Promark Japanese white oak drum sticks are balanced and carefully crafted using hand-selected white oak. Grown in the mountainous regions of Japan, this particular species of oak is a harder wood than hickory and will take more wear, tear, and punishment. It resists chipping and wearing soft. Made with Promark's exclusive Millennium II manufacturing process, each stick is hand-finished and hand-inspected. The result is a strength and durability no other stick can match.