The history of charcoal in Japan goes back several thousand years to the Jomon era.  In the early modern period, Sado (the Way of Tea) took on greater importance, and this led to making of finer variety of charcoal for the tea ceremony. Today, Japan’s charcoal-making techniques are admired worldwide.   Our “Sumi” (Charcoal in Japanese) Art Object, made out of the highest quality of Kishu Binchotan (Holm Oak) are burnt at a small workshop in Wakayama, Japan.
If you look a crosssection of charcoal under mico scope, it has countless micro cavities oriented in many directions that one gram of charcoal has nearly as much surface area of one tennis court. The cavities attach different substances to their walls, then release them later. For example, they absorb moisture from humid air, then release it during dry conditions. This makes charcoal an excellent humidity regulator.  More over, it absorbs unpleasant room odors and harmful substances. It helps dissipate Electric Magnetic Fields from electrical appliances. Charcoal generates negative ions that are said to put people in a better frame of mind.  Binchotan charcoal is an ideal interior object placed anywhere in the house and office to create healthier environment. More over, cooking rice with a piece of charcoal in rice cooker, placing a piece of charcoal in water pitcher to create mineral water are also  recommended.