A species of cypress native to central Japan, hinoki is prized for its deeply fragrant scent, and its soft-wood timber is used to build a range of buildings and interiors—from 800-year-old castles and shrines, to everyday sushi bars and hard-wood flooring in homes. “Hinoki is not only a material, it is a spiritual and aesthetic concept,” says Italian expat Iacopo Torrini of Kobe-based Bartok Design, a top exporter of the wood. “Hinoki grows straight. Its color is light and its fragrance is fresh but delicate.” Despite its ubiquity in modern times, he adds, “Hinoki symbolizes purity and sincerity, therefore it is the preferred choice for buildings dedicated to the gods, as in the shinto shrines.”