Shiraki faith / relationship between Japanese and trees　

In Japan, since ancient times, the gods have dwelt in the mountains and trees have been considered to be possessed by the gods. When a tree is cut down, people offer grains and pray to receive the life of the tree given by the god. Forests are nurtured by the abundant precipitation brought by the oceans surrounding the Japanese archipelago, and as the people of the forests, they have developed a close relationship with trees.

We Japanese people refer to untreated wood as "Shiraki" . Through daily interaction with shiraki items, we have developed a habitual experience and evaluation of their quality, even leading to a religious reverence for such items. We find beauty in the aging process of shiraki, expressing it with the word "sabi" (patina).

日本では古来、神は山に宿り、樹木が憑代と考えられた。木を伐採するには、神が与えた木の命をいただくために五穀を供え祈願した。日本列島を取り囲む海がもたらす豊富な降水量によって育まれた森は、森の民として木々と密接な関係を築かせた。

私たち日本人は、何も塗装されていない木材を’白木’と呼ぶ。白木に日常的に触れることで白木のものはいいと日常的に経験・評価してきており、それが白木のものを崇める、宗教的な感覚にさえ繋がっている。そして白木が古びていく姿に美を見出し、それを’寂び’という言葉で表現した。

Researching, No sanding, No painting

Promoting Global Health with Wood Volatile Compounds

NAKED WOOD™

As people suffering from physical ailments caused by the stresses of modern society seek healing in nature, the benefits of forest bathing are becoming increasingly well known. In 2022, in a joint research with Kyushu University, we found that people are affected by odorless volatile substances of wood (the effect is lost when the scent is felt). Wood finished in the traditional Japanese way (air dried planed finish without painting) retains many substances* produced by trees. In modern times, aspirin, an analgesic, is derived from the salicin in willow bark, while it has been discovered that the volatile substances from the cedar trees in the Shosoin Repository have preserved ancient treasures for many years. We've dubbed such wood 'NAKED WOOD' and are expanding the possibilities of wood through a new approach that leverages the volatile substances from wood, aiming to promote the health of people and forests worldwide.

*Plants, which cannot move, produce various chemical substances for survival. Since its birth, mankind has used these substances to create many medicines.

木材揮発成分で世界を健康にする

ネキドウド

2022年、九州大学との共同研究から、木材（白木、無塗装木材）からの無臭の揮発性物質に人が影響を受けていることを突き止めた（香りを感じると効果はない）。日本古来の方法で仕上げられる木材（天然乾燥カンナ仕上げ無塗装）には、樹木が作り出す物質が多く残っている。現代において、ヤナギの樹皮のサリシンから鎮痛剤アスピリンが作られ、正倉院のスギによる揮発性物質による防腐効果が、古い宝物を長年保存してきたことが解明された。我々はこのような木材を” NAKED WOOD “と名付け、木材からの揮発性物質を活かす新しい木材活用で木材の可能性を広げ世界の人・森林を健康にする。

Reseach

I. Exploring volatile components of wood/trees around the world that have a diverse relationship with humans and their new applications

世界中の木材（樹木）の揮発成分とその新たな活用を探る

II. Establishing Tree Origin Identification Technology through Microbial Analysis to Deter Illegal Logging (Under joint research with NICT)

微生物による樹木の産地同定技術の確立により、違法伐採の抑止を図る（NICT（国立研究開発法人 情報通信研究機構）と共同研究中）

Living with NAKED WOOD™

NAKED WOOD HOUSE

We are utilizing not only coniferous trees but also broad-leaved trees for planing and finishing, without any coating, as an effort to carry on Japan's tradition of SHIRAKI (which refers to untreated timber) culture.

針葉樹だけではなく広葉樹も鉋仕上げ無塗装で使用　日本の白木文化を継承

Takayama Gifu Japan

2017-2022

Heritage Woodcraft

Exploring and Preserving Traditional Wooden Products with Cultural Context

伝統的な木製品を文化的な背景とともに探り保護する

Uto-shakushi　有道しゃくし

Takayama Gifu Japan

unknown（edo periods 1603 ? CE） -