Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on October 16, 2025, 8:52 PM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
The warm and humid climate of the Kinki and Chugoku regions is rich in forest resources, with coniferous trees such as cedar and cypress being actively produced. At the same time, however, there is an inevitable shortage of forestry workers and an aging population. In such a situation, "forestry girls" are bringing a new wind to the field. On Instagram, they share their daily work scenes, records of their studies, and many episodes related to forests and daily life, making forestry more familiar to people. The charm of this site is that you can feel more familiar with the forestry industry. This article introduces five accounts of women in forestry active in the Kinki and Chugoku areas*.
Inspired by the movie "WOOD JOB!", Yuko Nagami jumped into the world of forestry, and while living her daily life as a mother of two, she also shares on Instagram how she spends time with her children and connects with the local community, in addition to her work scenes in the field.
From the smiling face of her daughter wearing a helmet securely in the field and interacting with nature, to the moment when light shines in the forest during thinning work, to the woodworking workshop, the posts vividly convey the joy, tension, and satisfaction of working in the forest. The way she balances childcare and work shows that "even mothers can be active in the forestry field," and this has no doubt given hope to many women. Many photos of creatures encountered in the forest are also posted on this account, which can be enjoyed by those who like dusty landscapes.
The "wolf lives with her" account, run by Chiei, a forestry girl who moved from Kyoto to Shimane Prefecture, offers a one-of-a-kind lifestyle of living with a hybrid wolf in an 80-year-old traditional Japanese house.
The video clip of work at the site, created with the hope that "more people will learn about the forestry profession," is as beautiful as a scene from a movie. Other contributions are as beautiful and mysterious as a collection of photographs, evoking a desire to get in touch with nature and animals.
In addition, the "Forestry Work" highlight introduces the work and appeal of forestry in an easy-to-understand manner, and is full of information that will be helpful to those who are seeking to enter the forestry industry. This account reminds us that forestry is not a special world, but an activity that is an extension of our daily lives.
Yuriko Ito is a veteran of more than 25 years in the forestry industry, and on her Instagram page, she introduces her activities in the forestry field, such as thinning in the forest and caring for seedlings, in an easy-to-understand manner. He also says, "Everyone is doing their best. I have to work hard too! The sense of accomplishment is amazing. That's why I can't stop forestry work. I can't stop forestry work because I have a great sense of accomplishment," "I love mountains!
The site does not conceal the struggles of the forestry workers, and the viewer can get a real sense of the difficulty and depth of the forestry industry. In addition, photos of fir tree logs half as tall as a person and live winch operations are powerful and allow the viewer to fully appreciate the grandeur and scale of nature.
Sugiyotaro Sugi is a volunteer forestry group based in the Kumogahata area of the Kamo River headwaters in Kita-ku, Kyoto City, and mainly composed of Kyoto University students. They are also involved in digging bamboo shoots and forestry activities. The group also introduces events such as digging for bamboo shoots and other activities in the forest, and the lively activities in nature are very attractive.
In addition, the sight of female members also dressed in work clothes and taking on the challenge of thinning and pruning on steep slopes with local residents conveys the fun and learning of collaboration that transcends gender and positional boundaries. Membership is open year-round, and we encourage those who would like to experience the world of forestry while they are still students, or who are interested but have no experience, to check out this account.
While running a forestry venture called "Somano Base" based in Wakayama, Ms. Okugawa is a daily communicator of the workings of the forest, the growth of saplings, and the process of mountain building. In her account, you can feel the smell of the soil and the warmth of the sun shining through the trees just by looking at the photos, which show not only the site of hard work such as clearing the ground and planting trees, but also the delicate manual work of growing saplings and the mountains as they change with the seasons.
In addition, the "MODRINAE (returning seedlings)" project, in which Ms. Okugawa is involved, conveys the concept of sustainable forestry based on the theme of the cycle of growing seedlings and eventually returning them to the mountains. Ms. Okugawa's contribution will be an opportunity for women who are interested in forestry but have few opportunities to actually get involved to feel that "I might be able to do it, too.
*Note
The "Kinki and Chugoku areas" in this article refer to the 14 prefectures of Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga, Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Tottori, Okayama, Shimane, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi, according to the Forestry Agency's block classification.
See also:Forest Service Link: Forestry Agency
