For more than thirty years, the Builder’s Choice Design Awards has celebrated innovation in residential design. A jury of residential architects and designers awards hand-picked projects based on criteria including design excellence,…
Greenwashing in the Building Materials Industry
What is Greenwashing? Greenwashing is the act of conveying false or misleading information in an attempt to capitalize on the growing demand for environmentally friendly products. Although greenwashing may not always be…
Japan’s History of Sustainable Forestry Practices
Japan’s history of forestry is a story of transformation, from an era of scarcity and deforestation to a modern focus on sustainable forestry practices. For centuries, Japan’s forests have been a vital…
Siding and the Wildland Urban Interface
The United States has seen a shocking increase in wildfire in recent years. Along with the increase in wildfires is an increase in new homes within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The…
Japanese Flame Treated Wood: Understanding the Art of Shou Sugi Ban
The art of Japanese flame treated wood, known as yakisugi in Japan and shou sugi ban elsewhere, is a centuries-old craft that is returning to popularity today. This method of preserving wood…
Setsubun Holiday and the Japanese Tradition of Throwing Beans
Japanese culture includes a multitude of fun and unique traditional events, and Setsubun is no different. It is always the day before the first day of spring in the old Japanese calendar.…
Timber as a Renewable Resource
When managed properly, timber is a valuable renewable resource. By definition, “renewable” means that there is no depletion of the resource. Unlike solar energy and wind, timber is a resource that we…
Discussing Design Inspiration, Taking Risks and Imperfection in Rural Wisconsin
In September 2022, our team journeyed to rural Wisconsin to uncover a hidden gem of modern architecture. The Svart Hus, meaning “dark house” in Swedish, stands at just over 2,600 square feet.…
Cladding and Resistance to Common Pests
Anyone interested in purchasing wood siding for their home would be wise to wonder if they should be concerned about pests. Here at Nakamoto Forestry, we receive far more questions about the…
Seijin no Hi: Coming of Age for Japan’s Youth
In Japan, the second Monday in January is Seijin no Hi or Coming-of-Age Day. This year, Seijin no Hi falls on January 9th. It’s a national holiday and day of celebration for…
Flame Treated Wood
The use of flame treated wood by humans stretches nearly as far back in history as the use of wood itself. People first began modifying wood with fire around 400,000 years ago,…
World Cup Clean Up: Japanese Cleaning Goes Viral
The World Cup in Qatar is making the whole world go wild, and Japan’s national team has been doing well, beating Germany with a surprise comeback in their first game. I personally…
Sustainability of Shou Sugi Ban Siding at Nakamoto Forestry
Shou sugi ban and sustainability go hand-in-hand when done right. It sounds paradoxical to state that our wood shipped from Japan has a lower lifetime carbon footprint than locally harvested wood from…
How Long Does Shou Sugi Ban Last?
Customers often ask us how long shou sugi ban will last. Eighty years is commonly seen on the internet but I am not sure where that specific number came from. I’ve traveled throughout…
A Tour of Stephen Proctor’s Rivendell Home
Form, function and the house of your dreams. On a warm summer evening, we visited Stephen Proctor at his Rivendell project in the hills above the Columbia River. Stephen is a visual…
Real vs. Fake Shou Sugi Ban
Is what you’re looking at real shou sugi ban, with all the durability and beauty of the tradition? Or is it fake shou sugi ban made to look the same in order…
The Original Shou Sugi Ban: 13 Unique Characteristics of Suyaki™
The original Japanese shou sugi ban is what we call Suyaki™. The deeply burned and unbrushed exterior siding perfectly epitomizes the wabi-sabi aesthetic. Suyaki™ is the most easily recognizable and widely known…
Passive House Case Study: Issaquah
The Passive House building standard is the most rigorous in terms of energy efficient design. It leads the industry in both Europe and North America. We recently had the opportunity to check…
Sugi Cypress: Different Uses for this Wonder Wood
Japanese cypress, known in Japan as sugi, is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Sugi cypress is endemic to the country. You can find sugi in its different forms all over Japan. Its…
6 Real-Life Tips to Hiring the Right Wood Siding Contractor
Contractors are by and far good people that dedicate their lives to making people’s dreams come true. They generally come from a trades background and it’s second nature to them that project…
Shiisaa of Okinawa
Hello friends, in what may be a departure from our normal posts about yakisugi, I would like to instead focus on a cultural peculiarity that I found intriguing during my time spent…
Shiplap or Square Edge?
Choosing a Profile for Shou Sugi Ban Siding 1. Choosing a Shou Sugi Ban Surface for your Project 2. How to Select an Oil Prefinish for Shou Sugi Ban Siding 3. Choosing…
Choosing a Wood Grade for Shou Sugi Ban
Catch up on our product selection walkthrough series here! Part 1: Choosing a Shou Sugi Ban Surface for your Project Part 2: How to Select an Oil Prefinish for Shou Sugi Ban…
How to Select an Oil Prefinish for Shou Sugi Ban Siding
Read: Part 1: How to Select a Shou Sugi Ban Surface for Your Project Last week we covered the first step in selecting shou sugi ban siding for your project–choosing a surface…