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…
Choosing a Shou Sugi Ban Surface for Your Project
A popular question we receive is “what are the different species of wood you use for each of your products?” While it’s a good question, especially since our different shou sugi ban…
Building Materials Comparison: Shou Sugi Ban vs. Other Cladding Options
How Charred Wood Siding Stacks Up Against the Most Popular Construction Materials in the World When designing a home, consideration of building materials is one of the most important tasks of the…
Shou Sugi Ban 101 – Nakamoto Forestry
Confused about shou sugi ban, or charred wood siding in general? Don’t fret, we know it can be confusing and we’re here to help! Interested customers ask us a variety of questions…
Forest Bathing: A Growing Japanese Trend
Have your friends ever asked you to go “forest bathing?” Unless your friend is Japanese, the answer is likely no. We all know the refreshing feeling from time spent outdoors surrounded by…
Which Yakisugi is a Match for Your Project?
Simple Guidance on Choosing the Right Nakamoto Forestry Product for You Choosing a yakisugi (or “shou sugi ban”) product can be daunting or easy. Use this brief guide to cover the standard…
“Shou Sugi Ban” vs. “Yakisugi”: Why We’re Adopting Both Terms for Burned Wood Siding
We haven’t exactly been quiet the past few years about our thoughts on how the term “shou sugi ban” is used to describe burned wood siding. As a proud Japanese brand with…
3 Commercial Shou Sugi Ban Projects to Inspire Your Next Award-Winning Build
Whether your next shou sugi ban project is building a cabin-resort in the woods of Washington state or a bird sanctuary in Pennsylvania, siding is one of the most important elements in…
Mascots in Japan and Nakamoto Forestry’s “Shokunin Taro”
What are Mascots? In the United States we typically think of the character that represents our favorite sports team. They’re usually running around on a field or court and entertaining the crowd…
Charred Wood Siding Color Change
A lot of Westerners considering traditional yakisugi, shou sugi ban or any kind of charred wood siding start with the assumption that because it is burned, it will be black and stay…
The Health Benefits of Interior Wood Paneling
An Explosion in Home Renovations With most of the globe having spent the better part of the past 18 months social distancing, staying indoors and quarantining, it’s no wonder that home renovation…
Japanese Culture: The Actual Meaning of Wabi-Sabi
Every Japanese person intuitively knows about the concept of wabi-sabi. Still, when asked to explain or define it, we cannot put it into a clear and concise definition. Often, when we try…
Slender House by Waechter Architecture and Nakamoto Forestry Featured in Dwell
The local Portland project features Nakamoto Forestry Gendai in Black shou sugi ban siding One of our favorite local Portland projects has been getting some attention recently for its creative modern design…
Shou Sugi Ban Wood: 5 Things Every Architect Should Know Before Specifying
Today’s architects face many challenges. Working with contractors and homeowners, researching new products like shou sugi ban wood, spending countless hours from conceptual drafts to detail diagrams, and of course managing their…
Suzuki+Kidd Architects Suyaki Charred Wood Siding Project Nominated for Office Design Award
Yamato Transport Charred Wood Project Named Finalist in SBID Awards Nakamoto Forestry North America is honored to have our Suyaki shou sugi ban featured in Yamato Transport USA’s recent remodel project. The…