The wood burning treatment called "Shou-Sugi-Ban" dates back to the late 1600's. Japanese forests have always been extremely limited on supply, even today most lumber used in Japan is imported. During this time the Japanese relied heavily on driftwood from the coast for building materials. Driftwood was prized by carpenters for it’s artistic finish and durability in their climate conditions. Driftwood’s exposure to sunlight, drift and saltwater gave it an unparalleled advantage over anything else accessible...but there was one big problem with driftwood, it was in severe short supply.

From one extreme to another, Japanese carpenters discovered that fire would give a piece of cedar even greater durability with a more desirable finish than driftwood. The cedar was inexpensive and accessible, making "Shou-Sugi-Ban" an instant hot commodity (literally).

Fun Fact: "Shou-Sugi-Ban" translates to "Burnt Cedar Board".