, Woodcraft Magazine had an article on making chop sticks and a hashioki.

I made a pair for my brother and one pair for me.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Gunny said:

Beautiful work.  Saw a lot of these when I was in based in Japan.

 

Thanks Gunny! Love their food culture and for sure their woodworking. 

Those are really nice lew! Very elegant looking. What wood did you use?

Edited October 22, 2025Oct 22 by MrRick

1 hour ago, MrRick said:

Those are really nice lew! Very elegant looking. What wood did you use?

Thanks! It's Maple and walnut. The spline is made from an old ebony piano key and some red spacer material used by knife makers in the handles.

Lew... where did you get the old ebony piano keys. Did you have them on an old piano and replaced or did you get them as loose items somewhere? Where do you get ebony piano keys?

1 minute ago, MrRick said:

Lew... where did you get the old ebony piano keys. Did you have them on an old piano and replaced or did you get them as loose items somewhere? Where do you get ebony piano keys?

I have a friend who does some furniture restoration. He got an old piano and was going to fix it up but realized it was more work than he wanted to do. He salvaged the keys and gave me a handful 

On 10/22/2025 at 3:26 PM, PeteM said:

Very inspiring (for bait-lovers?)!   My version would have a burner to cook those morsels.  

+1; nice work just the same Rick.

Thanks Grandpadave52. Didn't know what to make of that comment. But hey... in my house we like sushi. 

12 hours ago, MrRick said:

Thanks Grandpadave52. Didn't know what to make of that comment. But hey... in my house we like sushi. 

I think the comment started from a comment by Quarterback Terry Bradshaw, a Louisiana boy. May have been a commercial " Where I'm from we call that bait"

That bait is pretty good! 😀