Chunky Large Rare Yakasugi Cedar Wood Bead Necklace, 18”

Surprise! We thought these were random old wood beads but upon noticing the beautiful grain marks encircling the beads we had to do more research. 
 
We believe these are Yakasugi Cedar beads from Yakushima, revered for a ‘life force’ associated with longevity and protection from misfortune. There are those who say they have a tender fragrance which can help one relax. Preserved with oil, the grain marks maintain a distinctive circular pattern on each bead. Yukusigi only grows over 500 meters or higher, and only cedars over 1000 years old are designated Yakusugi. Logging is now prohibited. The wood is known for its dense rings and hardness. It is often used for prayer beads. Online we often found them referred to as ‘Power Wood’ beads. 
 
Our necklace has 21 beads strung on a stretchy elastic thread, which does not appear to be uncommon based on our online research for these kinds of beads. 
 
These were found in our grandmother’s costume jewelry collection. She may have purchased them during her world tour in 1934-1935 when in Japan.
 
Beads Approx. H 1” x W 7/8” x D 1 1/8” each
Length 18” 
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know