Shou Sugi Ban, also known as Yakisugi, is a decorative and architectural wood-burning technique that has been used for centuries in Japan. This traditional Japanese wood preservation method involves voluntarily charring wood to create a textural surface that is beautiful to look at—and that offers practical advantages when executed correctly. It can be used as a treatment on outdoor architectural elements such as siding, as well as indoors on walls and furniture. The aesthetic qualities of Shou Sugi Ban have inspired a revived interest in the wood-charring technique in recent years, which has become a prominent trend in architecture and interior design around the world.