Mori no Shigotosha (forest conservation - furniture production)
Making the most of the mountains of Oku-Aizu and living together with the local community
In Oku-Aizu, where the original Japanese scenery still remains, we are working to become a company that truly contributes to the local community through diverse collaboration and new perspectives. The forests of the Aizu region are rich in resources, so we are working to restore the mountains to their original state by improving the environment and moving the mountains.
Communicating the charm of the mountains from the "Kingdom of Tochigi"
In the Asagi area of Oku-Aizu Mishima Town, there is a colony of giant Tochigi trees over 150 years old. We named this area "Tochigi Kingdom" and, with the aim of making the most of the rich mountain, we promote forest fieldwork such as logging observation tours and hands-on workshops for making tables from solid wood, and communicate the charm of the mountains to our customers. We use wood harvested from "Tochigi Kingdom" consistently for everything from mountain work to woodworking. It would be our great hope that the trees that have reached the end of their lifespan in "Tochigi Kingdom" will be transformed into lumber that will support the lives of many people.
Recording the life cycle of each and every natural tree
We record the details of the life cycle of natural trees felled in Oku-Aizu. When we sell them, we strive to deepen our customers' attachment to natural trees by disclosing the records in detail. We will introduce in detail not only the age of the tree, which can be determined from the grain, which is unique, but also the height and thickness of the tree before it was felled, and the individuality and characteristics as seen by the felling craftsmen.
Custom-made from natural wood from Oku-Aizu
We sell natural wood harvested in the "Kingdom of Tochigi" online and deliver it directly to consumers. Natural wood is becoming more and more popular due to its natural warmth. Not only does it have excellent insulation properties, about 12 times those of concrete, but it also has a pleasant feel to the touch. We also accept orders for custom-made furniture using natural wood. Why not incorporate the highest quality natural wood grown in Oku-Aizu into your life?
We want to create healthy mountains
Mountains are not something that disappear, so I believe that the more you work on them the more they will grow. I believe that creating healthy mountains protects local resources and will ultimately benefit the local people. It is currently popular to burn trees from the mountains as a carbon offset for generating electricity, but I would like to propose a lifestyle in which people incorporate the trees they cut into their daily lives and live with them as part of their lives. (Woodsman: Nishi Kyohei)
Here you can see the path your trees will follow after they are cut down.
Of course, Japanese horse chestnut and paulownia are the most famous trees, and every year we cut down a large Japanese horse chestnut tree for our logging observation tour. Oku-Aizu has many areas with good soil and drainage conditions, so the trees grow big and thick. I look forward to seeing the trees I cut down being sawn into lumber for people's homes and furniture. I get to see with my own eyes what the wood is being used for, which is something that other companies don't offer. (Woodsman: Nihei Shigetaka)
Dealing with the mountains as a local doctor
Current Chairman Sakuma Genichiro has a strong desire to be a company that is "rooted in the community," and is expanding his activities for the local community, focusing on civil engineering, so that the company can become something like a local doctor. Sakuma Construction's main business is road and infrastructure development, but as part of that, it has also expanded into forestry work, and is concerned about the deterioration of the mountains, so is caring for them. (Furniture maker: Iwabuchi Ryota)