Tochi: Silky Luster and Flowing Figure
WOOD DICTIONARY
The appeal of tochi is not simply a matter of bold growth-ring lines. It lies in the luster of its surface and the movement of its figure. Used for vessel blanks and decorative furniture surfaces, this wood is offered by MORI KOUGEI as figured A4 veneer.
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 basic facts
- Japanese and English names
- Tochi / Tochinoki / Japanese horse chestnut Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut
- Scientific name and classification
- Aesculus turbinata / Aesculus in the Sapindaceae family; formerly placed in Hippocastanaceae. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut / Kew POWO: Aesculus turbinata
- Native range
- Japan. This does not indicate the growing location of an individual sheet offered for sale. Kew POWO: Aesculus turbinata
- Grain category offered
- Figured grain MORI KOUGEI: Tochi (Japanese Horse Chestnut) A4 Veneer Sheet
A Japanese tree with large leaves and fruits
Japanese horse chestnut is a tall deciduous tree native to Japan, growing large in fertile places such as mountain valleys. Its leaflets spread outward like the fingers of a hand. Although its English name contains “chestnut,” do not confuse it with the edible chestnut tree when choosing timber; check that the name is tochi. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut / Kew POWO: Aesculus turbinata
Older timber sources place it in Hippocastanaceae, whereas Kew’s current classification includes it in Sapindaceae. Even when family names differ across sources, the scientific name Aesculus turbinata connects the descriptions. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut / Kew POWO: Aesculus turbinata
Enjoy the luster rather than just the lines
The wood ranges from white with a slight reddish cast to pale yellowish brown, with relatively little contrast between heartwood and sapwood. It is diffuse-porous, with vessels scattered through the wood and comparatively subdued growth rings. Its finely cut surface is described as having a silky luster. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut
Where the fiber direction becomes irregular, curly or wavy figure may appear, making the wood attractive for decorative use. Tochi, the tree name, and figured, the description of its appearance, convey different information. Not all tochi has the same figure, and the way the pattern spreads varies even among sheets in the same figured category. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut / MORI KOUGEI: Tochi (Japanese Horse Chestnut) A4 Veneer Sheet
Bowls, trays, and decorative furniture surfaces
Tochi is relatively light and soft, and its worked surfaces can be finished smoothly. Large pieces can be obtained, and the wood has been used for lacquerware blanks, carving, furniture, and interior joinery. Figured wood is also used as decorative furniture veneer, giving it roles both as thick stock carved into vessels and as thin wood applied to a surface. Hokkaido Research Organization, Forest Products Research Institute: Japanese Horse Chestnut
Decide where the figure will be featured
MORI KOUGEI tochi veneer measures 210 × 297 mm and is approximately 0.25 mm thick, with a washi-paper backing. It is used for covering furniture edges, resurfacing flat wooden areas, and marquetry. Rather than a thick board for making a solid-wood vessel, it is a material for adding natural wood character to a substrate. MORI KOUGEI: Tochi (Japanese Horse Chestnut) A4 Veneer Sheet
If the figure is to be the focal point, decide the size of the visible surface and try different positions before cutting. Dividing the sheet into small pieces and showing one large uninterrupted area create different effects. Please contact us with your dimensions and intended use rather than assuming an exact match to the photographed pattern. MORI KOUGEI: Tochi (Japanese Horse Chestnut) A4 Veneer Sheet
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This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.