more trees x Marunouchi Asa Daigaku | Close-Up on the "Urban Lumberjack Class"
more trees × Marunouchi Morning University
An Inside Look at the "Urban Logger Class" (Part 1)
Action Connecting the City and Forest, Starting from Marunouchi
The term "morning activity" refers to a lifestyle of making the most of time before work to spend fulfilling mornings. At the forefront of these "morning activities" is "Marunouchi Morning University," which offers courses in various genres set in Marunouchi. Recently, the "Urban Logger Class Iwate Edition – Living in the City, Living with the Forest" (hereinafter referred to as "Urban Logger Class") was held as part of the spring semester's curriculum. The instructor was Shin-ichi Mizutani, Secretary-General of more trees (more trees).
Photographs by Shinya HiroseText by HIKITA Sachiyo (Fukairi)
From Marunouchi to the Forests of Iwate: A "Morning Activity" Connecting City and Forest
The "Urban Logger Class" was held as one component of the Marunouchi Morning University "Faculty of Environment" every Friday from May 24th to June 21st. Despite the early start time of 7:15 AM, 32 motivated students gathered.
The course involved learning about Japanese forests based on case studies from more trees, followed by a two-day field trip. Finally, students formed teams to present their action plans.
First, participants learned the basics of Japanese forests. Lectures covered themes such as "What actions are needed for sustainable forest management?" followed by a two-day field trip. Students visited Sumita Town in Iwate Prefecture, a place with strong ties to more trees, and Rikuzentakata City, which was affected by the earthquake.
On the final day, participants formed groups to plan action proposals. Each group presented their "Action Plan from the City," concluding the class.
What Students Found Appealing About the "Urban Logger Class"
The desire to "take action" while living in the city was common among all students, as evident in their interviews.
"I am personally involved in projects aimed at regional revitalization, and I took this class to learn about concrete action plans. During the field trip, I truly felt the connection between the people rooted in the region and us city dwellers, linked through the forest. I hope to apply this stimulating experience to actions in the city."
"I was drawn to the content of the field trip and enrolled in this class. I wanted to see the specific initiatives related to the connection between disaster-stricken areas and forests. Through the thinning experience, I felt the vitality of the forest – its scent and freshness. Also, during the visit to Sumita Town, I saw how the town consistently creates a cycle of employment and production, which made me realize the potential of forestry. From now on, I want to convey the charm of the forest to others, for example, by sharing my experiences from the thinning activity."
"When I had more free time and started looking outward, I stumbled upon the "Urban Logger Class." I had always enjoyed hiking, but I didn't know much about domestic forests or forestry, so there was a lot to learn. Visiting the disaster-stricken areas also gave me an opportunity to deeply consider coexistence with nature. From now on, I want to start by building connections with the forest in small ways. It's better to take small actions than none at all."
The field trip, which included thinning experiences and visits to disaster-affected areas, allowed participants to directly experience regional regeneration through forestry. Visiting wooden temporary housing and interacting with local residents were unforgettable experiences for the participants. The action plans presented on the final day were concrete and focused on "communication from the city," including ideas for organizing forest-related events and environmental education for children.
more trees × Marunouchi Morning University
An Inside Look at the "Urban Logger Class" (Part 2)
Shin-ichi Mizutani, Secretary-General of more trees × Yuki Udagawa, Planning Manager at Marunouchi Morning University
"Connecting People in Cities with Forests and Inspiring Action"
We had the opportunity to speak with both Shin-ichi Mizutani, Secretary-General of more trees, who served as the instructor for this "Urban Logger Class," and Yuki Udagawa, who is in charge of planning and operations at Marunouchi Morning University. They shared the background of the class's inception and their impressions of how it went.
Photographs by Shinya HiroseText by HIKITA Sachiyo (Fukairi)
There's Something to Be Gained by Visiting the Site
UdagawaMany people living in cities believe that "trees should not be cut" to protect forests. However, what Japanese forests actually need today is "planned logging and forest management." In other words, forests become healthy when trees are felled, consumed, forestry is revitalized, and human intervention occurs again. Yet, people in cities, who have little contact with forests, are unaware of this. With the "Urban Logger Class," we wanted to provide an opportunity to learn about the various issues surrounding forests and to experience firsthand what forests are like.
MizutaniIndeed, regardless of their background, many people involved with forests share the common understanding that they want to "connect cities and forests." This led to discussions between Marunouchi Morning University and more trees about whether "we could collaborate," and the current course became a reality.
The concept of "connecting people in cities with forests and inspiring action" aligns with the activities of more trees. Thus, the "Urban Logger Class" was launched by leveraging this concept.
MizutaniWhile desk-based study is valuable, the quickest way to understand forest management is to see it in practice. Therefore, we designed a curriculum that combines lectures with hands-on field experience to deepen learning. The goal was to maximize the learning effect by creating a synergy between the study in Marunouchi and the fieldwork.
UdagawaI feel that the participants' motivation increased through the fieldwork. By sharing time, space, and experiences, they not only became more comfortable with each other but also developed teamwork through collaborative thinning. I believe they personally experienced that forest management cannot be done alone.
Cultivating "Influencers" Who Convey the Charm of Forests
MizutaniThis course is not intended to train people to move to the countryside and engage in forestry. The objective is to increase the number of people in cities who can inspire others and take action. We want to cultivate "urban loggers" – individuals who live in urban areas but create connections with forests and influence those around them.
UdagawaMarunouchi Morning University attracts people who are conscious about various aspects of life, including their future and societal issues. We are always thinking about how to harness that energy. "
Take this course as an example: it's rare for conscious urban dwellers to go to the forest and participate in thinning. This is also a great inspiration for the local community. When many office ladies from the city come and say, "Logging is cool!" it makes even the elderly loggers happy (laughs)."
This is actually an essential element for forest management. For the city side, it creates "influencers" who can drive the shift towards a sustainable society. For the rural side, it leads to a re-evaluation of the region's value. It is important to stimulate both the city and the forest.
MizutaniOn the final day of the class, action plans were presented. However, this is just the beginning. The plans only have meaning when they lead to action. Whether it's implementing them in one's personal life or gathering friends to take action, we hope participants will maintain their relationships after the class and voluntarily continue to be "urban loggers."
UdagawaThe course is merely an entry point to action. We aim to form a community here, where individuals with the same goals and interests can actively engage. And we hope that this will eventually become mainstream.
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