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A New Interpretation of Japan’s Fine Wood Culture

Japan: The Ancient Habitat of Fine Woods

Various climatic conditions have emerged from Japan’s long north-south stretch and its dramatic variations in elevation. Clean water and rich soil further nurture this environment. Additionally, Japan’s primeval forests have been protected and integrated into daily life through a deep-rooted reverence for nature and forest worship. For thousands of years, Japan has provided the ideal environment for a diverse range of precious trees to grow and thrive.

南北に長く高低差が激しい日本の地形によりうまれた、さまざまな気候帯。きれいな水と豊かな土壌。さらに森林信仰によって人々に守られ、生活に根付いてきた日本の原生林。日本には、数千年の昔から多種多様な銘木が生まれ育つ最適な環境がありました。

Japan, a Nation that Preserves and Passes Down the Legacy of Precious Wood.

For over 1,300 years, the Japanese have maintained a culture of passing down high-quality wood through generations, as seen in the world’s oldest wooden structure, Horyu-ji Temple. Japan, renowned as a nation of fine wood, has built a legacy of material and craftsmanship skills passed down from logging to processing. The fine wood culture established by our ancestors through castles, temples, tools, and furniture has endured through countless generations and continues to thrive today.

また、1300年以上の歴史を持つ世界最古の木造建築物である法隆寺のように、日本の人々は良質な木を次世代にかけて使い続ける文化も形成してきました。
世界の中から見ても銘木大国である日本。伐採から加工に至るまでの素材と手仕事の技術伝承。城郭、寺社、道具、家具などを通じて先人たちが築き上げてきた銘木文化は、いくつもの時代を経て今も脈々と引き継がれています。

The DNA of ITAKURA2.0

We have deeply reflected on the fine woods that have shaped Japan’s history. ITAKURA2.0 continues to propose new interpretations of this rich culture, with the aim of passing down Japan’s fine wood heritage to the future.

私たちは、日本の歴史を形成してきた銘木について熟考してきました。ITAKURA2.0は、そのような日本の銘木文化を未来に伝えていくべく、新しい解釈で提案をし続けます。

Why Gifu?

Meiboku (Fine Wood)

Meiboku refers to timber that is highly valued for its shape, color, grain, and material quality. (Source: Shogakukan Digital Daijisen) It is a term used to describe wood that is beautiful in its shape and grain, and regarded as a one-of-a-kind piece with inherent value. Historically, such wood was used in temples, castles, tea utensils, and crafts, cherished as a special material that stimulated aesthetic senses and provided joy or comfort when people admired or touched it.

形状・色沢・木理・材質などに趣があるために珍重される木材。（出典　小学館　デジタル大辞泉）銘木とは、その形状や木目が美しく、一点モノとしての価値が評価される木材を総称して言います。古くはお寺やお城、茶道具や工芸品などに使われ、人々が眺めたり触れたりして喜んだり癒されたりするような、美的感覚を刺激する特殊な木材として大切に扱われてきました。

The Sacred Land of Fine Wood: Gifu

Gifu Prefecture is home to the “Gifu-ken Meiboku Kyoudou Kumiai (Gifu Prefecture Meiboku Cooperative),” the largest fine wood market in Japan, and fine wood is one of the region’s key industries. Every month, high-quality fine wood logs and live edge boards from all over Japan and the world gather in Gifu, attracting buyers from across the country. The rarity and quality of the materials are highly regarded, drawing buyers not only from Japan but also from overseas

岐阜県には、「岐阜県銘木協同組合」という日本一の銘木市場があり、銘木は岐阜県を代表する産業の一つです。毎月日本全国、全世界から優良な銘木の丸太や一枚板などの製品が岐阜県に集まり、全国からバイヤーが買付けに集まります。その稀少性や素材の良さは高く評価され、日本だけでなく、海外からも多くのバイヤーが訪れています。

As People Who Love Gifu

ITAKURA2.0 is operated by the Yamagataya Sangyo Group, a lumber company founded in 1918 in Gifu Prefecture. The group’s roots trace back to Gifu’s forestry workers, and for over 100 years, it has walked alongside Gifu’s forests and timber. As a group, we currently hold roles such as Chairman of the Gifu-ken Meiboku Kyoudou Kumiai (Gifu Prefecture Meiboku Cooperative), Japan’s largest market, and the chairman of the Zenkoku Meiboku Rengou Kai (National Meiboku Association), a nationwide fine wood organization, continually working towards the industry’s development. As a company born and raised in Gifu, we hope to grow alongside the industry that Gifu proudly offers to the world.

ITAKURA2.0を運営するのは、1918年に岐阜県で創業した材木屋ヤマガタヤ産業のグループです。そのルーツは岐阜県の山師からスタートし、創業から今に至るまで100年以上の間、岐阜の森と木材とともに歩んできました。グループとして現在は、日本一の市場である岐阜県銘木協同組合の理事長、全国銘木連合会という銘木全国組織の会長という役割も担いながら、業界の発展を考え続けています。岐阜に生まれ育った人として、岐阜に生まれ育った会社として、岐阜県が世界に誇る産業とともに成長していきたいと願っています。

Furniture Closest to Nature

Ref lecting the Life of the Wood

ITAKURA2.0 products are based on single-slab materials, and their design preserves the natural shape of the wood as much as possible. The design highlights the live edge, and the natural character of the wood, such as bark inclusions and knots, is retained. From Japan’s primeval forests to the deep jungles of Africa, the tropical rainforests of the South Seas, and the vast plains of America, these large, ancient trees have grown over countless years, enduring a long and remarkable journey. Feel the breath of nature as you witness the proof of their life’s story.

ITAKURA2.0は一枚板素材を基本としたプロダクトであり、そのデザインは、最大限自然の形状を残したデザインになっています。ライブエッジを活かしたデザインであることはもちろん、自然の入り皮や節などのキャラクターをなるべくそのまま残しています。日本の原生林やアフリカの奥地、南洋の熱帯雨林、アメリカの広大な平原など、世界のどこかで気が遠くなるような長い年月をかけて育ってきた大径木。それらがたどってきた生き様の証として、自然の息吹を感じてください。

Timeless Design

The design of ITAKURA2.0 aims to create furniture that is closest to nature. Functionally, it includes various measures to minimize the natural movement, such as warping, to ensure that the wood fits into people’s lives. Because the design connects nature and people, it can truly be called a timeless design.

ITAKURA2.0の意匠は、自然に一番近い家具であるようなデザインを意識しています。また、機能的には、自然の素材ならではの反りや動きなどの特徴を、なるべく人の生活に沿うように軽減できる工夫が多く施されています。自然と人をつなぐデザインだから、タイムレスデザインと言えるのです。

High-Aged Fine Wood and Expert Selection of Fine Wood

Japan, Home to a Wide Variety of Fine Wood Species

Due to its long length from north to south and its intricate topography, Japan has fostered a diverse range of tree species. There are over a hundred tree species native to Japan. Throughout history, the Japanese people have lived closely with wood, sometimes venerating trees as sacred objects, using fruits for nourishment, crafting ornaments and art, or employing wood as building materials for construction and ships. Japan’s favorable soil and climate, combined with this deep cultural connection, have allowed its forests to thrive with a rich variety of deciduous trees. Different species have naturally developed across regions, growing slowly over countless years and carefully been preserved.

日本はその南北に長い形状と高低差の激しい複雑な地形により、多くの樹種が生まれ育ってきました。日本固有の木だけでも百以上を数えます。さらに、日本の先達たちは、ある時は木をご神体として祀ったり、ある時は木の実から栄養を取ったり、ある時は服飾品や工芸品として、ある時は木を建築用材や船用材として使うなど、木とともに暮らしてきた民族です。そのような恵まれた土壌天候環境と時代背景から、日本の森には天然更新の広葉樹が豊富に広がってきました。自然と、地域によって異なるさまざまな樹種が生まれ、果てしなく長い年月をかけて育ってきており、大切に守られてきたのです。

Expert Selection of Fine Wood

One of the most important steps in the production process of ITAKURA2.0 products is the selection of the logs. ITAKURA2.0 strives to bring out the maximum natural beauty of the wood, so identifying logs with the best expressions and ensuring that these traits will emerge during processing is essential. It can be said that much of our expertise in design revolves around this step. This is why we are committed to sourcing the finest logs from around the world, carefully processing them, and creating products that honor the unique beauty of the wood.

ITAKURA2.0のプロダクトの製造工程の中で、一番重要と言える事のはじめに「丸太の選定」があります。ITAKURA2.0は自然の表情を最大限の特徴とするため、いかに良い表情を持つ木と出会い、素晴らしい表情が表れるような木を目利きするか、そこに意匠を決定する大半のノウハウがあると言っても過言ではありません。だから私たちは、世界中から良い丸太を探し出し、丸太から製材してものづくりをすることに、強いこだわりを持っているのです。

The Expertise and Skill that Shine in Lumber Processing

A Process Completely Different from “Lumbering” Done Around the World

After the selection of logs, the second crucial step in the process is lumbering. However, the lumbering process used in the fine wood world is completely different from the conventional lumbering techniques widely used around the world for structural timber and other materials. While modern technology has reached a point where computers determine the cuts and process the lumber, at ITAKURA2.0, all the lumbering of large logs is done manually with the human eye making the decisions in an analog process. The large, often warped, and knotted trees we use are often of a very high age and incredibly heavy. During the lumbering process, just a small shift in the log can pose a danger to life. For this reason, ITAKURA2.0’s lumbering process requires seasoned experience and teamwork from skilled craftsmen.

丸太の選定が終わった後の大切な工程の二つ目に、製材があります。製材と言っても世界中で広く行われている構造材等の製材とは全く逆ともいえる製材を行っているのが銘木の世界です。世の中には全てコンピューターが木取をして製材まで終えてしまうような最新技術がある現在ですが、ITAKURA2.0の大径木の製材は全て人の目で見て判断する、アナログな工程をあえて行っています。ITAKUARA2.0が多く使う、日本の変形したような大径木は曲がりや瘤が多くある、高樹齢で超重量の木が多いため、製材中に木が転がってぶつかっただけでも死の危険があるような命がけの作業ですので、ITAKURA2.0の製材は、製材にも熟練の経験値と多くの人の手によるチームワークが必要になってくるのです。

Expert Selection in Lumbering

FThe first step in lumbering is deciding which part of the log to cut and at what angle to saw the surface. This decision significantly affects the expression of the single slab as well as its future warping and movement. Lumbering is not something anyone can do— it requires years of experience and a keen sense developed through expertise. Sometimes, logs over 10 meters long or with a diameter of up to 2 meters, or even twisted logs, need to be processed. This stage of lumbering can take over an hour just to set up the log in the lumbering machine.

まず丸太のどの部分をカットして、どの面をどの角度で鋸を入れるか、これにより一枚板としての表情と、一枚板としての今後の反りや動きが大きく異なってくるため、製材は誰でもできる訳ではなく、長年の経験と技術による目利きとセンスが必要になるのです。時に10メートルほどの長さの木や直径2メートルほどの木、曲がりくねった木まで製材を行う事もあり、この工程を経て製材機にセッティングする「据え付け」まで一時間以上かかる事も稀ではありません。

Story of long drying

After the lumber is processed into a single slab, it does not immediately become furniture. ITAKURA2.0 takes an average of 3 to 5 years or more from the completion of milling until the material is made into furniture. The reason for this lengthy process is that the raw material, being a single slab, must be brought to a state where it can be processed into furniture without placing undue stress on the wood itself. A single slab is simply a board that has been generously cut from a log, so when it is freshly milled, it still contains moisture from the ground (referred to as “Nama Zai”, green wood or freshly cut wood in English). If green wood is used directly in furniture production, it will lose moisture over time, causing cracks, warping, and significant movement in the wood during use. While machine drying can be used to dry solid wood, a single slab, being a large piece of solid wood, cannot undergo mechanical drying immediately, as this would forcibly extract moisture, placing significant stress on the wood and damaging its texture and color. Therefore, the best method, even with advanced technology today, is to dry the wood naturally, just as it was done in the past. By stacking the wood outdoors with spacers between the planks and allowing air to circulate for natural drying, we preserve the integrity of the wood. Even with this careful approach, it is unfortunately impossible to completely stop the movement of a single slab, as it is a natural material. However, we can minimize this movement and allow it to adjust flexibly with the seasons, harmonizing with its environment, which is a unique characteristic of natural materials.

製材を経て一枚板になると、すぐに家具になるわけではありません。ITAKURA2.0は製材が仕上がってから家具になるまで平均3～5年以上もかかります。途方もないこの時間をかける理由は、ITAKURA2.0の素材が一枚板であり、最大限一枚板自身に負担をかけずに家具加工ができる状態にするためです。一枚板というものは、丸太を贅沢にカットしただけの板であるため、製材したては木の中に地中から含んだ水分が残った状態（生材と言われたりします。）です。生材をそのまま家具加工をすると、家具として使っている途中に水分が抜けていき、その過程で割れたり反ったり木に大きく動きが発生してしまいます。無垢材を乾燥させるのに機械乾燥も使えますが、一枚板は大きな無垢材であるため、はじめから機械乾燥に入れることは無理やり水分を抜く事となり、一枚板自身に大きな負担をかけ、折角の風合いや色合いを損なう事になってしまうのです。よって、昔の人たちが行ってきたような、外で木を桟を挟んで積み、風を通しながらじっくりと天然乾燥することが、技術の発達した現在でも一枚板には一番良い方法なのです。そのようにしても、自然の生き物である一枚板の動きを全く止めてしまう事は残念ながらできませんが、人が使いやすいように軽減することはできるし、季節によって柔軟に変化しながら環境と調和するのが自然の素材ならではの特徴です。

The Steady Drying Process

Moreover, we don’t just rely on natural drying but also apply additional careful steps. Initially, when the wood is still highly reactive, we stack the planks horizontally with weights on top to reduce movement. Once they begin to dry, we stand them upright and position them to allow the water within the wood to escape more easily along its natural grain. ITAKURA2.0 is particularly focused on this long, meticulous natural drying process. We manage the wood for several years, carefully monitoring each individual slab’s condition, ensuring that we can confidently produce the final product.

また、私たちは単に天然乾燥するだけでなく、最初は動きが激しいため重しを乗せて横積みにし、ある程度乾いてきたら、立て掛けて木の道管に沿って水をさらに抜けやすくするなど、乾燥にも細かい気配りとノウハウを活用しています。一枚一枚の板の状態を数年かけて人の目で見ながら管理する、ITAKURA2.0はこの地味で気の遠くなるような作業である天然乾燥を特に大切に考え、数年間倉庫管理を適切に行いながら乾燥しているから、仕上がりに自信があるのです。

The Different Drying Methods for Each Slab

ITAKURA2.0’s single slabs are characterized by the fact that we don’t just rely on natural drying. We use up to four different drying methods, selecting the best approach based on each slab’s characteristics and timing. It goes without saying that all processes require careful and prolonged natural drying. After that, each board is carefully assessed, and skilled craftsmen determine the optimal drying method—whether kiln drying, stress drying, or high-frequency drying—to achieve the best possible condition. Drying is an invisible yet crucial process, and each producer may have different methods, but ITAKURA2.0 stands out by paying special attention to this process. We invest considerable effort and time into achieving the best results, and this is a key feature that sets ITAKURA2.0 apart from others.

ITAKURA2.0の一枚板の特徴は、天然乾燥だけではなく、実に4種類もの乾燥をそれぞれの板の特徴と時期に合わせて使い分けて乾燥をしています。全てに共通するのは、じっくりと時間をかけた天然乾燥が必要であるこという事は、言うまでもありませんが、そのあとは、ひとつひとつの板の状態を見ながら、職人の目利きにより機械乾燥、応力乾燥、高周波乾燥を使い分けて最適な乾燥状態へもっていきます。乾燥工程と言うのは目には見えない影の努力なので業者によりやり方は千差万別ですが、この辺りに多大なこだわりを持ち手間暇をかけているところが、ITAKURA2.0が他の追随を許さない特徴と言えます。

Traditional and New Processing Techniques

Manufacture

To fully utilize the potential of ITAKURA2.0’s materials, what we value most is skilled furniture craftsmanship. All ITAKURA2.0 products are made by craftsmen who are highly skilled in working with solid wood slabs. These craftsmen are experts in determining the best way to use different parts of the wood, assessing the wood’s texture, and deciding how much to carve or shape the wood to enhance its tactile feel. They also know how to connect pieces of wood together seamlessly and how much finish or coating will bring out the wood’s best qualities. Our team is made up of professionals with years of experience who can bring these ideas to life. With craftsmen who embody the world-renowned Made in Japan processing techniques, ITAKURA2.0 continually refines its craft while passing down traditional skills.

ITAKURA2.0の素材を最大限生かすために私たちが大切にしていることは、熟練の家具加工技術です。ITAKURA2.0のすべてのプロダクトは、無垢一枚板を使った家具加工に熟練した職人の手によって行われます。職人は、木の表裏や木味を目利きしてプロダクトのどこに素材のどの部分を使うか、またどの程度の手触りまで木を削るか、どのように木と木をつなぎ合わせるか、どのくらいの塗装が一番木を引き立てるかなどに最適な答えを持ち実現できる、そのような経験値を持つプロフェッショナルなメンバーをチームとして集めています。世界に誇るMade in Japanの加工技術を体現できる職人たちを社員に持ち、昔ながらの技術を伝承しながら日々研鑽を重ねているのがITAKURA2.0のものづくりです。

Research & Development

ITAKURA2.0’s manufacturing team not only passes down traditional processing techniques but also works on developing new technologies. By conducting joint research with governmental research institutions, we announce new wood processing techniques and explore creative ways to showcase precious wood in collaboration with other manufacturing teams. We are committed to continuous innovation and creative thinking. To share our progress, we organize an annual presentation in Tokyo, where we continue to propose new ITAKURA every year.

ITAKURA2.0の製造チームは、古くからの加工技術を伝えるだけでなく、新しい技術の開発にも取り組んでいます。行政研究機関などと共同研究をすることによって新しい銘木加工技術を発表したり、他のものづくりを行うメンバーと協業する事で銘木の魅せ方を編み出したり、創意工夫を重ねることを忘れてはいけないと意識してます。私たちは、その成果を年に一度東京で発表する機会を設け、毎年新しいITAKURAを提案し続けます。

Sustainable Development Goals of Precious Woods

Selection of Precious Wood Materials

As a business handling large-diameter trees with centuries-old growth, a gift of the Earth, we recognize our responsibility towards SDGs and natural resources. Large-diameter trees, having reached the end of their lifespan, may sometimes begin to decay from the inside. These trees pose a risk of sudden collapse, which, if triggered by heavy rain, can lead to landslides and threaten the lives of people. In Japan, we strive to follow forest management plans that consider resource circulation, such as prioritizing the felling of trees in collaboration with the government, local authorities, and cooperatives. For overseas materials, we ensure compliance with regulations in the selection process.

私たちは地球上の恵みでもある樹齢数百年という大径木を扱う業者として、SDGsや天然資源への責任を認識しています。天寿近くまで樹齢を重ねた大径木は、時として内部から腐りはじめ、そのような木はいずれ突然倒壊してしまう危険があります。大雨などにより倒壊が引き起こされると、土砂崩れなどの原因となり、人々の生活を脅かす場合があります。私たちは日本の木については、政府や行政、協同組合などの協力を得て優先順位の高い木から伐採したりするなど、資源循環を考えた森林計画に沿うように努力しています。海外の木に関しても、法令順守された素材を選定するようにしています。

Using Earth’s Resources Sustainably

ITAKURA2.0 products are designed with long-term use in mind. To ensure they are passed down across generations, we create them in a way that even after one generation has finished using them, they can be disassembled and reprocessed for the next generation. We also take care in utilizing offcuts and remnants, and as a lumber dealer, we not only create one-piece slabs but also process exquisite patterned precious wood into veneer to be used in various applications.

ITAKURA2.0のプロダクトは、長く使っていただくことを意識しています。世代を超えて使っていただくため、一世代の役割を終えたとしても、分解して加工し直す事で次の世代に引き継ぐことも可能である作り方をしています。もちろん、端材の活用や残材の使い切りなどにも配慮する他、丸太を扱う業者として一枚板を取るだけでなく、素晴らしい柄の銘木を突板に加工して多くの現場で使えるように提案したりもしています。