Indigenous to China, the tall, broad-leaved, leguminous Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica) grows to a height of 20 - 25 metres.

In China, three Japanese pagoda trees planted during the Shu dynasty (1122 - 240 B.C) marked the final resting places of three tutors at the imperial court, hence the alternative name of Chinese scholar tree. Since then, the tree has symbolised authority and advancement. The tree was brought over to Japan for its medicinal properties at the time of Buddhism’s arrival. Later allocated the Chinese characters meaning long life, the tree came to be highly prized as an auspicious bringer of happiness that would answer prayers for longevity and easy delivery as well as ward off evil spirits.

Displaying excellent hardness and durability, the grain pattern from the Japanese pagoda tree possesses the distinctive feel found in beautiful, heavy wood. As a high-quality and precious material, Japanese pagoda tree has been utilized since time immemorial to, decorate the architecture of temples and shrines and for traditional crafts.