How Japan’s Daisugi technique harvests wood without cutting trees

In Japan, Daisugi is a traditional pruning technique that allows you to obtain valuable wood without having to cut down the trees. This method not only preserves forests, but also allows the highest quality wood to be produced in a sustainable way.

Japan is a land of centuries-old traditions that continuously inspire and surprise in the quest for perfection. Such is Daisugi-a forestry technique originating back in the 14th century-which enables the wood to be taken without totally felling the tree.

The beginning of Daisugi

Daisugi (台杉) is an ancient Japanese technique from the 14th century of wood harvesting without actually cutting down trees. It stands as an extraordinary example of sustainability and innovation.

This was initially practiced in Kitayama, a small village in the mountains near Kyoto. The steep and rocky terrain in the region left little room for new plantations, posing quite a challenge for locals in finding high-quality wood that could be used in constructing tea houses and traditional buildings. Daisugi would prove to be a brilliant answer to this scarcity.

This method of cultivation prunes lower and lateral branches of the cedar, while allowing the upper ones to grow. These serve as new trunks with no imperfections in them for being straight, thereby turning the tree into a “wood farm.” One single cedar tree can produce 100 trunks at a time, which will be grown about every 20 years. This keeps the supply of the wood flowing without any harm coming to the mother tree, which may live for several centuries.

Every two years, the cedars are hand-pruned, and only the top shoot of every branch is left to grow vertically. This viewed over time gives an optical illusion of cedars growing on top of other cedars.

Over time, new shoots form into wood that is utterly uniform, straight, and totally knot-free for construction. Up to 100 shoots may form on one tree at any one time, providing wood for 200–300 years before exhaustion.

Beyond their practical use, Daisugi trees are now highly valued as ornamental features in Japanese gardens, symbolizing harmony between humans and nature. Still practiced today in Kitayama, it continues to inspire as a model of resource management and respect for the environment.

Stronger, more flexible wood

It was initially developed around 1300 due to a shortage of raw materials by the residents of Kitayama. At the time, sukiya-zukuri architecture was popular; it required very straight and stylized wood, but not enough was available to satisfy the demand.

The steep slopes of this region made planting and growing new trees difficult. Daisugi technique lessened the need for new trees, shortened the harvesting cycles, and yielded denser wood.

As time passed, with the change in the architectural styles, the demand for wood made with this technique slowed. However, it never died out completely. The special properties of Daisugi wood-40% more flexible and twice as strong as regular cedar wood-found new uses.

Its straight form makes it ideal for beams and ceilings requiring both aesthetics and durability. It has become especially popular in regions prone to typhoons. Its striking appearance has also made it continually in demand as a decorative feature, particularly in ornamental gardens.

A model for sustainability

In recent years, Daisugi has gained international attention as the model for sustainable forestry. In times when fighting against deforestation has become a priority in the world, this Japanese approach presents a model for responsible management of resources. The methodology is under study by environmental organizations, aiming at its adaptation to other tree species and climates-a confirmation of how ancient techniques can inspire effective answers toward sustainability.

Daisugi is more than a farming practice; it’s a bridge that connects the past with the future and encompasses traditional knowledge into modern environmental needs.

One of the most interesting, yet underappreciated, dimensions of Daisugi relates to its cultural impact on the Japanese landscape. The trees serve not only as sources of high-quality wood but also as manifestations of balance and harmony with nature. Their distinctive silhouette is often associated with Zen philosophy, wherein simplicity meets the natural beauty of life. Some Daisugi trees are used as decorative elements in traditional Japanese temples and gardens, turning them into living works of art to illustrate the treasured relationship between humans and nature.