Author: kevin

Sacred Groves surrounding small local village shrines often preserve the last remnants of a region’s natural old-growth forest. The groves play a vital role in conserving regional biodiversity, and also Japan’s traditional nature-friendly land ethic.  The PDF files here contain reports on research conducted in local shrines in English and Japanese. 小さな鎮守社を囲む鎮守の森（ちんじゅのもり）は、その地域に残る自然林の最後の名残を保存していることがよくあります。これらの森は、地域の生物多様性を保全するうえで重要な役割を果たすとともに、日本の伝統的な「自然と共に生きる」土地倫理をも支えています。ここにあるPDFファイルには、地域の神社で行われた調査研究の報告書（英語版および日本語版）が含まれています。 SACRED GROVES IN …

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　COPPICE WOOD　ほうがりん Throughout the long centuries before electricity and gas became available, people relied almost entirely on firewood and charcoal to cook their food and heat their homes.   Local woodlands were carefully managed to produce a sustainable supply of wood fuel. The key to sustainable use of forest resources was a traditional management technique known …

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KASHI RING-CUPPED OAKS   かし　  CLASSIFICATION: Beech Family, Genus Quercus, Section Cyclobalanopsis GENERAL： The kashi comprise a group of evergreen oaks (Section Cyclobalanopsis ) native to the tropical, sub-tropical and warm-temperate zone forests of East Asia.  About 80 species are recognized worldwide, but of these only 8 have made it all the way to Japan, which …

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SUGI-CRYPTOMERIA   すぎ　Cryptomeria japonica  CLASSIFICATION: 　Cypress Family GENERAL： Tall, fast-growing conifer endemic to Japan. Prefers thick soils along valley bottoms, but is the most widely planted timber tree on hills and mountainsides all over Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu Islands. Sugi wood is softer and not as highly valued as hinoki cypress, but grows faster and is …

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MUKUNOKI-APHANANTHE 　むくのき　Aphananthe aspera CLASSIFICATION: Formerly included in Elm Family, but now placed in Hemp Family GENERAL： Tall deciduous broad-leaved tree, common in lowland and hillside forests.　Also found in countryside woodlands.  Leaves covered with short bristly hair, traditionally used for fine sanding work on wood and bone crafts, SOFUKEI WOOD:   Rare、but two excellent mature specimens along …

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  　　　　　　　　　　　　　KOBUSHI MAGNOLIA  　こぶし　Magnolia kobus CLASSIFICATION: Magnolia Family GENERAL： Mid-sized deciduous broad-leaved tree. Most common native magnolia in lowland forests and countryside woodlands. Also widely planted in parks and along streets. SOFUKEI WOOD:  Occasional TRUNK/BARK:  Trunk straight. Bark smooth and whitish-grey. LEAVES:  Alternate, obovate (narrow waist – broad shoulders), about 10cm long. Edges entire (smooth, …

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KASHI RING-CUPPED OAKS   かし　  CLASSIFICATION: Beech Family, Genus Quercus, Section Cyclobalanopsis GENERAL： The kashi comprise a group of evergreen oaks (Section Cyclobalanopsis ) native to the tropical, sub-tropical and warm-temperate zone forests of East Asia.  About 80 species are recognized worldwide, but of these only 8 have made it all the way to Japan, which …

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INUSHIDE-HORNBEAM                       いぬしで                                 Carpinus tschonoskii CLASSIFICATION: Birch Family – Genus Carpinus GENERAL： Medium-size deciduous broad-leaved tree. Five species of hornbeam native to Japan; three of which, the inu (dog)-shide, kuma (bear)-shide …

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                         KONARA OAK      こなら　　Quercus serrata CLASSIFICATION: Oak Family Genus Quercus GENERAL： Most common deciduous oak in forests and countryside woodlands from sea level up into hills and lower mountainsides.  Replaced by the more wind and cold-tolerant mizu-nara (Q. crispula) in higher altitude …

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MOMI-FIR  もみ  Abies firma GENERAL:  Momi, an endemic Japanese species and the most familiar of five native fir trees, is distributed on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.  Momi thrives from sea level up into the hills and lower mountainsides, but at higher altitudes is replaced by more cold-tolerant species such as A. mariesii …

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