If you're going to live in a rural area rather than a city, you want to do things that can only be done there. We hear such voices surprisingly often. In particular, many people seek involvement in primary industries such as agriculture, fisheries, and forestry, but it can be difficult to find an opportunity to do so. The coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture, where Roopt properties are located, have many thriving primary industries, and some people offer content that allows you to experience each industry firsthand.
This time, we will introduce the activities of Yuma Mori, who runs the "Weekend Forester Training School" in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, which aims to "make forestry more accessible and increase the number of people involved in forestry." He offers a chainsaw experience program for those who are interested in forestry but have never even touched a chainsaw, and I, an inexperienced participant, also tried it out. I hope that after reading this article, you will think, "I want to try using a chainsaw too."
As the representative employee of Momono-wa LLC, Mr. Mori's business is to train "weekend foresters" who "enjoy forestry on weekends while holding a main job." He says, "The process of felling trees and designing forest spaces with a 100-year vision is very creative," and his goal is to convey this appeal and increase the number of people involved in forestry. A feature of his program is that participants can choose a program tailored to their level of interest, from a half-day chainsaw experience, which we will cover this time, to a "Weekend Forester Training Course" that offers individual instruction over several months.
Weekend Forester Training School Website:https://myuman.wixsite.com/sansuigoschool/home
From here, I will introduce the chainsaw experience program that I also participated in. *Another person participated on the same day, and most of the photos show that person.
Instead of the common craftsman's adage, "Watch and learn!", Mr. Mori makes an effort to thoroughly verbalize and quantify each technique before teaching it. Even for me, who had no familiarity with forestry or chainsaws, he carefully lectured and advised me so that I could understand immediately just by listening.
First, an explanation of the current state of forestry and protective gear. The protective gear is designed to account for all risks when handling a chainsaw, and the explanation alone was an eye-opener. For example, even if a chainsaw blade gets caught in the protective gear, the blade and the fibers of the gear are designed to intertwine effectively and stop the chainsaw's movement.
Next, he taught me about the chainsaw itself. He explained the structure and how the chainsaw works in a logical way, so I immediately understood its depth.
Apparently, the length and spacing of each tooth on the chain also have meaning, and even a slight difference can significantly change how the wood is cut and how it falls. I felt like I understood a little bit why people are fascinated by this delicate precision and decide to take on forestry.
After a lecture on the basic use of a chainsaw, it was finally time to experience cutting wood with a chainsaw! We repeated the series of steps: turning on the chainsaw, starting the engine, rotating the chain blade to cut the wood, then stopping the rotation and turning off the power.
The blade rotated much faster than I imagined, and the chainsaw itself was heavy, so I could cut wood easily without much force. However, it was difficult to cut straight (at the angle I intended), and even when I thought I had cut straight, the cross-section was often uneven. This is where delicate感覚 (sensory perception) is needed, rather than just theory.
A cat also came to watch midway through.
From there, it was just practice. I repeatedly cut the wood straight and diagonally, checked the cross-section, and then re-attempted by changing my body posture and the angle of the chainsaw. It was an enjoyable time, like a sports practice session.
Finally, a commemorative photo. All three of us have bright expressions, which I think conveys the fun of the chainsaw experience.
This time, I introduced the chainsaw experience program offered by Mr. Mori.
Opportunities to easily try out a chainsaw, a fundamental skill in forestry, are not common, and this program, which not only offers an experience but also teaches various knowledge, is highly recommended for anyone with even a slight interest in forestry. Also, I felt that it is an activity as aggressive as sports and as creative as art, so I hope that more people will become "weekend foresters" who enjoy it as a life's work rather than a job.
Mr. Mori's "Weekend Forester Training School" is open all year round, so if you're interested, please contact him!
Weekend Forester Training School Website:https://myuman.wixsite.com/sansuigoschool/home
As mentioned earlier, the coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture are thriving in primary industries, and not only Mr. Mori, whom I introduced this time, but also many young people are active in fisheries and agriculture. I feel that this region offers many opportunities to get involved in primary industries, with various experience programs and events that make the industries feel more accessible. If you are interested in agriculture, fisheries, or forestry, please use Roopt to visit Miyagi at least once.
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