A Day to Reconsider Coexistence with the Forest

When did the sight of young saplings, arranged in a grid on graph paper, stretching endlessly up the mountainside, first become associated with the word 'forest' in my mind? It reminds me of when I was a child.

Looking back now, what I saw back then was, in essence, cedar and cypress planted during Japan's period of rapid economic growth. However, they were rarely utilized or felled afterward. Why? While a decrease in demand for timber is one factor, another reason is the import of inexpensive timber from overseas. This led to an unhealthy state for domestic forests, while simultaneously contributing to the disappearance of forests in other countries due to over-logging.

What does it mean for a forest to become unhealthy when it's not thinned? In properly managed artificial forests, sufficient light reaches the ground, allowing various other plants, including fungi, to grow. However, in unmanaged artificial forests, the density of trees is so high that light cannot penetrate, preventing other plants from growing on the forest floor. Forests that are not thinned are more prone to soil erosion during heavy rains, leading to disasters. Biodiversity is lost, and the coexistence between humans and forests breaks down.

A Powerful Partnership Between more trees and LOUIS VUITTON, Two Distinct Entities!

Ryuichi Sakamoto, visiting the forest for the second time, remarked, "The thinned areas have become truly bright. They look beautiful, don't they? Grass is growing on the ground, giving the impression of a lush, green expanse."

He continued, "A forest that has been touched by human hands, unlike a completely natural one, requires maintenance. Only when the forest is healthy can it benefit humans. Of course, it's not just for human economic activities; it improves many aspects for other plants and animals living in the forest as well. If the mountains become neglected, their water retention capacity decreases, leading to landslides. It takes a very long time to recover from such damage. Properly maintaining the forest is also a responsibility that comes with human intervention."





On the bus ride up to the forest from Sakudaira Station, Mr. Prat let out a small exclamation at one point.

"Even before reaching the forest, I could tell it had become brighter. It feels open, like it's breathing. When I visited three years ago, the forest was very dense and dark. After thinning, light now penetrates, making it much brighter. This isn't a one-off project; it only has meaning through continuity. In Europe, where I grew up, forests are bright, and we used to play by making plaster casts of animal tracks. I hope Japanese forests will also become places that invite people to explore."







"This special edition of the photo book won the ADC Award last year," saidRyuichi SakamotoThinning materials are transformed into creative ideas, seemingly teaching us the sensibility of a new era.

A New Local Bounty: LOUIS VUITTON Forest Water

According to Komoro Mayor Takehiko Yanagida, "This water springs from Komoro City, and it is said to make exceptionally delicious coffee due to its hardness. This is another insight born from the 'LOUIS VUITTON Forest,' and we hope it will be cherished as a new specialty product of Komoro. Furthermore, as the forest becomes cleaner, mushrooms tend to grow more readily. So, our city officials suggested planting shiitake mushroom spawn on the stumps. They are large, with a wonderful texture, and very delicious. We'll be gently planting them, so please enjoy them (laughs). Above all, we are truly grateful that this has become such an open and wonderful forest."

Finally, Mr. Granjard stated, "Louis Vuitton has had a long presence in Japan, and we are very pleased to be able to contribute to society as a company for this important partner, Japan. I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to Ryuichi Sakamoto, everyone at more trees, the people of Komoro City, and all those involved for making this possible. Usually, we would toast with champagne, but today, let's toast with the water from the LOUIS VUITTON Forest (laughs)."

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