Wood is plentiful. They are testing wether it is viable. This is the only way to find out whether it is smart or not.

It's interesting. I wonder about how it holds up essentially being freeze-dried in space, but things with a short lifetime might be viable. Japan has always done interesting things with woodworking, so it seems a natural step. I used to be friends with a guy who directed funding to various projects and start-ups here in Japan and wish I could pick his brain about this (though I don't believe he did anything with this).

It's easier and cheaper to make wood than aluminium or steel. If it holds up, it would be a win.

I imagine there's all sorts of issues to iron out... The wood would have to be super dry, for example. Freeze thaw cycles in space are constant and extreme.

I don't think it's the first time wood has been used in spacecraft- I vaguely remember oak heatshields being a thing.