Ichii, Onko, Araragi

　
Emperor Nitoku ordered that an imperial scepter be made of this wood, declaring that it is ﾒof the highest rank--#1ﾓﾑwhich is how this tree earned its name (ichii means first rank in Japanese). Onko is the Tohoku and Hokkaido regional name for this tree, and it was also called araragi in olden times. Ichii is famous for being used in the Ittou-bori carvings from Hidataka and also recently in carvings from Hokkaido. Both this tree and wood from it are rare and have become extremely expensive. The grain of this wood is stronger than that of hiba, and it is extremely easy to split. Because it has a relatively low contractility, the ends (koguchi) of the wood form deep cracks easily, but the lateral surfaces of the wood (hyomen) do not. The difference between the color of the shirata (sapwood) and akami (heartwood) is astoundingﾑit can be put to use in many interesting ways in your pieces. Because the fibers (grain) are relatively hard and break off easily and it contains almost no ﾒoil, ﾒ sandpaper can be used to finish ichii.

Lumbering and Carving

Large pieces of ichii are both extremely expensive and extremely hard to find, so it is best to use it to make small carvings or thin carvings (from boards). The shirata is a little bit hard, but there is relatively little difference in hardness throughout the wood. Because ichii is incredibly easy to split, it can`t be ﾒforcedﾓ to cut with your tools--sometimes it breaks when you least expect it. Also, carving perpendicular to the grain (yoko-giri) is difficult and requires sharp tools. The ends of the wood are also relatively hard. If you use the akami and shirata well, you can create an interesting piece with dynamic contrast.

Finishing

　When you first start carving ichii, the akami is brown, but it will soon turn black. You don`t need to finish it with anything, but using wax of wood finish will help keep it free of dirt and dust. Hard-surfaced synthetic finishes should not be used. But if you sand it, make sure to also apply several coats of lacquer and polish it with very fine paper to bring out a luster or gloss.