30人余でヒノキ林の整備を実施

2015年7月25日の土曜日、都内の金融機関2社のボランティア33人のみなさんが、茨城県・阿見町での森林整備活動を実施しました。エコプラスは阿見町で07年以来、農業や林業の体験活動を支援しています。
7月25日、33人の参加者は東京駅近くに集合し、午前10時半にバスで阿見町君島地区に到着。身支度を整えて、11時過ぎから森林整備に着手しました。

対象となった森は、22年前にヒノキの苗を植えた場所。左右11列、奥行き30列近くに、高さ5m前後のヒノキが整然と並んでいます。

いずれは材木にと植えられたヒノキでしたが、親世代から引き継いだのは女性1人だけのお宅。ほとんど手入れが出来ずに、枝がびっしりと生え、そこにクズがからみついて一部はクズのツルが木全体を覆う状態となっていました。

ボランティアたちは、7人1組になって、地元のみなさんの指導のもとで、枝を払い、切った枝を引き出して森の外に積み上げる作業を続けました。

初めての枝打ち。インド出身の参加者もすぐに慣れて、みんなで300本以上の木をきれいにしました。
初めての枝打ち。インド出身の参加者もすぐに慣れて、みんなで300本以上の木をきれいにしました。

気温35度前後。猛烈な暑さと湿気で、みんな汗びっしょり。枝を切る時には木の上からヒノキの枯れ葉などが落ちてきて、ほこりまみれになります。

昼食をはさんで午後2時半ごろまで作業をし、ヒノキの林は高さ2m前後までがずっと先まで見通せる状態になりました。

現場を訪ねた地主の女性は、「私一人でどうしようもなくて手を付けられずにいました。本当に助かりました」と話していました。

作業終了間際。林の下は向こうまで見通せるようになりました。
作業終了間際。林の下は向こうまで見通せるようになりました。

参加者したみなさんからは「日ごろはずっと机に座っているだけなので、汗をかいての活動は面白い」「林の向こう側まで見通せるようになって、気持ちが良かった」などと話していました。

首都圏への農産物の供給源である阿見町でも、農林業の後継者は減っています。手入れがされていない森や竹林、耕作されないまま雑草に埋もれている農地などが数多くあります。

こうした土地を都市部の人たちが汗を流し心身をリフレッシュする場として活用することで、地域と人々の持続可能性へとつながるとエコプラスは期待しています。

International Students of Waseda Summer Session learned Traditional Japan in Tochikubo

On July 3-5, 25 international students and staff from Waseda University arrived in Minamiuonuma City as part of its Summer Session, visiting Tochikubo on the 4th. ECOPLUS supported their activities.
On July 3-5, 25 international students and staff from Waseda University arrived in Minamiuonuma City as part of its Summer Session, visiting Tochikubo on the 4th. ECOPLUS supported their activities. With activities such as walking the area, visiting homes, and enjoying local food, they had a chance to learn about Japanese traditional village life.

The students were from 9 countries and area like the US, the UK, and China. They stayed with host families in Minamiuonuma for two nights. While some students could speak a little Japanese, many could not. Because they had many different backgrounds, they had varying perspectives on what they saw, heard, and felt here.

Hearing the brief explanation of the area overseeing the panoramic view from the top.
Hearing the brief explanation of the area overseeing the panoramic view from the top.

The activities in Tochikubo began at 8:45 with the participants, taken there by their host families, gathered at the top of a mountain of 700 meters. The panoramic view was shrouded in clouds, creating an almost dream-like vista.

Two interns students of ECOPLUS spoke briefly about Tochikubo, mentioning the population size and elevation as well as industries such as the ski slopes, and of course, the rice fields. As we walked down the mountain, Takako Takano, Professor at Waseda and executive director of ECOPLUS, pointed out notable plants like heartleaf, called “Dokudami,” a plant that has many medicinal properties.

An elder lady presented how to get a jute fiber from dried skin of the plant. The jute clothes were made in the area for more than 1,300 years.
An elder lady presented how to get a jute fiber from dried skin of the plant. The jute clothes were made in the area for more than 1,300 years.

After a sumptuous lunch prepared by local women, the students were divided into different groups and helped visited local homes with a variety of tasks. The group I went with weeded a garden and tasted freshly-grown cucumbers. They asked many questions and really immersed themselves in the experience.

When finished working with the villagers, they gathered again on the second floor of the community center and watched a video and a presentation by the interns about their experiences over these eight weeks in Tochikubo. The students then had some time for questions and discussion, which proved very enlightening – a student from England commented on the differences between the Japanese and British countryside, and a Chinese student said that she was surprised at the cleanliness and level of development in Japanese rural areas.

At 4:15 it was time for them to return to their host families. Through being here and interacting with people, they had the chance to genuinely experience life in rural Japan. Based on what I saw and heard, I think they had an excellent learning experience.