The Most Noble of Trees

Oct 27, 2025

「EP.84」一位一刀彫

ICHII ITTO BORI
Gifu Prefecture

「transcript」

Over 800 years ago, a yew-wood scepter was offered to the Emperor at his enthronement. Its beauty was so admired that the tree was granted the noble title Shoichii, meaning “the highest rank.” Since then, the ichii tree has been cherished as Japan’s most sacred timber, symbolizing dignity, endurance, and natural grace.

In Hida’s snowy mountains where the ichii grows, craftsmen carve its wood into works that preserve this quiet elegance. Ichii Itto Bori emerged in the late Edo period through Matsuda Ryōchō, who sought to honor the wood’s natural beauty without color or coating.

Each yew used is often centuries old, showing a graceful shift from pale white to deep red near the core. By blending these tones, artisans create lifelike contrast using only nature’s palette. Every chisel mark is intentional and left visible, giving each piece character. After a final polish of natural wax, the sculpture glows softly, deepening into a rich tea-brown as years pass.

Though the yew grows slowly, taking centuries to mature, new cultivation efforts are underway to preserve this timeless craft.

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