Sakhalin Spruce
The Okhotsk region of Hokkaido once produced many high-quality, straight trees that could be used in the soundboards of pianos. Now we are developing Otonomori activities unique to Japan, with the goal of once again making pianos with soundboards made of Japanese materials.
Sakhalin Spruce
Scientific name: Picea glehnii
Sakhalin spruce is a species of spruce native to Hokkaido. Second only to Sakhalin fir and Japanese larch as a species used in afforestation, it currently makes up many artificial forests in the Okhotsk region (Kitami City, etc.). Its seedlings grow more readily than Ezo spruce (Picea jezoensis), which is closely related and has a similar shape and timber surface. It even grows well in poor environments such as peatland and gravel layers, making it comparatively easy to use in afforestation. The average tree height in old stands of forest exceeds 30 meters. Until the early 2000s, large-diameter timber from natural forests was used as a material for piano parts. Now, thinned wood primarily from artificial forests is distributed as construction materials and pulp. With its yellowish-white color and even rings, it is in no way inferior to European spruce (Picea abies) which is currently the most recognized material for musical instruments. Its lightness and high elastic modulus also make it useful as an acoustic material.
Project Summary
Turning Sakhalin spruce into piano materials again ------ This activity began out of consideration for the people of Engaru, a small town in the Okhotsk region. Engaru, where Yamaha Music Craft Hokkaido Co., Ltd. (formerly Kitami Mokuzai Co., Ltd.) is located, once flourished around the harvesting area of Sakhalin spruce. In the past, there were many thick, slow-growing natural Sakhalin spruce which yielded suitable materials for musical instruments and were used to make pianos. Even today, the Okhotsk region is said to contain approximately 25% of Hokkaido's Sakhalin spruce plantations. However, the trees on the Sakhalin spruce plantations are still thin and need to grow for much longer before they can be used to make musical instruments.
The project was born out of a trilateral agreement entered into in 2016 between the town of Engaru, the Okhotsk Subprefecture, and Kitami Mokuzai (Currently Yamaha Music Craft Hokkaido Co., Ltd.). The project is currently conducting basic research in the local forests of the Hokkaido government and universities in the region on how to grow Sakhalin spruce suitable for musical instruments, as well as "mokuiku" activities and tree planting in various locations. By going beyond just forestry management to introduce more people to the connections between musical instruments, forests, and music, we believe that one day we will be able to experience the excitement of seeing Sakhalin spruce pianos in the world again.
Yamaha Music Craft Hokkaido Co., Ltd. (formerly Kitami Mokuzai Co., Ltd.)
Yamaha's Sakhalin spruce forest in Takinoue, Hokkaido
