Hinoki suitable for making tozan (Japanese fittings) grows only in the Uwa District of Japan, in the Yamada area in particular. Investigations were made to find out if there was any connection with soil type. Soil profiles are described and illustrated and their physical and chemical properties tabulated. Soils in this area are affected to a varying extent by black volcanic ash. Those strongly affected were found to have a low pH, very little exchangeable calcium, a fairly high humus and nitrogen content in all layers and a favorable gravel content, and produced good hinoki growth, but poor tozan, which requires narrow, uniform annual rings. In the Yamada area, hinoki is often found growing with akamatsu (<i>Pinus densiflora* 1), which may promote the natural fall of branches and so encourage production of hinoki suitable for tozan. -- AATA