A tall Japanese cedar tree (Cryptomeria japonica) prized for its lightweight, fragrant wood used in construction and traditional crafts.
From Japanese 'sugi' (杉), the native name for the cedar tree. The word entered English through contact with Japanese culture and woodworking traditions.
Sugi wood is so valued in Japan that ancient sugi forests are considered national treasures—some trees are over 1,000 years old—and the wood smells so distinctive that it's almost a cultural scent of Japan itself.
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