The splendor of Yoshino forestry
Yoshino forestry has long been a model for Japanese forestry. With a focus on Kawakami Village, Kurotaki Village, and Higashiyoshino Village in the upper reaches of the Yoshino River in Nara Prefecture, we produce high-quality timber with our unique cultivation method and forestry management, and we are proud of our worldwide reputation. A labor-intensive method of densely planting and thinning and a mountain guard system that has continued for generations. It goes without saying that the materials that have been nurtured based on the relationship of love and trust between wood and people are wonderful. Although it is undeniable that demand has declined in recent years, beautiful Yoshino wood has endless possibilities.
Why Yoshino Forestry is wonderful
Those who grew up in the forest chose to live on the forest. That is the beginning of Yoshino Forestry. Therefore, the love and knowledge of the forest is deeply and steadily inherited.
The splendor of the history that Hideyoshi Taiko fell in love with
In the old days 1500 There is a theory that the forest was planted around the year, but the full-scale use of timber began in the time of Hideyoshi Toyotomi. 1573 ~ 1593 It is the Tensho year of the year. Yoshino's materials are abundantly used in Osaka Castle, Fushimi Castle, and castles, temples and shrines built at the same time. Wood produced from the most suitable areas for tree growth, such as highly permeable and water-retaining soil, moderate rainfall and temperature, and a small amount of snow in the mountains, has been highly evaluated since then. ..
Transportation using the Yoshino River has also been improved, and timber shipments to the Osaka market are extremely prosperous. When forestry became established as a key industry in the region, it became under the direct control of the Shogunate during the Edo period and began producing barrels. Tarumaru is made from wood, mainly cedar, which is a material for miso barrels and sake barrels. Since the condition is that water does not leak without gaps, materials with dense annual rings and no knots were preferred. Originally, Yoshino Forestry shipped high-quality lumber, but we will devise an operation method to meet the conditions. That is the dense planting and frequent pruning and thinning of Yoshino Forestry that has been handed down to this day. The carefully cultivated wood has a beautiful uniform grain and is fragrant, and it is said that the sake that was put in the barrels of Yoshino cedar and brought to Edo became even more abundant. In this way, while establishing its name as a barrel circle, the stunning cylindrical logs have come to be regarded as a building material.
The splendor of the effortless operation
Yoshino Forestry, which made a name for itself in the world of Edo in Tarumaru, arrived at the operation method during the long-cutting period of dense planting and thinning. In normal forestry 1ha The tree planting is 3,000 Books are used as a guide, but Yoshino Forestry 8,000 ~ 12,000 Plant a book. By planting at high density, the tree will not grow too thick and will grow straight. After planting 3 Year is year 2 times, Four ~ 6 Year until year 1 After hunting undergrowth, cutting and clearing vines, 16 16 ~ 20 Thinning begins from the year. This large amount of thinning is a characteristic of Yoshino Forestry. Do not leave too much space between the trees according to the stage of growth 40 Until the year 3 ~ Five A year 1 times, 70 Until around the age 7 ~ Ten A year 1 Times, after that Ten A year 1 It will be done once.
A tree that grew up with a lot of love and time for two or even three generations soon 100 It will be shipped as Yoshino wood around the year. Yoshino's forestry that raises children and grandchildren as if stroking them. In Yoshino, it is called "buiku" rather than "forestation".
The wonderful relationship of trust between the mountain owner and Yamamori
When talking about the wonderfulness of Yoshino forestry, the Yamamori system is mentioned along with dense planting and thinning. It is a system developed from the leased land system, and the owner of the forest is called the mountain owner, and the manager who cares for it is called the mountain guard. Yamamori receives care from the mountain owner and hires local people to take care of the mountain. And you also get rewards for logging. The mountain owner entrusts his property to Yamamori and entrusts the management, and Yamamori protects the mountain for generations, so it is not a half-hearted relationship of trust. This is possible because we share a love for Mt. Yoshino and trees.
The splendor of the material
Mt. Yoshino is one of Japan's three largest artificial forests with a spectacularly arranged landscape. It's no wonder that beautiful mountains are made up of beautiful trees. The straight wood has a uniform grain and no knots. The contrast between the whiteness of the sapwood of the cedar and the lean meat of the heartwood, and the color of the cypress skin create a sense of cleanliness and luxury. Not only is it resistant to termite harm, but it has also been reported to be effective in controlling influenza infection and mites and mold.
The characteristic of Yoshino wood, which has a narrow and uniform annual ring width, is that it is strong and does not bend easily. Sugi has the Young's modulus that indicates the resistance to deflection. E90 When it comes to cypress E110 It will be. All of them are well above the national average, and there are increasing expectations for their widespread use, as well as their beautiful appearance and health benefits to the human body.
Challenges and prospects
Yoshino cedar cypress used to sell as a luxury brand even if it was silent, but the decline in demand is an undeniable reality. Yamamori and sawmills that have continued for generations are not as busy as they once were. Lifestyles have changed and consumer needs have diversified. There are many people who choose imported wood by cost and laminated lumber by strength. Some offices have begun shipping finished products to meet diverse needs, such as furniture and woodwork. Experience-based meetings to promote the wonderfulness of Yoshino's forests have come to be held frequently. Multi-thinning, which is a characteristic of Yoshino forestry. There are endless possibilities for the use of thinned wood.
