A Hidden World of Beauty - Japanese Keyaki

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Here's a fascinating video on the harvest and sawing of Japanese Keyaki wood, which is the product of the Japanese Elm, or Zelkova serrata. The Japanese are fantastic at making an art out of everything they do, and it is certainly the case in sawing this old "elm".

I love the low-tech methods used by these guys.



About the species, from Wikipedia...

"Zelkova serrata is a medium-sized deciduous tree usually growing to 30 m (98 ft) tall. It is characterized by a short trunk dividing into many upright and erect spreading stems forming a broad, round-topped head. The tree grows rapidly when young though the growth rate slows to medium upon middle age and maturity...
"Noma Keyaki", a 1,000-year-old keyaki in Nose near Osaka in Japan, 25 m tall, 11.95 m trunk circumference; second-largest known specimen. Source:://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zelkova_serrata_Noma_keyaki01.jpg
Zelkova serrata is planted as a lawn or park tree for its attractive bark, leaf color and vase shape. It provides good shade and has an easy fall cleanup..It is highly resistant to Dutch elm disease, which makes it a good replacement tree for American elm. Zelkova serrata is similar in appearance to the elms, though may be distinguished by its unwinged fruit and leaves which are symmetrical rather than uneven at their base. 
Keyaki wood is valued in Japan and used often for furniture, such as tansu, as well as being considered the ideal wood for the creation of taiko drums."
Photo of a barrel-shaped chū-daiko, with a fastened cloth hanging down from the drum head. By Taiko-Kaiser-Drums - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26702502


That is a beautiful and creative way to Go Wood...


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January 15, 2019 at 9:55 PM
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