Where does your lumber come from?

Nakamoto Forestry North America lumber products come from privately owned forests in Western Japan that have been sustainably managed for generations. Please visit our sustainability page for certifications and EPDs.

Do you have a showroom where we can view your products?

Our Portland location is configured for manufacturing and remote sales and does not include a customer showroom. We provide support to customers through email and telephone communication and typically send samples via USPS Priority Mail. To receive product samples, please visit our samples page and select a sample kit, or add up to 8 individual product samples to your checkout cart. For inquiries regarding Nakamoto Forestry products, our team is available Monday through Friday, from 6am to 4pm Pacific Time.

What is yakisugi “shou sugi ban”?

Yakisugi is a product, not a burning process. The term refers to a specific type of charred wood exterior siding that has been used as a vernacular building material in Western Japan for hundreds of years. In other parts of the world, yakisugi is sometimes called “shou sugi ban” siding. Traditional yakisugi siding starts with logs of Japanese cedar (known as “sugi” in Japan) that are holistically milled into thin planks. The wood then receives intensive flame-treatment to improve resistance to rot, UV, moisture, fire, insects, and dimensional movement versus untreated wood siding. Yakisugi’s maintenance-optional durability provides exceptional long-term cost performance over its extended natural life cycle. Yakisugi also offers a timeless beauty that is readily adaptable to projects. It has a quintessential wabi-sabi design aesthetic that can be finished in different ways to achieve a broad range of appearances. Learn more about authentic yakisugi.

I’m confused. What is the difference between “yakisugi” and “shou sugi ban”?

The short answer is that there is no difference—they refer to the exact same product. But here’s how we got two competing terms for the same kind of charred Japanese cedar siding. In Japan, the term yakisugi is used exclusively to describe this material, though it is sometimes written as yakisugi-ita. The alternate name shou sugi ban originates from a Westerner’s misreading of yakisugi-ita, where they apparently mixed Japanese and Chinese pronunciations of the ideograms. The word “yaki” in Japanese (meaning burnt or charred) is pronounced “shou” in Chinese. “Sugi” refers to the conifer Cryptomeria japonica—a type of cedar that’s indigenous to Japan. “Ban” is the Chinese reading of the ideogram for board or plank, pronounced “ita” in Japanese. While the term shou sugi ban caught on in the West when the material was introduced in the 1990s, the online keyword yakisugi is appearing more frequently in searches, databases, and media. Read more about yakisugi vs shou sugi ban.

Can we use your products specified for exterior applications indoors, or your products specified for interior applications outdoors? What about on an interior ceiling that will never get touched, or on a soffit or loggia that will never be rained on directly?

For a variety of reasons, we specify whether each of our products can be used indoors, outdoors, or both. The key distinction lies in whether the space will be exposed to direct weather conditions, regardless of whether it has conditioned air. Exterior-only products are not suitable for indoor use, and interior-only products are not suitable for outdoor use. For detailed information, please refer to the individual specification sheets for the Nakamoto Forestry products under consideration for your project.

Shop Wood Products | Nakamoto Forestry

Quick View

Gendai® Alkyd Natural

Exterior, Interior

Our Gendai® yakisugi “shou sugi ban” products receive a single brushing to remove some of the delicate soot layer–leaving a smooth, consistent, and dark surface. We then apply two coats of our plant-derived architectural grade alkyd oil prefinish prior to shipment. This combination is suitable for both exterior siding and interior paneling installations. Available burned on both faces (S4S) for fencing or louver applications.

For premium clear grade pricing, please contact Sales

SKUs

Profile	Select Grade	Premium Clear Grade
1 x 6 x 12 Shiplap	GA2322	GD2322
1 x 6 x 12 S3S Square Edge	GB2322	–
1 x 6 x 12 S4S Square Edge	GC2322	–
1 x 8 x 12 Shiplap	GE2322	–
1 x 8 x 12 S3S Square Edge	GF2322	–
1 x 2 x 12 S3S Square Edge	–	GG2322
5/4 x 2-1/2 x 12 S3S Square Edge	–	GH2322
5/4 x 2-1/2 x 12 S4S Square Edge	–	GI2322
5/4 x 5 x 12 S3S Square Edge	–	GJ2322
5/4 x 5 x 12 S4S Square Edge	–	GK2322
5/4 x 8 x 12 S3S Square Edge	GL2322	–

Considerations

Great color longevity for a natural coating.
Designed to gradually fade from dark to medium brown, then to tan and gray over several years.
Cannot be returned to the factory color, however it can be recoated with pigmented stains any time in future.
Use a minimum amount of touch up oil and immediately wipe off residue to prevent glossy spots.
Soot residue, caking, and blemishing (especially along board edges) are all common with this product.
Keep siding slip-sheeted until installation to prevent blocking between boards as well as abrasion blemishes.

Patina scale

Patina Scale: 4

The Patina Scale has been developed by Nakamoto Forestry to approximate how its products will weather over time—from 0 (“less patina/more color longevity”) to 10 (“less color longevity/more patina”). However, every product weathers at a different rate due to local conditions, and the Patina Scale is intended as general guidance only, and is solely for informational purposes. Nakamoto Forestry makes no guarantees, representations, or warranties, express or implied, regarding the appearance or color longevity of its products after installation.

Dimensions

*Dimensional shrinkage after manufacture is possible due to being a solid-sawn wood product.

1 x 6 x 12 Shiplap

1 x 6 x 12 S3S & S4S Square Edge

1 x 8 x 12 Shiplap

1 x 8 x 12 S3S Square Edge

1 x 2 x 12 S3S Square Edge

5/4 x 2-1/2 x 12 S3S & S4S Square Edge

5/4 x 5 x 12 S3S & S4S Square Edge

5/4 x 8 x 12 S3S Square Edge

Finish details

Alkyd Natural

Our semi-solid alkyd oil stains provide a permeable yet protective coating that adds color, while still allowing some of the wood’s natural texture to show through. These durable, water-based stains resist moisture and UV radiation. They offer a great option for those who prefer color consistency over a changing natural patina. Delivered ready to install.

Prefinish Options

2 coats face; Coated on face and back only

Prefinish Color

Natural

Pressure-Treated Fire Retardant

Not Available

Field Cuts

Coat all field cuts and rips with touch up oil

Installation details

For installation instructions

Installation manual available upon request, please contact us for assistance.

Overage

Please add a healthy overage ranging from 15–25%, as shipping additional material can be expensive.

Fastening (Exterior)

Two ring or screw-shank headed face nails or screws per furring strip within 1” of each edge.

Substrate (Exterior)

Rigid furring maximum 16” on-center.

Fastening (Interior)

Tube adhesive and pin nails

Substrate (Interior)

Per design specifications

Installation Layout

Vertical or horizontal, all profiles.

Moisture Content

Air dried then kiln dried to 9-13% MC, but may fluctuate during transport or warehousing. Please acclimate on site for two weeks prior to installation.

Species

Cryptomeria japonica, a monotypic genus in the cedar family native to Japan. The Japanese name is "sugi", as in yakisugi and "shou sugi ban". In English it is colloquially called Japanese cedar.

Certifications

Fire Resistance

ASTM E2707 & CSFM 12-7A-1 WUI
ASTM E-84 Class B

Sustainability

PEFC chain of custody certified PEFC/29-44-03

Resource downloads

Download Rendering Field

Download Product Specs

CSI Guide Specifications

Policies, Terms & Conditions

Exterior, Interior

Gendai® Alkyd Natural