Nakamoto Forestry launches Clear Vertical Grain Sugi in North America

Nakamoto Forestry has introduced Clear Vertical Grain Sugi, a premium Japanese cedar product aimed at architects and builders seeking a sustainable alternative to old-growth cedar. The new offering is stocked and finished in Portland and ships across North America. Why it matters: - Clear Vertical Grain Sugi gives architects and builders a premium cedar option that aims to replace old-growth material with wood from responsibly managed forests. - The product broadens Nakamoto Forestry’s lineup and targets both contemporary and traditional exterior and interior applications. - The launch matters for projects that want a refined, low-visual-noise wood surface with stronger sustainability credentials. What happened: - Nakamoto Forestry debuted Clear Vertical Grain, or CVG, Sugi, a quartersawn Japanese cedar product. - The company says CVG Sugi is the most exacting grade of sugi, or Japanese cedar, available in North America. - The launch was announced June 17, 2026, from Portland, Oregon. - CVG Sugi is available in nickel gap shiplap profiles for exterior siding and interior paneling. - The product ships throughout North America from a stocking warehouse and prefinish shop in Portland. The details: - Sugi, or Cryptomeria japonica, is the predominant construction and architecture species in Japan. - The wood is prized for grain, workability, and natural resistance to insects, decay and fire. - CVG Sugi is defined by a straight, exceptionally clear grain with little to no knots. - The result is a calm, uniform surface with grain that runs clean and consistent from end to end. - The visual effect emphasizes proportion and light rather than texture or pattern. - Clear vertical grain cedar was once commonly sourced from old-growth forests, but is no longer widely available in meaningful volumes. - Nakamoto Forestry says it cultivates comparable fiber quality from responsibly managed stands. - The company says its sugi trees grow on a 70- to 80-year cycle. - The trees are planted at nearly twice the typical density to slow girth expansion and create tighter growth rings. - Those tighter rings produce stronger, more dimensionally stable boards with consistent coloration. - Over decades, the forests are selectively thinned and lower branches are removed to produce clear lumber. - Large-diameter logs are quartersawn to create true vertical grain. - The quartersawing process prioritizes clarity over yield and requires the highest grade material. - Boards are air-dried for a full year before profiling. - The drying process reduces internal stresses and helps the wood acclimate gradually. - Fire performance testing indicates ASTM E84 Class B. - Nakamoto Forestry says CVG Sugi establishes a new tier within its lineup. Between the lines: - The product positions Nakamoto Forestry in the premium segment where appearance, consistency and sourcing standards matter as much as durability. - The emphasis on old-growth alternatives suggests the market still values the look of legacy cedar, but now expects a more traceable supply chain. - The quartersawn, air-dried process signals a lower-yield manufacturing approach that supports premium pricing and higher-end design use. What’s next: - Nakamoto Forestry North America will keep distributing CVG Sugi from Portland across the region. - The company is likely to market the product to architects, designers and builders working on projects that need a cedar finish with a cleaner grain profile. - CVG Sugi will sit alongside the company’s other wood-cladding offerings as a higher-tier option. The bottom line: - Nakamoto Forestry is betting that demand for refined cedar and sustainable sourcing can support a new premium category in North America. More information: the company’s announcement