Sen: Harigiri and the Character of Quarter-Sawn and Flat-Sawn Grain
Wood Dictionary
Sen is a hardwood whose flowing grain stands out against a light background. In furniture and veneer it is called sen; in Japanese tree guides it appears as harigiri. Understanding the connection between these names also helps distinguish it from similar-looking woods.
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
- Japanese and trade names
- Harigiri / Sen, Sennoki Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Harigiri / MORI KOUGEI: Sen A4 veneer sheet
- English names
- Castor aralia / Sen Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Harigiri
- Botanical name and classification
- Kalopanax septemlobus / Family Araliaceae, genus Kalopanax Kew Plants of the World Online: Kalopanax septemlobus
- Natural distribution
- Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula and the Russian Far East, among other areas. This describes natural distribution, not the origin of individual sheets for sale. Kew Plants of the World Online: Kalopanax septemlobus
Harigiri is not a relative of kiri
The name harigiri refers to the prickles on young branches and trunks and to its pale wood, which recalls kiri, or paulownia. On mature trunks the prickles become less conspicuous. Because the alternative name sen is so widely used in the timber trade, its connection to the tree's name in the forest is not always obvious. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Harigiri
Sen belongs to the family Araliaceae. Its light color and visible grain invite comparison with tamo and ash, but those woods belong to the genus Fraxinus in the family Oleaceae. Recognizing that a similar appearance does not make them the same wood is a useful starting point when choosing a material. Kew Plants of the World Online: Kalopanax septemlobus / Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Yachidamo
Growth-ring lines across a pale surface
Sen is a ring-porous hardwood: the arrangement of vessels along its growth rings creates its grain pattern. The heartwood is generally pale grayish brown, and the sapwood pale yellowish white. Its luster and grain have been used to advantage in decorative plywood, furniture and cabinetry; it has also served as an alternative to keyaki for trays and individual dining stands. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Harigiri
Although relatively easy to work, sen is not usually chosen primarily for high strength or durability. Uses associated with the similar-looking keyaki should not simply be assumed suitable for sen. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Harigiri
The photographs show quarter-sawn grain on the left and flat-sawn grain on the right
The examples shown for MORI KOUGEI's sen A4 sheets are quarter-sawn on the left and flat-sawn on the right. Choosing a straight flow of lines or a broader, arched pattern gives a different impression even within this same pale wood. Use the photographs as a guide to the difference in cut. MORI KOUGEI: Sen A4 veneer sheet
For a single surface such as a box lid, lay the sheet in position before cutting to compare grain running lengthwise and across the piece. The spacing of the lines and the size of the arches vary from sheet to sheet. MORI KOUGEI: Sen A4 veneer sheet
Bring sen's character to a thin decorative surface
Our A4 sheets measure 210 × 297 mm and are approximately 0.25 mm thick. Made from natural wood veneer backed with industrial washi paper, they are available in quarter-sawn and flat-sawn versions. They are a surface material for covering furniture edges, renewing flat wooden surfaces and creating wood inlay, not a structural substitute for thick solid wood. MORI KOUGEI: Sen A4 veneer sheet
Choose the substrate, bonding method and required dimensions before selecting a product. If you need advice on arranging sheets over a larger area or on color, explaining the intended use will help us discuss the options. MORI KOUGEI: Sen A4 veneer sheet
Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.