There are many different types of wood (species) used for furniture in Japan, with the choice of hardness, softness or tenacity depending on the purpose for which the wood is used.
Trees can be roughly divided into two types: “Coniferous trees” (softwoods) and “Broadleaf trees” (hardwoods).
Coniferous tree trunks grow straight whereas broadleaf tree trunks are thick, curved and branched. They are not absolutely hard because they are broadleaf trees.
Not only do they differ in appearance, but also in their cellular and tissue formation.
Kiri (Paulownia)
Family name: Paulownia (Kiri) family (Kiriaceae)
Deciduous: Broadleaf tree
Distribution: Hokkaido (southern part), Honshu, Kyushu, China
Characteristics:
Kiri (Paulownia) is the lightest wood in Japan and the second lightest wood in the world.
The lightest wood in the world is 'balsa wood', but considering its durability as wooden furniture, it may be said to be the lightest wood in the world.
It is said to shrink less (and expand less) due to drying.
This means that the timber is less prone to violence and distortion.
Even in Japanese furniture today, many drawers are made of Kiri wood.
The grain of the wood is beautiful and lustrous, and it is used to make tansu (Japanese chests of drawers) and other Japanese furniture, “koto” (Japanese harps), “geta” (Japanese wooden clogs), “gigaku-men” (masks for Japanese performing arts) and hakoita (Japanese wooden shuttlecockboards).
Products:
High-grade Kuruma Tansu made of thick Kiri (paulownia) wood (1980s)
Keyaki (Zelkova)
Family name: Elm family (Zelkovaceae)
Deciduous: Broadleaf tree
Distribution: Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu
Characteristics:
A tree that is representative of Broadleaf trees.
The timber combines practicality and good bark appearance, and is a good timber with excellent durability and moisture resistance.
The hardness of the timber varies from piece to piece, with coarser, heavier timber being very hard.
There are individual differences in hardness, ease of processing, and the way the timber is violent.
Keyaki (Zelkova) is also sometimes used for vintage Japanese furniture, such as the Mizuya tansu (chest of drawers).
Products:
Antique cabinet of zelkova wood, Meiji era
Hinoki (Cypress)
Family name: Hinoki family (Hinoki genus).
Evergreen coniferous
Distribution: Honshu (Fukushima Prefecture and southwards), Shikoku, Kyushu (up to Yaku Island).
Characteristics:
Good timber representative of coniferous trees.
Has a strong, characteristic aroma.
Coniferous trees are basically considered to be resistant to water and moisture, but cypress is considered to be one of the best.
The scent of cypress is also popular as an aroma.
It has long been regarded as a good timber and has been used for a wide range of purposes, from buildings such as Horyu-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple and Ise Jingu Shrine to everyday objects such as Buddhist statues and fittings.
It has an elegant colour, excellent durability, is resistant to water and has little tendency to go haywire.
It is an excellent material that is easy to process, has a beautiful finish, high lustre and high strength. Easy to cut, shave and plane.
Products:
Low Table with Double-sided Drawer (1920-30s)
Sugi (Japanese cedar)
Family name: cypress family (cedar family, cedar genus).
Evergreen coniferous
Distribution: Hokkaido (southern part), Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu (up to Yaku Island).
Characteristics:
A typical coniferous timber.
Differences in climate, soil and forestry methods result in differences in grain and colour depending on the region.
Harder than Kiri (Paulownia), but softer than other types of wood.
Cedar is often used for the shelves and sideboards of Mizuya tansu (chest of drawers).
Single-ply sugi tables and other pieces of Japanese furniture are popular.
Products:
A cupboard with an austere wood flavor with a withered patina, Meiji era
Nara (Oak)
Family name: Fagaceae (Quercus spp.).
Deciduous: Broadleaf tree
Distribution: Hokkaido - Kyushu
Characteristics.
Most of the timber called Nara (oak) refers to the Mizu-nara (water oak).
In Japan,Mizu-nara oak, which can be collected especially in Hokkaido, is regarded as a high-grade timber.
It has a beautifully subdued grain and good colouring.
It is moderately hard and strong,iis highly durable and is therefore often used for flooring and whisky barrels.
Products:
vintage lowboard with nara wood frame (1920-30s)
Tamo (Ash)
Family name: Moraceae (ash family).
Deciduous: Broadleaf tree
Characteristics:
Hard, tenacious and impact-resistant, known as a material for baseball bats.
Tamo wood is said to be suitable as bat material because of its tenacity and resistance to breakage.
In recent years, the number of trees suitable for baseball bats has been decreasing.
The type of Tamo used for furniture in Japan is called Yachidamo.
Yachidamo is the preferred timber for Japanese furniture.
As timber, it is neither too heavy nor too light and has a normal degree of difficulty in processing.
It has a very wood-like colour and the grain is clearly visible and beautiful.
Another type of tamo wood is called white ash. White ash is a wood from North America.
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