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Photo of Kotaro Nagasawa

Kotaro Nagasawa

Kotaro NAGASAWA

（Platinum Initiative Network, Inc.

Born in Tokyo in 1958. （Engaged in research on infrastructure and social security at Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. During his first few years with the company, he was involved in projects related to flood control, and was trained by many experts on river systems at the time to think about the national land on a 100- to 1,000-year scale. He is currently an advisor to Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. He is also an auditor of Jumonji Gakuen Educational Corporation and a part-time lecturer at Tokyo City University. Coauthor of "Introduction to Infrastructure," "New Strategies from the Common Domain," and "Forty Years After Retirement. D. in Engineering.

9.24Wed 2025

France, a Forestry Country that Imitates Nature, Increases Production of Large-Diameter Hardwoods Read: Hitoshi Kadowaki, France, the Land of Hardwoods: From "Right Tree in the Right Place" to Natural Forestry (Part 1)

In the book "Forestry: German Forests and Japanese Forestry" by Yukikazu Murao, which I introduced in the previous issue, you will find that in the early 17th century, Germany was suffering from timber poverty (Germany: [...]) due to over-cutting.

9.12Fri 2025

The "Japanese Spirit and Western Genius" I felt in the Meiji Shrine Forest: Reading Yukikazu Murao's "Forestry: German Forests and Japanese Forestry" (Part 2)

*Previously, three forest philosophies were formed under the influence of regional characteristics in Germany Read "Forestry: German Forests and Japanese Forestry" by Yukikazu Murao (in Japanese) [...

8.28Thu 2025

Three Forest Ideas Formed by the Influence of Germany's Regional Characteristics: Reading Yukikazu Murao's "Forestry: German Forests and Japanese Forestry" (Part 2)

*Part 1 is hereThe challenges faced by the "Hozoku" forestry philosophy, which was born in 18th century Germany, a country where forests were overgrown, are described in Yukikazu Murao's "Forestry: German Forest [...]

8.19Tue 2025

The Challenges Faced by the "Hozoku" Philosophy of Forestry Born in 18th Century Germany, a Time of Rampant Deforestation Reading "Forestry: German Forests and Japanese Forestry" by Yukikazu Murao (Part 1)

I am interested in the forestry industry in Germany. There are three reasons for this. One is that Germany is a country that has realized cultivated forestry alongside Japan. And [...].

7.28Mon 2025

Alarmed by Excessive Building Activities that Ruin Limited Forests Reading Kumazawa Bansan's "Shugi Wa Sho" and "Shugi Gaisho" (Part 2)

*Part 1 is here Kumazawa Bansan, the pioneer of Japanese forest history, was a thinker without discovery.

7.16Wed 2025

Kumazawa Bansan, Pioneer of Japanese Forest History, was a Thinker without Discovery: Reading "Shugi Wa Sho" and "Shugi Gaisho" (Part 1)

I have read three books in this column so far, trying to get an overview of the history of the Japanese people and forests. In the process, I became somewhat curious [...].

6.27Fri 2025

The Bakufu's Challenge and Failure to Achieve a Nationwide Unified Forestry Policy: Reading "Edo Gaku of Forests" by the Tokugawa Forestry History Institute (Part 2)

*Part 1 is here: Blow to Local Forest Resources through Distribution Control by Edo's Imperial Procurement Merchants Read "Edo Gaku of Forests" by Tokugawa Forestry History Institute ( [...])

6.18Wed 2025

Distribution Control by Edo Imperial Procurement Merchants Blows to Local Forest Resources: Reading "Edo Studies of Forests" by Tokugawa Forestry History Institute (Part 1)

I read Conrad Tatman's book and found that although Japan's forests were almost destroyed by overcutting in the early Edo period, our ancestors [...].

6.4Wed 2025

The 19th Century Achievement of "Nurtured Forestry" in Human History: Reading "How the Japanese Have Created Forests" by Conrad Tatman (Part 2)

*Click here for the first part, which reveals the two crises Japan has faced due to over-cutting of forests Conrad Tatman, "How the Japanese [...]...

5.19Mon 2025

Uncovering the Two Crises Japan Has Faced Due to Excessive Logging of Forests Read "How the Japanese Have Created Forests" by Conrad Tatman (Part 1)

Tokuji Chiba's "A Study of Hageyama" shows that there was severe forest devastation during the Edo period. Then, if we look at Japanese history as a whole [...].

5.9Fri 2025

Reading Tokuji Chiba's "Study of Hageyama" to Reveal the Structure of Poverty Leading to the Deprivation of Common Land (Part 2)

*Part 1 is here A famous book discussing local forest overuse and historical background Reading "Hageyama no Kenkyu" by Tokuji Chiba (Part 1) Tokuji Chiba "Hage [...].

5.6Tue 2025

Reading Tokuji Chiba's "Hageyama no Kenkyu" (Study of Hageyama), a famous book discussing local forest overuse and its historical background (Part 1)

We know that when forests are disturbed, the water retention capacity of mountain areas is reduced and large amounts of sediment are washed downstream, forming overhead rivers and deepening harbors at the mouths of rivers [...].

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