Hari is a flat length of wood, like a thin beam, used to connect pillars and larger beams in traditional Japanese architecture. Generally, the direction of a hari is the same as the depth of a building, and the unit is one 'ken'. One ken is about 18.182m long.

Also, in construction using materials other than wood, there are parts corresponding to hari that play an important role.

The history of hari dates back very many years. In ancient buildings still standing today, you can see naked haris taking advantage of the natural curves of the wood. Using natural wood without processing leads to stronger structures. Hari has an artistic attraction, too, for modern people; some houses have a roof featuring hari which is not for strength but for design.

The kitayama tree is one of the most common sources of timber used in making Japanese 'sukiya' houses. It is a representative Japanese cedar, and is forested in Nakagawa district, Rakuhoku, Kyoto.

Wood from the kitayama tree is characterised by its brilliant, smooth surface. Besides its color, the wood will not discolor nor warp. This is why it is beloved by architects, tea masters and intellectuals.

The first kitayama plantations were cultivated in the Muromachi period, 600 years ago, and began to be used increasingly in the tea ceremony.

The foresters put great efforts into keeping the cedar undamaged. All the production processes, from choice of saplings, to cultivation, pruning, trimming and grass-cutting, are done manually with great care and precision. Thanks to the endeavors of its pioneers, the kiyatama lumber industry continues to flourish to this day.