Hiba: Its Difference from Hinoki and the Name Asunaro
Wood Dictionary
Hiba and hinoki can seem close in both name and appearance, but they are different trees. The name asunaro is a useful starting point for understanding hiba. Linking the timber name with the botanical name makes the differences between similar pale woods easier to see.
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 other names
- Hiba: a name associated with asunaro and hinoki-asunaro. Also known as ate. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Distribution map of asunaro / MORI KOUGEI: Hiba A4 sheets
- English name
- Hiba / Thujopsis Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Distribution map of asunaro
- Botanical name and family
- Thujopsis dolabrata and its variety var. hondae / Family Cupressaceae, genus Thujopsis Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Distribution map of asunaro
- Distribution and product information
- Distributed in Japan. The species description on our product page lists Japan. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Asunaro / MORI KOUGEI: Hiba A4 sheets
In the cypress family, but not hinoki
The name hiba is used for asunaro and its variety hinoki-asunaro. Both belong to the family Cupressaceae, but their genus is Thujopsis, not the genus Chamaecyparis to which hinoki belongs. Timber names also reflect regional usage, so it is more useful to read hiba, asunaro and ate alongside their source descriptions than to assume they must all be different trees. Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Distribution map of asunaro / MORI KOUGEI: Hiba A4 sheets
Enjoy subtle lines within pale color
MORI KOUGEI presents hiba as a light-colored wood. Unlike a design led by a dark timber, a pale surface draws attention to the flow of grain and small changes in color. Use the photographs to understand the general tone, then consider the light-dark contrast with the surrounding woods in your piece. MORI KOUGEI: Hiba A4 sheets
The name hiba does not mean every sheet will share the whiteness or grain of the photograph. Natural wood varies, and screens and lighting also alter the appearance of color. Choose with the area needed and pattern direction in mind, whether for a small box face, a border or the light areas of wood inlay. MORI KOUGEI: Hiba A4 sheets
Is “tomorrow I will become hinoki” the real origin of the name?
Asunaro is sometimes accompanied by a story that it hopes to become hinoki tomorrow. The Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, however, describes this as a folk explanation. A familiar story and a verified name origin are not the same thing. Asunaro is not a tree on its way to becoming hinoki, but a tree with a character of its own. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Asunaro
Solid-timber uses and A4-sheet applications
Asunaro timber has been used in construction and for utensils and implements. Our A4 product differs in thickness and construction: it is an approximately 0.25 mm sheet combining natural wood veneer with industrial washi paper. It brings the appearance of wood to furniture edges, small objects and wood inlay. Do not infer waterproofing or health benefits for the sheet from the properties of the tree; consult the product's application and adhesive guidance before use. Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute: Asunaro / MORI KOUGEI: Hiba A4 sheets
Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.