BEYOND BY LEXUS has a feature on the Naguri-style aluminum trim found in the GS F and GS F SPORT:
The word Naguri comes from a millennia-old Japanese wood-shaving technique. To repel bugs, local craftspeople would remove bark from chestnut trees, and onto the bare surface beneath they would carve random, artistic patterns. The practice became a revered art form in the 16th century – Sen No Rikyu, a renowned tea master, took a liking to the finished wood’s appearance and used it to decorate his tea rooms.
Ayumi Kido, executive chief designer of Tecno Art Research Co., a Lexus design hub, recalls how the brand first came to use the technique. “Associates at Yamaha, a close partner of ours, informed us that one of their longtime suppliers had developed a new way of treating aluminum,” she says. “They thought it would make for really unique trim pieces for our sportier cars, and when we saw it, we agreed.” She continues: “We felt that the Naguri-style finish provided a sense of traditional Japanese art, as well as embracing the spirit of takumi.”