Japan
"As abundance of live fungal mycelium reflects the potential of fungi to metabolize organic materials, needle litter decomposition of C. obtusa during the period studied appeared to be regulated primarily by water availability and secondarily by availability of energy for rapid hyphal growth." [3]
"Used in traditional Japanese house and temple construction." [1]
"In this study, it is thought that tactile stimulation by touching hinoki wood with the palm of the right hand brought about physiological relaxation effects, because wood is a familiar and representative natural material for humans." [2]
"Today nearly all harvested Port-Orford-cedar is exported to Japan. Port-Orford-cedar is very similar to hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) wood, which is used in traditional Japanese house and temple construction. On federal timber sales, Japanese trading companies sometimes purchase stumpage on bid after examining individual trees. The wood is regarded so highly as a hinoki substitute that trees are felled with great care; sometimes cables are used to control the fall. Because the supply of hinoki is very limited, Port-Orford-cedar sells for a premium price as a hinoki substitute. Logs exported from the Powers Ranger District, Oregon, in 1981 sold for an average of $2,166 per thousand board feet." [1]
"Japanese cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl. is native to Japan and is one of the most important trees in silvicultural practices in that country." [3]
[1] Uchytil, Ronald J. 1990. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. In: Fire Effects Information System,. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/chalaw/all.html.
[2] Ikei, H., Song, C., & Miyazaki, Y. (2018). Physiological effects of touching hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). Journal of Wood Science, 64(3), 226-236.
[3] Osono, T., Ono, Y., & Takeda, H. (2003). Fungal ingrowth on forest floor and decomposing needle litter of Chamaecyparis obtusa in relation to resource availability and moisture condition. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 35(11), 1423-1431.
