Shou Sugi Ban

The Traditional Japanese Art of Charred Cedar

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  • Home ホームページ
  • Overview 概要
    • History
    • People
    • Architecture
    • Design
  • News ニュース
  • Techniques 技術
    • Shou Sugi Ban 101
    • DIY Projects
  • Video ビデオ
  • Shop 日本 店

Overview

Shou Sugi Ban 焼杉板 (or Yakisugi) is an ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Traditionally, sugi 杉 (Cryptomeria japonica L.f.), also called Japanese red-cedar, was used. The process involves charring the wood, cooling it, cleaning it, and finishing it with a natural oil.

Today Shou Sugi Ban is an environmentally friendly way to preserve timber and, paradoxically, make it fire-resistant. Chemical preservatives, paints and retardants are therefore unnecessary. In addition to exterior uses, the popular technique is now found in interior rooms, furniture, and artwork.

Learn more…

Design, DIY, News, Showcase

Why Charred Lumber Is the Upgrade Your Next Project Needs

If you’re thinking of building a deck, or even just installing some shelves, but you’re having a hard time choosing a finish for your wood, charred lumber might be right…

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May 24, 2024
Architecture, Design, News, Showcase

Architectural Digest: Top Design Trends of 2020

Experts across the design industry predict what major trends we’ll be seeing in the year ahead As we prepare to enter not only a new year but a fresh decade,…

read more
January 13, 2020
Architecture, Design, News, Showcase

Charred Timber Sauna Emerges on French Lakeside

Located in the countryside of Aveyron, in the south of France, ‘lakeside sauna’ by Atelier AJO takes shape as a small wooden cabin formed by a group of friends using mainly timber from the…

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June 3, 2021
  • Design,  DIY,  News

    Flame Throwing Sugi Style

    From Orchard House in Ohio, here’s how you char wood in today’s world: get yourself a flame thrower. In actuality, it is a lot of fun with fire. It’s like one hot coat of paint that will last the life of the house. The paintbrush, in this case, is a torch.  Lent to us by expert roofer Chris Moore, it is just a flame thrower that hooks up to a propane tank that allowed us to get the job done fast.

    read more

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    Charred Timber Sauna Emerges on French Lakeside

    June 3, 2021

    Shou-Sugi-Ban Is Setting the Siding World on Fire

    December 12, 2013

    Intersecting Shou Sugi Ban Gables create Abstract Quebec Home

    July 5, 2019
  • Design,  News

    Facade Focus: Charred Cedar

    Siding is a pretty dull subject—unless you’re talking about charred cedar cladding, which makes our hearts go pitter-patter. It’s beautiful to look at and practical, too—the ancient Japanese technique seals the wood against rain and rot, and makes it fire resistant. Here, a look at some houses that feature this ancient—and yet so modern—material. From Dwell on modern Shou Sugi Ban applications.

    read more

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    Craftsman Creates Stylish Exteriors with Shou Sugi Ban

    December 20, 2018

    A Visual Meditation on Shou Sugi Ban

    May 2, 2017

    Striking Shou Sugi Ban Tunnel connects Old and New

    May 9, 2020
  • Design,  DIY,  News,  Techniques

    Apartment Therapy Tutorial: Make a Shou Sugi Ban Wall

    Apartment Therapy shares a helpful tutorial on making your own Shou Sugi Ban wall. Note their safety tips! For those of you who would like to try this yourself, please be aware that dust from charred wood is so fine that it can clog pores and is extremely unhealthy if inhaled. Take extra precautionary measures by protecting yourself with goggles, gloves, face masks (or any respiratory protectors) and full-bodied clothing.

    read more

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    Shou ‘Piney’ Ban: Finishing Southern Pine with Fire

    April 2, 2017

    Maine Barn in Shou Sugi Ban Style

    February 12, 2024

    Baptism by Fire: Turning “Old” into Dramatic

    May 2, 2017
  • Design,  DIY,  News,  Techniques,  Video

    HGTV Kitchen Remodel with Shou Sugi Ban chops

    From HGTV Kitchen Cousins, this kitchen remodel incorporates raw edge timber and Shou Sugi Ban planks to create the ‘Rustic Luxe Redux’ style the new owners are looking for. This week the Cousins create a rustic luxe kitchen for fashionista Jeannie Mai of the Style Network and Freddy Harteis, Sportsman Channel’s Hollywood Hunter. This husband and wife want to marry their opposite and unique styles. Jeannie takes Anthony and John to one of her favorite restaurants on the Sunset Strip for inspiration and the guys get back to nature with Freddy on an archery range to get those design juices flowing. John and Anthony mix up some crazy ideas to…

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    Escape to a Tiny Cabin on an Icelandic Lava Field

    July 1, 2021

    Rising from the Hawaiian Volcanic Ashes

    November 8, 2021

    Shou Sugi Ban binds Art and Architecture in Spectral Bridge House

    September 10, 2020
  • Design,  News

    Get off the Fence about Shou Sugi Ban

    Cool reclaimed wood product designers, Arrowhead, based in Durham, North Carolina, revisited a standard pine fence by giving it the shou sugi ban treatment.  In additional to being aesthetically pleasing, this technique renders the wood virtually maintenance free – fire, rot, and bug resistant – via a layer of carbon created by burning. By employing this technique, we were able to locally create a durable, beautiful product without any industrial materials or processes.

    read more

    You May Also Like

    Apartment Therapy Tutorial: Make a Shou Sugi Ban Wall

    August 1, 2014

    Craftsman Creates Stylish Exteriors with Shou Sugi Ban

    December 20, 2018

    Architectural Digest: Top Design Trends of 2020

    January 13, 2020
 Older Posts
Newer Posts 

The Traditional Japanese Art of Charred Cedar

Shou Sugi Ban 焼杉板 (or Yakisugi) is an ancient Japanese exterior siding technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Traditionally, sugi 杉 (Cryptomeria japonica L.f.), also called Japanese red-cedar, was used. The process involves charring the wood, cooling it, cleaning it, and finishing it with a natural oil.

Today Shou Sugi Ban is an environmentally friendly way to preserve timber through charring which, paradoxically, makes it fire-resistant. Chemical preservatives, paints and retardants are therefore unnecessary. In addition to exterior uses, the popular technique is now found in interior rooms, furniture, and artwork.
Learn more…

Recent Posts

  • Dragon Mansion Clad in Striking Shou Sugi Ban Exterior
    June 9, 2025
  • Serpentine Pavilion in Freeform Shou Sugi Ban style
    May 16, 2025
  • In England, Couple Builds a Serene Shou Sugi Ban Retreat
    April 12, 2025
  • Farmhouse Fixer find Shou Sugi Ban Barn Doors a Delight
    March 8, 2025
  • Waterfront Mid-Century Home in Seattle gets Shou Sugi Ban Treatment
    February 12, 2025

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Further Reading

  • Suminagashi books
  • Shou Sugi Ban books
  • Sake books
  • Wabi-sabi books
  • Sumi-e books
  • Shodo books
  • Bonsai books
  • Origami books
  • Ukiyo-e books
  • Ikebana books
  • Feng Shui books
  • Japanese Cookbooks
  • Travel to Japan
  • Learn Japanese
  • Learn More

    • Nihon : The Culture of Japan
    • Suminagashi :  Japanese Marbling
    • Shou-sugi-ban : Charred Panels
    • Sake : Rice Wine
    • Wabi-sabi : The Art of Imperfection
    • Sumi-e : Ink Brush Painting
    • Shodo : Calligraphy
    • Bonsai : Gardening
    • Origami : Paper Folding
    • Ukiyo-e : Woodblock Printing
    • Ikebana : Flower Arranging Artistry

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