Oguni Cedar

Oguni cedar is a branded wood known for its dense wood grain, high density, strength, and ease of use, making it highly regarded as a construction material. It was registered as a regional trademark in 2008 and defined as "cedar wood produced in the towns of Oguni and Minamioguni, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture.

"Oguni, one of Japan's long-established forestry areas, dates back to about 250 years ago when the Hosokawa Clan, which governed Higo Province, distributed 25 seedlings to each household. In Minamioguni, the majestic forest of cedar trees that were planted at the time is still carefully preserved.

Minamioguni Town, located in a mountainous area at an altitude of over 400 meters, boasts relatively low average temperatures similar to the Tohoku region in northern Japan, despite being in Kumamoto Prefecture, the southern part of Kyushu.

Summers are relatively cool, and winters bring severe cold, with temperatures dropping to around -10°C as the entire area freezes. This temperature contrast allows Koguni cedar to grow more slowly, resulting in particularly dense wood grain and exceptional durability.

Minamioguni's unique topography, situated on volcanic soils from Mt. Aso's eruptions, offers relatively minimal elevation differences, giving Oguni cedar its distinctive features. This results in wood with more consistent properties, making it suitable for construction.

Minamioguni

Minamioguni Town, where Anai Lumber Factory is located, is about a two-hour drive northeast from Kumamoto Airport. It is a small town of about 4,000 people, surrounded by greenery and nestled beyond the magnificent scenery of the world's largest active caldera near the volcanic Mt. Aso.

Approximately 85% of the town's land area consists of Chikugo River's headwater and mountain forests. Situated in the central highlands, at an elevation of 430 to 945 meters of the Kuju Mountain Range, Mt. Aso's somma volcano, a part of it belongs to the Aso-Kuju National Park. As a member of the "Most Beautiful Villages in Japan" Alliance, the town is home to people who admire the wonderful bounties and grandeur of nature and are committed to preserving the beautiful agricultural and mountainous region and its landscape, environment, and culture for future generations.

Known for its nationally renowned hot springs area, Kurokawa Onsen, Minamioguni is a beautiful town blessed with pristine nature resembling Japan's original natural landscape. It is also known by the nickname "Kiyora no Sato," meaning "clear and beautiful."

Geothermal Drying

At Anai Wood Factory, we actively use geothermal drying. A rare practice in Japan, we conduct geothermal drying of our timber in Oguni-machi Town's Dake no Yu area, which is relatively close to the lumber mill. The mountainous village is scattered with houses, and the sight of steam rising from the ground everywhere is absolutely phenomenal. The people of the village have used this upwelling steam, from ancient times to the present, for various purposes such as cooking, heating, and drying laundry.

Geothermal Dried Wood® is lumber that has been gently and slowly dried using this natural geothermal energy. Unlike conventional drying methods that use fossil fuels or electricity, geothermal drying is an environmentally friendly process with low carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, conventional drying with fossil fuels or electricity exposes the wood to high temperatures, resulting in issues such as a burnt odor and discoloration.

In contrast, geothermal drying uses moderate temperatures of 50 to 60°C, which gently dries the wood, minimizing stress on the wood cells and maintaining the wood's original color and luster. This method produces aesthetically pleasing wood that is ideal as building materials.