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Abstract
A survey was conducted at nine sawmills in Japan to evaluate and compare the sawing of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) logs of 30 cm and more in diameter. The purpose was fourfold: (1) to document sawing patterns appropriate to the large-diameter logs; (2) to examine the composition of wood components (structural, nonstructural, and fixtures) produced from those patterns; (3) to investigate log and product prices; and (4) to ascertain distances to the log supplier and product markets. Impetus for the study arose from a forecasted shift in the diameter distribution of plantation trees in Japan; from small and medium-sized logs to large-diameter logs. With an overabundance of large-diameter domestic logs forecasted within the next decade, the need to understand how to best utilize and effectively process the large-diameter resource is of utmost importance.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank The Japan Forestry Association for their financial support. We also acknowledge the support of the various authorities (prefectural offices, wood research organizations, and cooperatives) in Akita, Wakayama, Tottori, and Miyazaki, and Gifu Prefectures who provided introductions to the sawmills investigated in this survey. Finally we are deeply grateful to the sawmill owners who provided access to their data and their facilities, and who ultimately made this study possible.