AKITA SUGI
秋田杉（アキタスギ）
産地；秋田県（県木）
秋田県の県木。白神山地産のものが有名です。ヒノキ科スギ属の常緑針葉樹で、まっすぐ伸び木目が美しく、青森ヒバと木曾桧と並ぶ日本三大美林のひとつです。木目の美しさから工芸品としても秋田では使われ、曲げわっぱ、おひつ、樽など食器として使われます。
秋田杉の歴史は古く太閤 豊臣 秀吉が秋田杉の美しさに魅了され伏見城の建材に選びます。
京都で大人気となった秋田杉はブランド化していき、秋田の初代藩主である佐竹 義宣（さたけよしのぶ）が秋田杉を他藩へ輸出し財政が潤ったといわれています。
木の力；雄大、堅固、真実、誠意
AKITA SUGI
Place of origin: Akita Prefecture (Prefectural Tree)
Akita cedar is the prefectural tree of Akita Prefecture and is especially famous for those grown in the Shirakami Mountains. It is an evergreen conifer of the cypress family and cedar genus, characterized by its straight growth and beautiful grain. Along with Aomori Hiba and Kiso Hinoki, it is considered one of Japan’s three great beautiful forests.
Because of its beautiful wood grain, Akita cedar is widely used in crafts in Akita, such as magewappa (bentwood containers), ohitsu (rice tubs), and barrels for food use.
The history of Akita cedar dates back centuries. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the great ruler of the late 16th century, was so captivated by its beauty that he chose it as a building material for Fushimi Castle.
It gained great popularity in Kyoto and became recognized as a luxury brand wood. Under Akita’s first feudal lord, Satake Yoshinobu, Akita cedar was exported to other domains, bringing prosperity to the region’s economy.
Meanings: Grandeur, Strength, Truth, Sincerity