Tamo: Its Relationship to Ash and the Appeal of Its Grain

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Tamo is a furniture wood valued for its relatively light color and grain that clearly reveals the course of the growth rings. The name connects with yachidamo and ash, although usage in the timber trade varies. Understanding those relationships makes it easier to see what to look for when choosing a sheet.

International delivery
For delivery outside Japan, please contact MORI KOUGEI before placing your order. Shipping availability depends on the material’s species and origin, the destination, and any permits or certificates required. Any required permits or certificates must be arranged before dispatch.

The photographs are examples of the color and grain associated with each wood or figure. Every piece of natural wood is different; the sheet you receive will not have exactly the same color or grain as the photographs.

Names and identification

Trade name and representative Japanese name

Tamo / Yachidamo MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet / Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

Representative botanical name and classification

Yachidamo is Fraxinus mandshurica, in the genus Fraxinus, family Oleaceae. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

Relationship to the English name

Ash is a broad name for trees in the genus Fraxinus. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

Available cuts

Quarter-sawn and flat-sawn MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet

Tamo and ash belong to the same genus

Yachidamo timber is traded under the name tamo. Ash is the broad English name for trees of the genus Fraxinus, so it overlaps with tamo. That does not mean that North American ash is the same species as yachidamo. Keeping trade names and botanical classification separate helps clarify the relationship. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

Yachidamo grows not only in Japan but also in China, the Russian Far East and other areas. The name tamo alone does not establish Japanese origin. The distribution described on this page likewise does not guarantee the country of growth of individual MORI KOUGEI products. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo / MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet

Distinctive lines from ring-porous wood

Yachidamo heartwood is pale yellowish brown and its sapwood yellowish white, with a relatively clear distinction between them. It is ring-porous, and the pattern formed by the vessels is particularly visible on flat-sawn surfaces. Dark woods are not the only materials that show pronounced grain: lines standing out against a pale ground are part of tamo's appeal. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

Wood with exceptionally narrow growth rings is sometimes called nukame in Japanese. Fine grain is a matter of visual preference, but ring width alone cannot be turned into a ranking of quality or strength. Such wood in yachidamo is described as tending to be lighter and softer. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

From everyday furniture to architectural features

Tamo has been used for furniture, interiors, plywood, stairs and handrails. The walls of the governor's office in the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building are a noted decorative use of figured yachidamo. A familiar furniture wood can also become the focus of a room when distinctive grain is selected. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo

The yachi in yachidamo is associated with wet ground. It is a tree of riverside forests, but its growing environment tells us nothing directly about the water resistance of finished furniture or veneer. Consider the substrate and finish in relation to the intended indoor location. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo / MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet

Choosing between quarter-sawn and flat-sawn grain

MORI KOUGEI's tamo A4 sheets are natural wood backed with industrial washi paper, measuring 210 × 297 mm and approximately 0.25 mm thick. Both quarter-sawn and flat-sawn versions are offered. They are decorative surface materials for furniture edges, repairs and resurfacing on flat wooden substrates, and wood inlay. MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet

Your choice will differ depending on whether you want lines to run along a narrow component or grain to spread across a box lid. Before cutting, place the sheet over the intended surface to check its size and direction. For joining sheets or covering larger areas, you can consult us with the required dimensions and intended use. MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet

For international orders, please contact us before ordering. Include the material name, quantity and destination in your message.

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This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.

References

1. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo
2. MORI KOUGEI: Tamo A4 veneer sheet