Yakisugi | Shou Sugi Ban from Japan: Carbonised and refined woods for stylish wood cladding in interior and exterior areas. Find out how the traditional burning process works, the special properties of carbonised wood, the advantages of Yakisugi and how the black carbonised facades are used in modern architecture.
Shou Sugi Ban is a traditional Japanese method of preserving wood. The wood surface is carbonised by controlled burning, making it more resistant. The Shou-Sugi-Ban/Yakisugi method owes its name to the Japanese cedar, also known as “Sugi” in Japan. The term yaki means “grilled” or “charred”, while ban means “plank”.
Although the Yakisugi technique has been used in Japan for centuries, it was forgotten for a while. In recent years, Shou Sugi Ban has been rediscovered by architects, designers, private customers and timber construction companies.
Thanks to their unique appearance, high durability and sustainable production, carbonised wooden façades are now becoming increasingly popular in Europe and around the world.
Scientific studies have proven that certain wood properties such as weather and fire resistance are sustainably improved with the help of Shou Sugi Ban. Universities, technical colleges and experienced scientists regularly test the quality of the carbonised wood and continuously research the further development and optimisation of specific properties.
We are building for the future. With sustainable measures such as traditional deep charring according to Yakisugi, we turn our carbonised woods into long-lasting, innovative natural products – for a more beautiful tomorrow.
The Yakisugi method originated in Japan, where it was discovered many centuries ago that wooden buildings that had already been damaged by fire were much more fire-resistant in the event of another fire.
One of the best-known examples of this is the Hōryū-ji temple in the Japanese prefecture of Nara: in a major fire around 1300 years ago, the temple was damaged by the flames but not destroyed. The temple’s fire-resistant wooden façade, which was carbonised after this fire, survived several fires in the centuries that followed relatively unscathed.
The idea behind “Shou Sugi Ban” can be described by the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi. Wabi Sabi is an artistic concept for the perception of beauty and describes the transformation from the original to the mature.
Mossy rocks and trees, grass-covered roofs, light rust on a tin roof… these are all symbols of the ideal of beauty according to Wabi Sabi.
It is about pure beauty hidden in a shell, simplicity, originality and natural transformation over time.
Shou Sugi Ban is exactly that: during the traditional carbonisation process, the wood surface is naturally carbonised, transforming it into a design element with a strong character and extraordinary structure – shaped by the element of fire.
It is not for nothing that carbonised woods are often described with terms such as “alligator skin” or “silk wood”. This is because the soft, velvety feel and the characteristic look of the wood surface resemble the skin of a crocodile and can also remind you of fine leather.
The subsequent brushing of the black charred wood surface reveals the wood grain, structure and colour of the underlying wood layer in its natural beauty. Over many years, the top layer of wood changes in its overall appearance due to the influence of wind and weather, creating an aesthetic patina.
In this process of transformation, fire, wood and nature enter into a special symbiosis.
Woods that have been traditionally carbonised using the Japanese Shou-Sugi-Ban method not only look beautiful – they also have numerous advantages when used!
The sustainable firing process makes the wood extremely durable without the use of fossil fuels or chemicals. Thanks to their long durability, carbonised woods are ideal for outdoor use: the black carbonised facades are very low-maintenance and easy to clean! The wood can also be used indoors as attractive design elements in a variety of ways.
From the preparation of the wood to the natural carbonisation with pure flame and the careful finishing, the traditional Shou Sugi Ban method involves a lot of time, skill and effort. Mastering this art requires years of practice. This makes traditionally carbonised wood a very special, high-quality product.
No, yakisugi and shou sugi ban describe one and the same method. The reason why there are two different terms for the traditional carbonisation of the wood surface has its origins in ancient Japan.
Writing did not develop there until the 3rd-5th century, when Chinese characters were introduced to the Japanese islands. However, because the oral pronunciation of Japanese words was very different from the pronunciation of the Chinese script, the Japanese partially modified these characters and gave them a different pronunciation (but a similar meaning).
This was also the case with Yakisugi/Shou Sugi Ban: The same character was pronounced differently by the Chinese in Mandarin (Shou Sugi Ban) than in the original Japanese language (Yakisugi).
In general, it can be said that although Shou Sugi Ban and Yakisugi describe the same method, the term Shou Sugi Ban is more common in the West, whereas Yakisugi refers to the Japanese original, in which the wood of the Japanese cedar from the cypress family is carbonised.
In Europe, domestic woods such as larch, spruce, accoya and kebony are used instead for so-called charred wood (carbonised wood), which is why “Shou Sugi Ban” is the more common term here. However, as yakisugi and shou sugi ban describe the same thing, both terms can of course be used.
Yakisugi is also becoming increasingly popular with architects and private and commercial customers outside Japan. There are now several manufacturers worldwide who carbonise the black wood with the special surface structure themselves. However, there are major differences between producers in the production of carbonised wood!
This is because most manufacturers have industrialised the original shou-sugi-ban method: Instead of carefully burning by hand and with a pure flame, they carbonise their woods with the fossil fuel gas. This not only means that the roots of the original Shou Sugi Ban are lost: In terms of a sustainable future, the industrial gas burning method is also less environmentally and climate friendly than the traditional Yakisugi method with a pure flame.
Ennobled GmbH distances itself from this industrial burning method! We carbonise our wood using the traditional Yakisugi method in a special and sustainable deep-charring-process.
In the traditional, vertical yakisugi method, three wooden boards are tied together in a triangular shape and placed on edge. The hollow space between the wooden planks is flamed by hand. This creates a natural chimney effect, whereby the surface of the wood is evenly and deeply charred – “carbonised” in technical terms – and the wood cells become denser.
The resulting layer of carbon on the surface now protects the wood underneath from the penetration of water and wood-decaying fungi. Natural weathering processes are thus greatly slowed down and reduced – carbonised wood is considered to be very durable and weather-resistant!
Sustainable and climate-friendly: As the wood surface is carbonised with pure flame, no external fossil energy sources or chemicals are required for the entire process!
Careful manual work: The wood is also carefully carbonised by hand. This makes it possible to respond individually to the characteristics of the individual wooden boards and to adapt the firing method to these woods.
For this reason, traditionally carbonised woods are not only regarded as sustainable natural
The special thing about the traditional firing process: As the wood surface is carbonised with a pure flame, no external energy sources or chemical additives are required for the entire process!
In contrast to the traditional vertical burning method, the industrial carbonization method involves lining up multiple woods horizontally and flaming them in a mechanical, automated process using gas. The industrial variant deviates from the Japanese original and is considered less environmentally and climate-friendly due to the use of fossil fuel gas.
Industrially carbonized woods still advertise with the terms “Yakisugi” and “Shou Sugi Ban.” Therefore, pay attention to where you source your carbonized woods!
Ennobled is one of the few manufacturers that employs the sustainable Yakisugi method and traditionally carbonizes using pure flame in a special deep charring process.
Environmentally and climate harmful: The industrial burning method uses fossil fuel gas. However, natural gas contributes to climate change: Methane is released during the extraction, storage, and transportation of gas. Additionally, a larger amount of CO2 emissions enters the atmosphere during combustion!
More mass, less individuality: The industrial burning method is carried out in an automated, mechanical process. Therefore, customizations are not as easily achievable, and less attention can be paid to the individual characteristics of each wood. Often, mechanically carbonized woods are also less durable and resistant than traditional, manually carbonized woods!
When it comes to sustainability, environmental, and climate friendliness, the traditional burning process by Yakisugi brings significant advantages compared to other surface treatments!
This is because it completely avoids the use of fossil fuels and chemicals – unlike the industrial burning process with gas and chemical surface treatments with varnishes or stains. The manual treatment with pure flame also ensures exceptional quality and durability, allowing the carbon dioxide from the environment to be bound in the carbonized wood for a longer period. This makes woods carbonized with the traditional Yakisugi method sustainable and recyclable natural products.
In Japan, the wood traditionally used for Shou Sugi Ban is Japanese cedar (also known as Sugi or Japanese cypress). However, due to similar climatic conditions, European woods such as spruce or larch, which exhibit comparable properties, are also suitable.
Advantages of native wood species
The use of native wood species for Yakisugi has several advantages: The wood is sourced from surrounding sustainably managed forests in the region, making it easier to adhere to environmental certifications. Additionally, shorter transportation distances save a significant amount of CO2 emissions!
In principle, there are several native wood species that can be treated with Yakisugi. Depending on the wood species and treatment, the surface structure of the woods will vary. For example, carbonized larch wood impresses with an impressive black hue, whereas the same wood in a refined – i.e., brushed – variant creates a dark brown weathered wood look.
Certain woods are also better suited for use on exterior facades, while others are more suitable for use as decking or in interior spaces due to their properties. Ultimately, the choice of which carbonized woods are best suited for a project depends on personal taste and the intended use.
Of course, depending on the country and region, other wood species with similar properties can also be used.
Larch is one of the heaviest and hardest softwoods. It is characterized by high load-bearing capacity and weather resistance.
Chemical wood modification is used to selectively enhance certain wood properties. Modified woods such as Accoya and Kebony are particularly durable, stable, and high-performing.
In a sophisticated thermal process, the woods are heated, optimizing certain wood properties. Thermally modified woods are highly weather-resistant and water-repellent after the heat treatment.
Thanks to its versatile processing options, low weight, and soft, elastic surface, spruce is a popular building and construction material.
Carbonized wood facades offer higher durability compared to stained or painted wood facades. A coating with paint or stain needs to be renewed every few years, which entails additional costs and effort. In contrast, a carbonized facade requires minimal maintenance and care.
Another advantage of carbonized woods is their natural weather resistance. The traditional burning process with pure flame makes the wood surface resistant to fungi, pests, and external influences in a sustainable manner. Unlike with paint or stain coatings, no chemical wood preservatives are necessary.
In addition to their exceptional durability, Yakisugi wood facades outshine painted or stained wood facades with natural fire resistance as well as an extraordinary, black charred or dark brown-grained surface texture. Thanks to their high resistance, carbonized and refined woods can be used flexibly indoors and outdoors.
Would you like to learn more about the characteristics, costs, and pros and cons of stained, painted, and carbonized wood facades? We’ve listed all the special features and differences for you here:
