Scarf rings made from solid wood, each one carved by a skilled Japanese wood craftsman. The white, brown and yellow colors are natural wood colors, not dyed or painted. You can enjoy the solid wood feeling of the smooth surface. It will gradually change color with age and environment of use. This is one of the pleasures of natural wood crafts.
Hokkaido maple “Itaya-Kaede” (white) The white ring is made from Hokkaido maple. These trees used to be an important source of maple syrup for the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido. Ainu people called these trees “milk trees.” Hokkaido maple wood is used for violins, guitars and decorative touches in architecture because of its beautiful patterns.
Mokkoku (brown) Mokkoku is called the “king of garden trees” because of the beautiful tree shape with thick dark green leaves. The hard, dense wood of Mokkoku is often used for combs and central pillars in Japanese houses because it is strong and durable and can be carved with precision. Mokkoku bark was used for dying cloth, and its dried leaves were used as medicine.
Nigaki (yellow) The core of the Nigaki tree is a light but robust wood of a beautiful golden yellow color. Because of its rare natural golden color and clear wood grain patterns Nigaki is often used for traditional crafts. Nigaki means “bitter wood.”The tree contains a bitter chemical component called quassin with antibacterial properties that is used for herbal medicine.
