Essence of the Forest - Zero Waste Life

Since ancient times, the Japanese have believed that a life force resides in all creations. Valuing and caring for the things we use, a zero-waste life. Pointing the way to better living for a new era. Chino, Nagano Prefecture, in central Japan. At the foot of the mountains, it's blessed with vast forests. These woods are also the home base for a very special project being undertaken by Ishibashi Tetsushi. He diligently collects fallen branches from trees that are periodically culled to thin the forest. Thinning is essential for a healthy forest. When overgrown, trees are deprived of sunlight and nutrients, causing the forest to recede. Systematic thinning promotes healthy undergrowth and new saplings, maintaining the health of the whole system. But since trees felled for thinning are of limited use, labour and transport costs are a burden on foresters. By purchasing such trees from local foresters, Ishibashi hopes to reduce waste. These small branches will be loaded onto the truck. He hauls away the thinnest branches that are especially hard to find a use for. Normally, we don't use this kind of material in forestry. We have to take it to the processing plant and burn it, or process it three times. But we've come up with a different method of processing to create a new value. For us, it's easier to process, it's more compact, and it's easier to commercialize. There are many advantages to this method. This is the part we want the most. The branches are separated by species and fed into a wood chipper. It's amazing. Even when we get the material, we have to do this first. If we leave it for a week, it will ferment and become like dirt. It's like a time attack. At this workshop, Ishibashi transforms these leftovers into finished products. The branches and needles go into a still. The oils in the liquid separate from the water and are gradually extracted. These are the essential oils, aromatic compounds produced by the trees to protect themselves from insects and disease. Ishibashi incorporates them into the products he creates. Plants have a large volume, but the price is not very high. If we compress them and use only aromatic compounds, the price will go up. I think we have a great potential as a company. The extracted essential oils are left to mellow and then blended with oils from other varieties of trees to create the aromas for the products they sell. The resulting fragrance embodies the scent of the forest itself. Ishibashi's creations have become popular sellers at a local specialty retailer. I don't feel like I've been sold. But the fragrance is good, so I'm excited. It's really good. I run a shop, so if I can use the space, I don't have to worry about the smell of food. I think it's good to be able to create a very relaxed space. Ishibashi also makes other products, using water left over after extracting essential oils for hand soap. In addition, he uses the extracts that remain in the still to create vegetable dyes. Dried and roasted needles are used for herbal tea, so nothing is wasted. Ishibashi's hope is to create a system that makes use of the entire tree. It's our job to think about various products that can be used in various ways. Ishibashi was set on his current path by local forester Koike Kotaro. It was a meeting with Koike that first led him to the world of trees. Friends in their student days, after eight years apart, they became reacquainted. Working as an architectural designer, Ishibashi was also interested in applying design to social issues. Koike told him about the problems in Japan's forestry business. It's very difficult to keep on working. Even though it's a necessary job, it's hard to keep the money flowing. I feel very frustrated about that. I've always worked in a place close to the design industry. I strongly felt that I could connect with the local forestry industry and the city industry. I work in the forestry business to preserve the trees for another 100 years. In order to do that, I have to land and make money. That's why I'm sweating. The two visited the forest together many times, discussing possible solutions. And, in 2021, they co-founded a business to make use of culled timber. Koike provides the raw materials, while Ishibashi is in charge of product development. I think it's hard to connect the forestry business and consumption. If there's no way to use it, it won't be worth it. I think my biggest role is to find a way to make use of it. I hope more people like him will come to Japan. Now, Ishibashi is taking on an even greater challenge. This new building at a local resort opened in July of 2024. The resort asked Ishibashi to oversee its construction, making use of the expertise he'd gained. Locally sourced culled timber is featured throughout, including tables, chairs and interior decor. Culled timber is difficult to use as furniture. But I've been working with furniture craftsmen to find a way to make use of it, Events are held here to help guests and local residents deepen their understanding of the forest. When guests enter this building, they say it smells like wood. It's not just about making use of it. I think it's a valuable experience for the guests. Beyond this structure, they also plan to build retail shops and public spaces using culled timber. I want to make the entrance as simple as possible. It's difficult for people to come to the mountains and experience the forest. I want people to feel the forest in their daily lives and be interested in it. I want people to go to places where culled timber can be found. I want people to treasure the wood. I want people to recognize the value of the mountains. There are many issues in the forest around the country. I think this is the key to solving them.