Nakamoto Forestry North America

What Nakamoto Forestry North America does

Nakamoto Forestry North America is the US subsidiary of Hiroshima-based Nakamoto Forestry, operating as Nichibei Global, LLC from Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1974, the parent company claims to be the world's largest manufacturer of authentic yakisugi (shou sugi ban) charred wood siding, with roots in sustainable forestry in Yoshiwa-mura, Hiroshima that span over 100 years. The North American entity was established in 2014 to serve the US market and is complemented by a European operation in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The core product is traditional Japanese yakisugi siding manufactured from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, or sugi) and hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). Air-dried planks are subjected to a contained heat-treatment process that burns off hemicellulose and leaves a hardened, hydrophobic lignin surface. The company offers three proprietary surface finishes — Suyaki®, Gendai®, and Pika-Pika® — differentiated by the degree of char and brushing, with a 0–10 patina scale guiding customers through weathering expectations. Coatings include Tung Oil, Alkyd, Linseed, Weathering Stain, Polyurethane, and Acrylic variants. Supplementary product lines include uncharred Sugi and Hinoki wood products for interior and exterior applications, plus an aluminum trim accessory line and stainless steel fasteners (coil nails, hand drive nails, trim head screws). Products are ASTM E-84 rated for fire resistance and WUI compliant, and the company holds PEFC chain-of-custody, EPD, and CFP certifications.

The commercial model is a hybrid direct-to-consumer e-commerce and quote-driven enterprise sales operation. Pricing is per square foot or lineal foot, ranging from $4.75 to $14.65 for siding products, with a 400 sq ft or $5,000 minimum order. The sales motion targets architects and designers through AIA-registered CEU courses, lunch-and-learns, and a dedicated Architect & Designer Resource Center with CAD/BIM files, while also serving homeowners, contractors, and distributors via the nakamotoforestry.com storefront. Featured projects include Lake Champlain Modern (Studio MMA), East Hampton Modern (Workshop APD), and Shelburne Pond Home and Orcas House, with the company earning recognition including the 2024 NYCxDESIGN Best Weekend Home and 2024 Luxe RED Awards for East Hampton Modern, and the 2026 Architizer A+ Product Award for Weathering Stain Silver.

Name

Nakamoto Forestry North America

Legal name

Nichibei Global, LLC

Website

https://nakamotoforestry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nakamoto Forestry North America is the Portland, Oregon-based US subsidiary of Japan's Nakamoto Forestry, selling authentic yakisugi (shou sugi ban) charred Japanese cedar and hinoki wood siding, architectural accessories, and complementary aluminum trim to architects, homeowners, contractors, and distributors via direct e-commerce and quote-based sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Wood Siding

NAICS

Wood Product Manufacturing (321), Wood Preservation (321114), All Other Wood Product Manufacturing (32199)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wood Siding, Cladding & Exterior Wood Profiles (IMADADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Treated Wood & Preserved Timber Products (IMADADAE), Wood Treatment & Specialty Preservatives (IMAEABAO)

Keywords

• Yakisugi wood siding
• Shou sugi ban cladding
• Charred wood siding
• Japanese cedar products
• Architectural wood cladding

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Yakisugi Shou Sugi Ban Products: One-time sale of charred Japanese cedar siding in three surface types (Suyaki, Gendai, Pika-Pika) with various finish coatings. Products priced per lineal foot or square foot with minimum order requirements.
2. Sugi & Hinoki Wood Products: Sale of natural uncharred Japanese cedar (sugi) and cypress (hinoki) for exterior and interior applications including paneling, rough lumber, and furniture-grade stock.
3. Siding Accessories: Sale of complementary installation products including coil nails, hand drive nails, hammer caps, trim head screws, and aluminum trim pieces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Nakamoto Forestry North America manufactures and sells authentic yakisugi (shou sugi ban) charred wood siding and complementary natural Japanese wood products directly to architects, designers, homeowners and contractors. Its core lineup is three branded surface finishes — Suyaki®, Gendai® and Pika-Pika® — made from air-dried then traditionally charred Japanese cedar (sugi) and hinoki cypress, paired with factory prefinishing options and proprietary aluminum and stainless-steel installation accessories. Products are sold via direct e-commerce and quote-based sales with a 400 sq ft / $5,000 minimum order.

Product overview

Nakamoto Forestry North America is the world's largest manufacturer of authentic yakisugi (Japanese charred wood siding, also known as shou sugi ban). The product portfolio centers on three yakisugi surface finishes: Suyaki® (traditional charred with thick soot layer), Gendai® (wire-brushed once for smooth finish), and Pika-Pika® (wire-brushed twice for textured grain). These are paired with various coating options including Tung Oil, Alkyd, Linseed, Weathering Stain, Polyurethane, and Acrylic in colors such as Black, Gray, Brown, Natural, and White. The company also offers uncharred Sugi (Japanese cedar) and Hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood products for applications where natural wood is preferred. Accessories include stainless steel fasteners (coil nails, hand drive nails, trim head screws) and aluminum trim components (corners, J-bars, Z-bars). Products are primarily for exterior siding, fencing, and louvers, with interior paneling options available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Suyaki®: Traditional charred yakisugi surface with thick hydrophobic soot layer that enhances color, durability, and fire resistance.
• Gendai®
• Pika-Pika®

Products and services

• Suyaki® Yakisugi Charred Wood Siding

Quantifiable outcome

• 80+ year average lifespan without maintenance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Nakamoto Zourin (Parent Company - Hiroshima, Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The Nakamoto family has sustainably managed forests in Yoshiwa-mura village for over 100 years. Responsible for timber sourcing, manufacturing, and processing of yakisugi products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• James Hardie: Global leader in fiber cement siding, the dominant mainstream alternative to wood and charred wood cladding. Indirect competitor at the architectural specification stage, particularly for fire-resistant exterior applications in WUI zones.
• Kebony: Norwegian producer of furfurylated modified wood for exterior cladding, decking, and architectural applications. Competes in the premium long-life wood category with a different (furfurylation) treatment process, targeting an overlapping architect and luxury homeowner segment.
• Louisiana-Pacific (LP Building Solutions): Major North American manufacturer of engineered wood siding and building products (LP SmartSide). Represents the volume-scale incumbent alternative to specialty wood cladding, competing for builder and developer mindshare in the residential exterior category.
• Accoya: Acetylated solid wood product manufactured by Accsys, used for exterior siding, decking, and windows. Competes in the premium modified wood category with a comparable sustainability and durability story, but uses a chemical-acetylation process rather than traditional charring.

Direct peers

• Pioneer Millworks: New York-based manufacturer of reclaimed and specialty wood products including shou sugi ban-style charred and weathered wood siding. Competes in the architect-driven specialty cladding market with a parallel sustainable materials narrative.
• reSAWN Timber Co. US-based manufacturer of shou sugi ban charred wood siding, interior cladding, and specialty wood products. Closest direct competitor, offering similar charred and weathered wood finishes with comparable architect-driven distribution.
• Thermory: Estonia-based manufacturer of thermally modified wood (heating rather than charring) for exterior and interior cladding. Operates in the same broad category of thermally enhanced wood siding with overlapping sustainability and architectural customer profiles.
• Delta Millworks: Austin, Texas-based manufacturer of shou sugi ban and other charred, reclaimed, and specialty wood siding products. Direct competitor in the same authentic yakisugi / charred wood cladding category with overlapping architect and homeowner customer base.

Emerging players

• Abodo Wood: New Zealand-based producer of thermally modified wood cladding with a strong sustainability and carbon-stored narrative. Directly comparable as a thermally modified wood siding competitor, though smaller scale and primarily focused on the Australasian and European markets.
• Cedar Valley Shingle Siding: US-based shingle and shake siding manufacturer with shou sugi ban product offerings. Comparable in the niche architectural cedar siding market, though broader product portfolio and less focused on charred finishes.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nakamotoforest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NakamotoForestryNorthAmerica
• Facebookfacebook.com/nakamotoforestry
• Instagraminstagram.com/nakamotoforestry
• Pinterestpinterest.com/shou_sugi_ban
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nakamoto-forestry-north-america

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nakamoto Forestry North America