Tanohata Village in Iwate Prefecture, is a small, rural town, oriented in primary industry, facing the Pacific Ocean. It is a typical depopulated area and it is rare to see young people in the town. It is a very inconvenient place where there are no convenience stores or fast-food stores.

The relationship between this Tanohata Village and “Shii-no-Mori-Kai” started about 50 years ago. Sanriku Fohn Fire that hit the village in 1961, motivated us. The late Professor Oda of Waseda University visited the village as a part of the seminar activity a year before the fire. After learning about the fire, he began tree planting, and this was the beginning of the relationship.

Now the tree planting has leveled off, but we are still keeping this relationship with the village thorough a week-long camp which is held three times a year. “The relationship” means doing various things. Of course we take care of the forest we have planted but also we sometimes help farms and dairy farms. When they have a sightseeing promotion event by NPO, we joined as the staff, or when they have festival, we prepare for it, carrying the mikoshi (portable shrine) and even putting on performances. We held the sports competition with handicapped people in the local area and planned a round-table talk with the mayor of the village as a part of “Agricultural Workshop” of the Open Classes. Sometimes we just go to the villagers’ houses and have dinner with them.

Some people might ask, “Why do you go to such a country side?” That is because there are immeasurably great things about Tanohata, which you would not recognize for the first look. There are magnificent mountains, the sea, and the sky full of stars. Life there is stimulated by nature. There is a warm bond between people. There is something important which you would not notice in Tokyo. Attracted to these, we go to Tanohata.

As a matter of fact, it is free for everybody to join this camp, even if you are not the member of the Shii-no-Mori-no-Kai. Thirty-three people participated in the Golden Week camp, and 20 people out of the total were ordinary students from WAVOC. The next camp will be held in early August for 10 days. Other than the things we introduced before, our activities will be the nature workshop with elementary school kids. If you are interested, please drop us a line.


▲Email:mori.waseda@gmail.com
▲HP：http://blog.livedoor.jp/morinokai/