Cladding timber

Yakisugi – original Japanese cladding timber

Trendy and contemporary timber cladding: Yakisugi

What makes Yakisugi cladding so special?

Yakisugi, known in the West as Shou Sugi Ban, is a traditional Japanese cladding material that has been produced in Japan since the 18th century. The charring process creates not only a unique aesthetic but also a range of functional benefits. We offer authentic Yakisugi cladding timber made exclusively from Japanese cedar — the only timber species used for Yakisugi in Japan, chosen for its natural durability and dimensional stability.

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Yakisugi provides timber cladding in top quality

Yakisugi Cladding Timber: Three Distinct Surfaces

The carbonised surface created by the charring process has a character and texture that sets it apart from conventional cladding products. Yakisugi is available in three finishes:

Suyaki: the full carbonised soot layer is preserved, creating a deep black surface with a distinctive cracked texture.
Gendai: brushed once, removing most of the soot layer and revealing the wood grain while retaining dark tones.
Pika-Pika: brushed twice, fully revealing the natural colours and grain of the cedar.

In addition to its appearance, Yakisugi cladding offers practical benefits: the carbonised surface is naturally insect-repellent, water-repellent, and requires no chemical wood preservatives. The result is a low-maintenance product with a long service life.

Thanks to the traditional heat treatment, Yakisugi is resistant to rot and thus achieves exceptional weather resistance without any additional protective coating. It effortlessly defies the most adverse conditions, be it humidity, moisture, extreme heat, or frost.

Yakisugi is characterised by its remarkable durability. Sugi (Japanese cedar) is by nature superior in durability compared to conventional European cladding timber. The heat treatment adds further decades of years to this natural durability: there are numerous buildings in Japan with Yakisugi façades which are over 80 years old and have lost nothing of their beauty and functionality.

The Nakamoto Forestry family business has been producing Yakisugi in Japan for over 60 years. Our forests are PEFC/SGEC-certified (JIA-022 / CEFC 1901); Nakamoto Forestry Europe holds PEFC Chain of Custody certification (TÜV Nord 44 702 200728).

The cedar timber used for our Yakisugi come from our own forest stands and are selected with the utmost care. The burning process, which has been refined over decades, is continuously developed to offer you outstanding quality for your building project.

Our Yakisugi is the Japanese original, made from Japanese cedar and burned exclusively in Japan. The Nakamoto family has been active in wood production for over one hundred years and has been refining the boards from its own production using the traditional method for more than 60 years.

Only original from Japanese cedar:
our Yakisugi

From Our Own Forest to Your Façade

Japanese cedar (Sugi) is the timber species used for Yakisugi for good reason: it is lighter than conventional European cladding timbers, virtually resin-free, and naturally durable. Our Yakisugi is produced exclusively from Japanese cedar by the Nakamoto Forestry family business in Japan, now in its third generation. Our forests cover around 2,000 hectares in Hiroshima Prefecture, certified to PEFC/SGEC standards (JIA-022 / CEFC 1901). Nakamoto Forestry Europe holds PEFC Chain of Custody certification (TÜV Nord 44 702 200728).

According to our Environmental Product Declaration (EcoLeaf, Type III, ISO 14025, no. JR-BC-2001E), the production of our Yakisugi generates 2.1 kg CO₂ equivalent per m². The timber stores approximately 15 kg CO₂ equivalent per square metre for as long as it remains in place.

Order now online your timber cladding solution made from the original Yakisugi method

Your Path to a Unique Timber Façade

Original Japanese cladding timber, produced by a Japanese family business with over 60 years of Yakisugi expertise, held in stock at our European warehouse for short delivery times. Low-maintenance, free from chemical wood preservatives, and built to last for decades.

Our Yakisugi (Shou Sugi Ban) products

Overview of our Yakisugi varieties

SUYAKI

The original yakisugi

Suyaki is the original Yakisugi surface – and the most striking. The charring process leaves a deep midnight-black layer with a distinctive cracked texture that some compare to alligator skin. A bold statement for projects that demand attention.

GENDAI

brushed once

Gendai is brushed once after charring, removing most of the soot layer while preserving the subtle traces of the firing process. The result is a silky, refined finish that works with almost any architectural concept.

PIKA-PIKA

brushed twice

Pika-Pika – a Japanese word for something that catches the light – is brushed twice along the grain, revealing the cedar’s natural colours in full. Warm tones contrast with the remnants of the soot layer that cling to the knots and grooves.