A meeting with Tatsuya Uehi, a member of the Diet, in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) regarding self-logging forestry [No. 3]

Friday, September 25, 2020

After the discussion with the Honoka Agricultural Cooperative, we moved to the Kazaguruma restaurant in Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen, where we had a discussion with Kamii Tatsuya, who is engaged in self-logging forestry in Hokuryu Town.


Discussion on self-cutting forestry

▶ Paper MP:I learned that self-logging forestry is not just about cutting down trees, but also about carrying out forestry with the awareness of preserving nature and building mountains.

First of all, could you tell us what prompted you to get involved in self-logging forestry?

▷ Kamii:I've always loved nature and was interested in forestry, so when I looked into it, I found out that there was a new type of forestry. I was skeptical when I heard that forestry was losing money despite deriving wealth from nature. Then I learned about self-logging forestry and realized that this could help protect nature.

At university, I studied wildlife, particularly Ezo deer, and then trained at Onishi Forestry Co., Ltd. in Shiraoi for two years.

I loved nature, and another reason was that I wanted to live in the forest. I also didn't want to be employed, and wanted to work according to my own ideas.

I worked at Onishi Forestry Co., Ltd. until the end of last year, but I quit my job and started looking for a mountain. The mountain in Hokuryu Town met my requirements. I purchased the mountain in January of this year, moved in in April, and started forestry work.

We are using the Forest and Mountain Village Multifunctionality Promotion Measures Grant. Over the past three years, we have built work paths and are using firewood as our base, as well as various other things, such as using birch bark (birch bark is very durable and we see great potential), woven birch bark baskets, birch roots, bamboo leaf tea, and maple syrup. We also hope to discover the various value of the forest through experiences such as chopping firewood, catching stag beetles, and gathering wild vegetables from the Yachibuki forest.

There are still many broad-leaved trees remaining in the mountains of Hokkaido, so we would like to aim to create sustainable mountains that are resistant to natural disasters. We would also like to use dead larch trees that would normally be thrown away.

We plan to focus on producing materials that are difficult and challenging to work with, and provide materials for processed goods to housewives and other people who want to do so.

▶ question:Are you and your husband running this together?

▷ Kamii:In fact, to receive the grant, you need to be an organization. We are working with a couple from Numata Town, people from Shintotsukawa, and others who are interested in forestry. My wife is also a member.

▶ Paper MP:More and more people in Japan are practicing self-logging forestry. Many of them are young people, and it is dangerous work, so we need to study what is needed to make it viable. What kind of support is needed?

▷ Kamii:Those who want to work in forestry also want mountains, and the mountains are waiting for them. Matching people with the mountains is the key.


▶ question:Current forestry practices are cutting down and leaving mountains bare, which then collapses with a bang when heavy rain or typhoons hit. There are mountains all over the place where this water ends up entering agricultural water and rice fields. I have doubts about excessive development. What are your thoughts on this?

▷ Kamii:Excessive development means the movement of soil and sand. For Japanese people to survive, we need the soil and rocks of the earth, forests, animals, and rain that falls on them, and water that flows and pours into the sea. So, soil and rocks are an important foundation, so I wonder why we are throwing away that soil.

▶ Paper MP:Is it possible to own a mountain and make a living through self-logging forestry?


▷ Kamii:I haven't seen any results yet, so for now I just need to stay positive and keep working hard. There is a mountain of work to do. There are countless ideas, such as brushing up on the wisdom of people in the past and creating something new. If I can give shape to each idea one by one, I think the overall result will be something amazing. I hope I can revive old things into something new.

▶ Kazuo Kimura (Director of Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association):I own about 40 hectares of Ichinosawa mountain, which is next to Kamii's Azusawa mountain, but I haven't touched it at all until now. There are many scrub trees, and the deciduous forest hasn't been touched for over 40 years, so it's a waste of a valuable resource. I hope to somehow connect it with young people who are interested.

▷ Kamii:Small-scale forestry businesses work in groups, taking turns helping each other out on the mountains, going back and forth and supporting each other. Everyone enjoys their work and is motivated, so they can work efficiently.

▶ Paper MP:In the United Nations' Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028), it is important to continue family farming while protecting nature in accordance with its actual conditions, rather than moving towards large-scale farming. There is also an international trend to reconsider the way things have been done up until now.

It is important that those involved in self-sufficient forestry play their respective roles. At a recent meeting, people involved in self-sufficient forestry, agriculture, and forestry all came together to discuss how we can work together to achieve 10 years of family farming.

▶ question:When building a work road, do you rent heavy machinery?

▷ Kamii:We are grateful to have the support of a local construction company, who has enabled us to rent heavy machinery at low cost.

▶ question:What do you think about interactions with other industries?

▷ Kamii:We value not only exchanges between self-logging forestry businesses, but also exchanges with other industries and the local construction industry. We are currently coming up with various ideas for connections, such as processed products made from materials from the mountains.

▶ Paper MP:I heard from people working at the foot of Mt. Teine that they collect broadleaf tree leaves and take them to the zoo to be used as food for the elephants, and I was surprised to learn that they could be used in that way. It seems that dead leaves are also used as fertilizer.

▶ opinion:In cities, there is cooperation with the fishing industry, and there is a belief that a rich ocean is linked to a rich forest.

▶ question:Mr. Kamii, do you have a policy for thinning trees?

▷ Kamii:The trees that are left in the forest will absorb nutrients from the water and sunlight, and will grow strong and healthy on their own. There is no need to have a strict policy for thinning, and if each person thinks about it and thins appropriately, I think the trees will grow well on their own through the power of nature.

▶ Councilman Tamura:I have actually been involved in forestry myself. I have thinned out trees, leaving 70% of the trees standing. The mountains taught me the exquisite method of thinning: trees will be damaged if they touch each other, they will not grow if they cannot photosynthesize properly, and it is no good if the blue sky is not visible.

It's wonderful that you believe in the life force of trees and are working hard to restore nature. I'm very pleased that you've been able to put this into practice at such a young age.

▶ Paper MP:Shimokawa is a town of forests, with everything connected, including the town plan, chamber of commerce, forestry association, consumers, and hot springs that use woody biomass energy from thinning residues as a heat source.

We have a "forestry specialist" who specializes in thinking about how to use wood. We make full use of the resource by turning wood into civil engineering materials, wood vinegar, aromatic oils, and more. I think it would be good to interact with people like this. I hope that things will go smoothly from now on.

A discussion with House of Councillors member Tomoko Kami and House of Representatives member Takaaki Tamura

Afterwards, a "reception with House of Councillors member Gin Kami Tomoko and House of Representatives member Takaaki Tamura" was held at Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen. Participants paid their own participation fee (those from outside the town were also responsible for accommodation costs).


Greetings from Tokuji Hisada, Chairman of Hokkaido Seed Association

"There was some good news in the paper this morning. The Akahata newspaper's scoop on the Cherry Blossom Viewing Party was selected as the grand prize winner of this year's JCJ Award (2020 Japan Conference of Journalists Award), which recognizes outstanding journalistic activity.

I was happy about it because it was an important news item on the local HBC program "Hecklers and Democracy."

When I was at the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, I also won the JCJ Award for my coverage of the Hokkaido Prefectural Government's massive accounting fraud. This award can only be won by digging deep into the matter, so I was delighted to see that this kind of journalism is still alive and well today.

Two years ago, I retired from the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper after working there for 33 years. Rather than staying in journalism, I thought I would go out and say what I wanted to say. I started the Hokkaido Seed Association, and have been working with everyone since the Seed Law was introduced.

This time, Kami-san approached the Hokkaido Seed Association and asked if he could visit. We first consulted with Mr. Ryoji Kikura, an advisor to the Hokkaido Seed Association who lives in Hokuryu Town, and Mr. Mamoru Segawa, an advisor to the Hokkaido Seed Association who lives in Toma Town, and then the visit became a reality. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to both of them.

The Hokkaido Seed Association was founded on June 15, 2018, with 38 members. We have worked hard to collaborate with people from all over the country. We are currently focusing our efforts on activities to protect native species. We would like to continue working with you all to protect Japan's seeds. We appreciate your continued support. Thank you very much for your time today.

Greetings from Mayor Yutaka Sano of Hokuryu Town



We were visited by House of Councillors member Kami Tomoko, House of Representatives member Tamura Takaaki, and former House of Representatives member Hatayama Kazuya. We have had members of parliament from various political parties visit us in the past, but this is the first time we have had teachers stay overnight in Hokuryu Town. We would like to extend our heartfelt welcome. Thank you very much.

I have visited Dr. Kami's office many times during administrative activities related to Hokkaido issues, national health insurance, etc. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the prompt response each time.

Hokuryu Town is said to be the town where a pioneering group led by Yoshiue Shoichiro from the villages of Inba and Motono in Chiba Prefecture (which became Inzai City after merging) harvested mulberry trees in 1893. With a population of 1,770, it is a small town even by Hokkaido standards, and is an agricultural town with the sunflower as its symbol.

We are producing truly delicious rice. I've heard that the full-scale harvest of non-glutinous rice will begin tomorrow. There was little snow this year, so I was a little worried, but I heard from JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu District Representative Director Kitakiyo Hirokuni that this year's rice will be good, so I'm hopeful.

In 1990, a declaration was made by former Hokuryu Town Agricultural Cooperative Chairman Kikura to be "a town of safe food production that protects the lives and health of the people." For many years, we have continued to deliver safe and delicious rice to consumers. This has been highly praised, and in 2016, we were awarded the Japan Agriculture Award Grand Prize. The award ceremony was held at NHK Hall.

Furthermore, the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative was selected as an excellent example in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "5th Discover Treasures of Rural Areas" awards. At the award ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, the association posed for a commemorative photo alongside the Prime Minister.

In June, in connection with the Seed Law, former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yamada Masahiko, agricultural documentary film director Haramura Masaki, and Toma Town resident Segawa Mamoru and other people visited our town and we had discussions with them.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this with you, the producers, and the professors. I look forward to working with you.

Paper Greetings from Members of Parliament



Thank you for your kind words. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr. Huang Cang for arranging everything, including accommodation.

The Seeds and Seedlings Act was initially approved by the Cabinet in the Diet, but various opinions were submitted, sparking outrage and controversy on the Internet, and it was not able to be deliberated. This has been the first time in my work as a member of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee since I was sent to the Diet in 2001.

The postponed issue will be discussed at the next Diet session, so we must conduct careful interviews in preparation for that, and above all, we believe that we cannot take action without listening to the voices of the producers who are working hard on the ground.As part of this investigation, I visited Hokuryu Town.

In the morning, I heard about the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association. I learned that the process of producing Kurosengoku soybeans was extremely difficult, and that it would not have been possible without passion. Despite these difficulties, the town continues to operate with pride. It made me think again about how something that has been produced through hard work could be exposed to negative times.

In the afternoon, we had a discussion at Honoka Agricultural Cooperative. When asked why they founded the corporation, they said, "We felt a sense of crisis that if we kept quiet, we wouldn't be able to continue," and I felt that this must have been a very difficult decision. I realized that they are where they are today because they took on the challenge with courage.

I am very glad that I was able to come here today. I would not have been able to hear these kinds of stories unless I had been to the site. I would like to use what I have heard today as a foundation for my actions in the Diet.

I believe we must work together to create a spirit in which the efforts of those on the ground in agriculture in Hokkaido and in Japan will bear fruit. Thank you very much for today.

Greetings from House of Representatives member Takaaki Tamura



"Mr. Huang Cang, thank you for arranging such a wonderful event. I have never received such hospitality before. I am truly touched.

This time, I was impressed by the number of people who are thinking about the people of Hokkaido and thinking hard about Japanese agriculture.

I believe that what we can do is to firmly support and move Japanese agriculture forward as a core industry of the country, to revive the agricultural and production bases that have been declining, and to increase food reserves, and to aim for such agricultural policies.

Today, I had the opportunity to witness the Kurosengoku soybean seed harvest and even tasted some raw. I was given three bottles of Kurosengoku tea and had the Kuro-chan hamburger steak set meal for lunch. It was delicious. I love Kurosengoku!!!

I look forward to hearing from you today," said Tamura.

Toast by former House of Representatives member Kazuya Hatayama



Thank you for providing this opportunity for us today. Thank you for allowing us to learn so many things today. Let's raise a toast to a good harvest and the further development of Hokuryu Town, and to our determination to do our best!

So, cheers!


Closing remarks by Hirokuni Kitakiyo, Representative Director of JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu District



Today's gathering, which focused on seeds, was a great opportunity to meet Professor Kami and Professor Tamura.

Now that you have come to Hokuryu, I hope you will not forget about this town and will continue to promote it, letting people know that there is a town like this.

I would like to conclude by expressing my sincere gratitude for meeting you today. Thank you for your hard work! Cheers!






The eternal soul hidden in the "seed" that is the source of life,
We are grateful for the passionate support of the producers who nurture life and the many people who support and encourage them.
With boundless love, gratitude and prayers...

Other photos

・Photos (182 photos) of the Diet delegation's local meeting in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) are available here >>

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・Tatsuya and Hitomi Kamii start self-logging forestry in the mountains of Hokuryu Town!(July 30, 2020)

・Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Masahiko Yamada and film director Masaki Haramura visit Hokuryu Town and film location for documentary film production on "Seed and Food Safety" and Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association(June 25, 2020)

・A group of Diet members from Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) held a local discussion meeting on the amendment of the Seed and Seedlings Act [No.1] Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association
・Local meeting of Diet members in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) regarding the amendment of the Seed and Seedlings Act [No. 2] Honoka Agricultural Cooperative
・A meeting with Tatsuya Uehi, a member of the Diet, in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) regarding self-logging forestry [No. 3]

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi