About trees

MAPLE

Classification	Maple family/Deciduous broadleaf tree Diffuse-porous wood
Origin	Canada and Eastern North America

It has a pale reddish brown color and a silky luster, and sometimes shows bird's eye grain*1 or sugar marks*2.
Although it is heavy and hard and somewhat difficult to process, it is well known as a material for bowling lanes and pins because it is resistant to impact and does not break easily.
This tree is well known for being featured on the Canadian flag and as the source of maple syrup.
As it ages, the color will turn yellowish the more you use it.

*1: Small circular spots that resemble the eyes of a bird.
*2: Sugar from the sap appears in the form of knots or dots, and is unique to maple wood. It appears regardless of the grain.

OAK

Classification	Fagaceae Quercus genus/Deciduous broadleaf tree
Origin	North America

The sapwood is white or light brown and narrow, and the heartwood is light brown to dark brown.
It is strong and durable, so it is also famous for being used for whiskey barrels.
It has beautiful, straight grain and is also characterized by the appearance of tiger stripes*1 and knots.
As it ages, the color will deepen and darken the more you use it.

*1: A striped grain pattern that appears when the trunk absorbs minerals from the soil. This pattern is mainly seen on oak wood. It is called tiger stripe because it looks like tiger fur.

Nara

Classification	Fagaceae Quercus genus/Deciduous broadleaf tree
Origin	Hokkaido

The sapwood is white or light brown and narrow, and the heartwood is light brown to dark brown.
Like oak, it is strong and durable, and is also famous for being used for whiskey barrels.
It has beautiful, straight grain and is also characterized by the appearance of tiger stripes*1 and knots.
The more you use it, the deeper the color will become and the darker it will become. Oak wood from Hokkaido has many delicate and fine grains.

*1: Striped grain or markings that form when the trunk absorbs minerals from the soil. They are called tiger stripes because they look like tiger fur.

Walnut

Classification	Juglandaceae/Deciduous broadleaf tree
Origin	Southeastern North America

The sapwood is milky white to grayish purple, and the heartwood is light brown to dark brown with a purple tinge.
It is characterized by irregular stripes of light and dark, shrinkage grain*1, bark inclusions*2, knots and sapwood*3.
It is counted as one of the three most precious woods in the world, and its material is heavy and hard, resistant to impacts, and easy to process.
The surface finish is especially beautiful.
In addition to furniture, it is also prized for use in musical instruments and gun stocks.
It features a calm color scheme and heavy wood grain, giving it a unique texture and warmth.
The more you use it, the more orange it becomes and the gentler it looks.

*1: The wood grain has shrunk to a wavy pattern.
*2: When a tree is injured during its growth, cellular activity stops in that area, causing the bark to grow in a curled-up state, resulting in knots and discoloration.
*3: The appearance of different shades of color within the same piece of material. This is a natural contrast that only natural wood can provide.

CHERRY

Classification	Rosaceae, Prunus genus/Broadleaf tree, diffuse-porous wood
Origin	Northeast and Mid-Atlantic coast of North America

Light reddish brown to dark reddish brown.
The fine grain of the wood, its warm feel, and above all its beautiful color are its charms.
The more you polish it, the more glossy it becomes and the more beautiful the shine becomes.
It is characterized by the appearance of black spots, knot-like patterns (gum pockets*1), and sapwood*2 on the surface of the wood.
Over time it will turn amber and become more valuable.

*1: Sap accumulates and turns dark in color. Also called resin scars.
*2: The appearance of different shades of color within the same piece of material. This is a natural contrast that only natural wood can provide.

Wenge

Classification	Leguminosae/Broadleaf
Origin	Zaire, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo

The heartwood is a dark purple-brown color with fine, ripple-like light-colored stripes, giving it a unique beauty.
The sapwood is white and has straight grain and a slightly coarse texture.
It has high decorative value and is difficult to process because of its heavy, hard, and strong material, but the finished product is extremely beautiful.

TEAK

Classification	Verbenaceae/Deciduous broadleaf tree
Origin	Myanmar

The sapwood is yellowish white, the heartwood is golden brown, and it has a glossy, fragrant finish. The surface of the wood has a waxy feel.
It is difficult to process because it is heavy and hard, and contains unique oils, but it is durable, water-resistant, antibacterial, and insect-resistant, making it one of the world's finest materials.
Currently, logging is prohibited in many areas for nature conservation reasons, and importing is very difficult.
It has long been used as a luxury material, including for the interior of the Orient Express, a luxury train, the Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the most iconic luxury cruise ships of the 20th century, and the decks of the Titanic.
Even today, it is used as a luxury interior material for yachts and cruisers.
The more you use it, the deeper the color will become. Also, the darker parts of the wood grain will become lighter and the lighter parts will become darker, giving it a gentle impression.

PADOUK

Classification	Legumes/Broadleaf wood Ring-porous diffuse-porous wood
Origin	Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire

The wood is a vibrant orange-red color, as if dyed, and will darken to a reddish purple color over time.
Although it is somewhat heavy and hard, it is easy to process, and when polished it becomes shiny and has a beautiful finish.
Although it may seem like an unfamiliar wood, it is often used in musical instruments such as xylophones and guitars.
A tree species of the same genus is the quince, found in Southeast Asia, but its red color is not as strong as that of the paduk.

ALDER

Classification	Birch family/Broadleaf tree
Origin	US West Coast

The wood grain is beautiful and is a pale reddish brown color.
When felled, the wood is almost white, but soon turns a light reddish brown or yellowish brown upon exposure to air.
The darker grain of the board is similar to cherry wood, but does not darken over time as cherry wood does.
It is a relatively soft wood among hardwoods, so it has a soft, warm feel and a very gentle texture.

PINE

Classification	Pinaceae/Coniferous
Origin	British Columbia and California, Canada, Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountains

The wood surface is yellowish-white to light yellowish-brown, and there is little difference in color between the sapwood and heartwood.
When you look at the grain surface, you can see that it has clear dimple grain*1 and many knots.
Generally, it is relatively light and soft and easy to process, but on the other hand, it is weak against impacts.
As it ages, it turns amber in color.

*1: A small pattern resembling a smile.

BEECH

Classification	Fagaceae/Broadleaf
Origin	Germany, UK, Eastern North America

It features a bright and soft color with a slight pink tint. It creates a warm and gentle atmosphere in your space. On the other hand, it is a heavy and hard material that is also tough, so it is resistant to impacts and is suitable for bentwood processing.
Taking advantage of the material's toughness, it is also widely used for the legs of chairs and other items.