noun
sawara cypress
A species of cypress native to Japan, Chamaecyparis pisifera. Often used in construction and woodworking.
サワラは日本の山地に自生する針葉樹です。
The sawara cypress is a conifer native to the mountains of Japan.
この神社の柱にはサワラ材が使われている。
Sawara cypress wood is used for the pillars of this shrine.
ヒノキ (hinoki cypress) is a closely related species, but sawara cypress has softer wood and finer grain.
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.