SEM-EDXA was found to be an effective way of visualizing inorganic element distribution in wood as it was possible to examine some inorganic elements at the same time and map the concentration differences in color. Japanese cedar sapwoods were impregnated by vacuum treatment with CuAz or by pressure treatment with CCA preservatives and then distribution of Cu, Cr and As elements in wood were examined by SEM-EDXA. For sapwood treated by CuAz, Cu element was more distributed in latewood tracheids near growth ring boundary, axial parenchyma cells (resin cells) and ray parenchyma cells. Sapwood treated by CCA seemed to have the same distribution of Cu as sapwood treated by CuAz. In resin cells, a lot of crystalline deposits were fringed with CuAz and CCA preservatives. This may indicate predominant interactions between preservatives and chemical constituents of the parenchyma cells.

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