sawara cypress
A species of cypress native to Japan, Chamaecyparis pisifera. Often used in construction and woodworking.
The sawara cypress is a conifer native to the mountains of Japan.
Sawara cypress wood is used for the pillars of this shrine.
Rare kanji spelling; learners will almost always encounter the katakana form.
The Japanese name サワラ is of uncertain origin. The kanji 椹 is a specific character for this tree, but its historical derivation is unclear.