Hiba Wood | Roots of Sustainability
“Sustainable production has always been at the core of traditional Japanese woodworkers, who over the centuries have developed a breadth of knowledge through intimate dialogue with wood. ”
A description of the genus Pinus / www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Highly Valued Japanese Cypress
Beautifully strong and soaring green trees stretch across the northernmost tip of Japan’s main island, Honshu. The mountainous region of Shimokitazawa Peninsula and Tsugaru Peninsula is home to the Hiba, a slow-growing, long lived cypress tree which is native to Aomori prefecture. Considered to be one of the three most beautiful trees of Japan (alongside Nagano’s Hinoki and Akita’s Sugi), Aomori Hiba is revered for its durability and natural antibacterial properties. Tall and strong, these precious trees take up to 300 years to grow, patiently enduring the severe winter cold of Japan’s northern region to mature into a straight, fine-grained wood that is naturally aromatic. For centuries, Hiba wood has been highly valued as a building material in the construction of important cultural heritages, including Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
Sustainable production has always been at the core of traditional Japanese woodworkers, who over the centuries have developed a breadth of knowledge through intimate dialogue with wood. As rich materials like the Hiba and Hinoki become increasingly scarce in today’s times, cuttings and scraps otherwise left unused are being repurposed in creative and sustainable ways, as a range of organic products are developed using Hiba wood in all its rich forms.
Beneficial Ingredients of Hiba Wood
The essential oil is extracted from wood waste of 250 year old Hiba trees, of which the seeds were sown in the Edo period. Through water vapor distillation, numerous ingredients are extracted from Hiba wood - among them are Hinokitiol and β-Dolabrin, two ingredients which make Hiba one of the few rare trees with the strongest insect repelling properties. It contains Hiba’s unique fragrance, a sweet aroma evoking the deep sense of calm offered by Aomori’s serene forests. The wood chips collected from the lumber process are transformed as a natural deodorant, which expertly employ Hiba’s antimicrobial and germicidal properties. A pouch of Hiba wood shavings placed inside your wardrobe, room or shoes can ward off pests and unwanted odours, leaving it refreshed and clean.
As urban dwellers, our bustling lives have made us increasingly disconnected with the natural world. Sustainable projects that reuse and repurpose Hiba wood shed light on pressing issues around forestry sustainability and help enrich our everyday lives with the native knowledge passed down from trees. Living with Hiba wood brings us closer to nature, offering a pathway into the calming depths of the forests and the healing power of nature.
