Shou Sugi Ban (Yakisugi)

The traditional Japanese wood preservation technique Yakisugi, known here in the West as Shou Sugi Ban, has seen a rise in popularity across this side of the globe over the past couple decades or so.  Dating back before the 1700s, a time when there were no chemical techniques to preserve wood, Shou Sugi Ban is the process of burning the outside of wooden planks and boards until they get a deep char. The “sugi” in both Shou Sugi Ban and Yaki(SUGI) refers to the type of cypress used in the practice: the cryptomeria japonica, otherwise known as sugi. Traditionally, the boards are bound together with their faces forming a triangle and then a fire is lit between the three sides facing each other. Although the fire needs to reach more than 480 F, it often reaches temperatures greater than 750 F. After the wood is good and burnt, the fire is extinguished using water.

Treated this way, the wood becomes flame resistant, water resistant, and repels a wide range of wood-feasting vermin, such as termites and snails. While certainly eye catching and beautiful, the practice is, above all else, highly practical. It creates a sustainable, weather-resistant, long-lasting material. To this day, original buildings constructed using this method are still standing and in good condition. 

In Japan, buildings built using wood treated via Shou Sugi Ban are seen as rural, since the practice became less commonplace in the 1950s, when cheaper alternatives became widely available. While once widely used, the practice is now mostly relegated to the more rural areas of Japan and in their farm houses and food storage structures. Here in the West, it is being integrated into more contemporary styles of architecture, especially Swedish styles. But part of that ruralness and antiquity still reverberates. In the west, it feels contemporary yet classic, current yet timeless. Yakisugi boards could find their place in both the rural Montana backcountry and the urban neighborhoods of Denver, CO. 

 There is a beautiful simplicity to the treated wood, both in its look and in its preparation, but it is a simplicity that stands out and presents a certain boldness. This simplicity also speaks to an underlying philosophy that Shou Sugi Ban gives rise to: a return to and respect for the natural world. Being a part of the natural world (and caring for it) does not have to be complicated or come at the sacrifice of form. Rather, it gives rise to beautiful form and can be far simpler than many alternatives that instead decay Mother Earth.    

Embracing the Shou Sugi Ban technique is also about embracing an outlook and view on aging. Many are hesitant to use this sort of treated wood because of the impermanence in its look. As time goes on, though the wood remains hardy, strong, and reliable, the color will change and fade, lightening from black to brown tones. But there is a beauty to aging that is highlighted by the practice. The change over time is a feature, not a bug. In a T Magazine (New York Times Style) article on the practice of Shou Sugi Ban, designer Anthony Esteves, who frequently uses the treated wood, is quoted saying, “Over time, my house will weather in this soft way.” Weathering softly. Perhaps this is an outlook that can extend outside of its application to design and construction. If done with care, aging can be an art of growing more beautiful. 

 The central features of Yakisugi paint a portrait for a philosophy and way of life. Finding grace and strength in what might otherwise be seen as an act of destruction. It’s about finding a place across time and space. About connecting to our traditions and bringing them forward to the present. It’s about rooting ourselves in nature, so that as we seek to better our relationship with her, she benefits us. It’s about embracing the change that comes with time and aging. If one is careful and deliberate, age can be a process of refining, not degrading. Consider using Shou Sugi Ban to build your businesses, homes, and, perhaps, even your lives, 

What to know more? Check out our sources for this piece:

“The Latest Design Trend: Black and Burned Wood” – Amanda Fortini, T Magazine. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/t-magazine/shou-sugi-ban.html

“The Complete Guide to Yakisugi (Shou Sugi Ban)” –  Joshua “Gensetsu” Smith, Shinzen Style

https://www.shizenstyle.com/post/the-complete-guide-to-yakisugi-shou-sugi-ban-1

“Yakisugi (Shou Sugi Ban)” – Japan Woodcraft Association

https://japanwoodcraftassociation.com/traditions/techniques/yakisugi-shou-sugi-ban/