Indeed, upon landing at Kochi Ryoma Airport and passing through the modest city of Kochi, the drive continued with an endless panorama of mountains, forests, and the sea. Beautifully maintained terraced rice fields spread across the mountainsides, and we could see people diligently engaged in farming. It was a glimpse of the Tosa people coexisting with nature.



With 319 tributaries converging, the Shimanto River boasts abundant water volume. However, the boatman lamented that its volume has been decreasing in recent years.
"Perhaps it's due to global warming or other factors, but they say the water level has dropped by nearly 50 cm to 1 meter compared to when my father was young."

The "Chinka-bashi" (submersible bridges), which are literally submerged when the river's water level rises, are iconic landmarks of the Shimanto River and are preserved as part of its living cultural heritage. During heavy rains from typhoons, the water level surges, flowing well above the height of these bridges. This powerful force scours the riverbed, thereby maintaining the water's purity, it is said.

"But there were no floods this year, so even this isn't the best condition for the water," he said, offering us some freshwater prawns that inhabit the clear stream.



The bonito, still in its whole form, was expertly filleted, then seared over a straw fire by Ryuichi Sakamoto himself. Mayor Ikeda then sliced it and finished it with a sprinkle of coarse salt.

"Delicious!" Sakamoto's exclamation prompted everyone to reach for the katsuo, digging in with gusto. And indeed, it was delicious. Slightly warm yet retaining its fresh flavor, this katsuo was an unparalleled delicacy, unlike any fish dish I had ever tasted.

"This calls for sake!"
With Sakamoto's words as a signal, the welcome feast truly began.

Why the First "more trees" Forest Was Established in Kochi

As mentioned at the outset, Kochi is a land of forests. However, these forests are facing a critical situation. Under the guise of post-war reconstruction, the government promoted extensive afforestation, leading to the widespread planting of artificial forests, primarily fast-growing conifers, across the country. Subsequently, cheap imported timber led to the decline of the domestic forestry industry. According to data released by Kochi Prefecture, the number of forestry workers has decreased by three-quarters over approximately 30 years.



Venturing deep into the mountains to thin out excess trees and allow ample sunlight into the forest—a process known as "thinning"—likely requires significant manpower, cost, and time. Simultaneously, I also felt that if these forests could be properly managed and forestry could achieve sustainability in both environmental and business aspects, Kochi could become a 21st-century utopia.

A paradise nurtured by forests, rivers, and the sea. My sincere hope upon returning from Kochi is that this dream does not remain a dream, and that we can support the activities of "more trees" and Kochi.