If you're going to live in the countryside rather than the city, you want to do things you can only do there. I hear such comments 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 entry point. The coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture, where Roopt properties are located, has many thriving primary industries, and there are also people who offer content that allows you to experience each industry firsthand.
This time, we will introduce the activities of Yuma Mori, who operates the "Weekend Forester Training School" in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, with the aim of "making forestry more accessible and increasing the number of people involved in forestry." They offer 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 this article makes you think, "I want to try using a chainsaw too."
Mr. Mori, as the representative employee of G.K. Momonowa, operates a business that trains "weekend foresters" who enjoy forestry on weekends while holding a main job. He says, "The process of felling trees and designing forest spaces while envisioning 100 years into the future 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 course tailored to their level of interest, from the half-day chainsaw experience covered here to the "Weekend Forester Training Course" which 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.
Mr. Mori makes an effort to thoroughly verbalize and quantify each technique, rather than the common craftsman's approach of "learn by watching!" He carefully lectured and advised me, making it easy for me, who had no familiarity with forestry or chainsaws, to understand immediately just by listening.
First, an explanation of the current state of forestry and protective gear. The protective gear is designed considering all risks when handling a chainsaw, and just the explanation of it was already eye-opening. For example, if a chainsaw blade gets caught in the protective gear, the blade and the fibers of the gear are designed to intertwine and stop the chainsaw's movement.
Next, he taught me about the chainsaw itself. He explained its structure, how it works, and so on, one by one in a theoretical way, so I quickly understood its profoundness.
Apparently, the length and spacing of each blade on the chain also have meaning, and even a slight difference can greatly change how the wood is cut and how it falls. I felt like I understood a little bit the feelings of those who are fascinated by this precision and challenge themselves in forestry.
After a lecture on the basic usage of a chainsaw, it was finally time to experience cutting wood with a chainsaw! I repeated the series of steps: "turn on the chainsaw, start the engine, rotate the chain blade to cut the wood, then stop the rotation and turn off the power."
The blade rotated much faster than I imagined, and the chainsaw itself was heavy, so I could cut the 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, not just theory.
A cat also came to observe midway through.
From there, it was just practice. I repeatedly cut wood straight and diagonally, checked the cross-sections, changed my body posture and the chainsaw's angle, and tried again and again. It was a fun time, like a sports practice session.
Finally, a commemorative photo. All three of them have bright expressions, which I hope conveys the fun of the chainsaw experience.
This time, I introduced the chainsaw experience program offered by Mr. Mori.
Opportunities to easily touch a chainsaw, a fundamental skill in forestry, are not common, and this program, which not only offers an experience but also teaches various knowledge, seemed 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 "weekend foresters" will enjoy it as a life's work rather than just a job.
Mr. Mori's "Weekend Forester Training School" is open all year round, so if you are interested, please contact him!
Weekend Forester Training School Website:https://myuman.wixsite.com/sansuigoschool/home
As mentioned earlier, the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture is a region where primary industries thrive, and not only Mr. Mori, but also many young workers are active in fisheries and agriculture. I feel that this area offers many opportunities to get involved in primary industries, as they offer experience programs and hold events that allow you to feel closer to the industries. If you are interested in agriculture, fisheries, or forestry, please use Roopt to visit Miyagi at least once.
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