Design of Tansu (2)
The woods used are mainly light, such as cedar and cypress, sometimes the far more highly prized paulownia, in order not to add too much weight to these "chests". More decorative, heavier woods, such as zelkova, chestnut, cherry or even shioji, tamo or persimmon are often used only for the front. Some woods imported from China are also used, particularly for decorative shelves. The front is often coated with lacquer which resembles our varnishes, allowing the grain of the wood to show through, or is covered with a thick opaque lacquer. The wood may also be left in its natural state, which is often the case with paulownia wood.

Ironwork is an important element in Japanese furniture : very sober in the South, on the island of Kyushu, it may become a genuine work of art, scarcely allowing the wood it covers to show through, for example in Sendai in the North.

Most common types of Tansu
Cha-dansu (tea chest), Choba-dansu (merchant chest), Funa-dansu (ship chest), Isho-dansu (kimono chest), Kaidan-dansu (step-chest), Katana-dansu (sword chest), Kuruma-dansu (chest with wheels), Kusuri-dansu (apothecary chest), Mizuya-dansu (kitchen chest), Monoire-dansu (storage cupboard), etc..