Japenese Cedar Wood 杉材
Japan is abundant with a variety of ancient cedar species. Cryptomeria japonica, commonly called Japanese cedar or Sugi, is a slender, pyramidal, evergreen conifer with tiered horizontal branching.One of the largest and most widely available evergreen trees of its kind is the Sugi, which can grow up to 50 meters (164 feet) tall with a circumference of 5 meters (16 feet). Japan’s dominant softwood species is sugi, which is grown for many construction purposes and accounts for 75% of the country’s wood consumption.
Cedar has a distinct reddish-brown colour found in its central core. It is common to find knots within the core of wood that displays the natural process of growth. There is a distinct and recognizable scent associated with cedar.The drying process is fast, and it is generally easy to work with hand or machine tools, making it an ideal natural construction material in Japan. The bark is used for roofing. The leaves are very aromatic and are used as incense sticks.
The wood is soft, easy to work with and not difficult to obtain a straight log. It is widely used for construction such as ships, bridges, lamp posts, siding, panelling, fences, furniture, barrels, and small specialty items.
The grandest and most recognized is Yakushima’s ancient Jmon Sugi. It is estimated to be between 2,000 and 7,200 years old and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.