The forest is a place to return to and a place to belong - Interview with Yuko Yokokawa
Yokokawa Yuko has been involved in the construction of Tsugumori since its inception. We spoke to her about the process and her thoughts behind it.
- Please tell us how you became involved with Tsugumori.
The owner, Junko, is a friend of mine who I spent four years with during my university years. After that, we both became busy with work and were unable to see each other for a long time, but we never lost touch, and I first visited this place four years ago when Junko built her house here.
As I admired the ridges and scenery of the Yatsugatake Mountains visible from the living room window, she spoke passionately and enthusiastically about her experiences and thoughts before coming across this land, the people she met, and her outlook on life. Looking back, it was at that moment that her pioneering spirit was born.
After that, as he gradually heard about development plans for the area, his desire to preserve the current landscape as it was grew stronger and stronger. Soon after, I heard that he purchased an abandoned piece of farmland that had been left unattended for over 50 years and was likely to face problems such as fallen trees in the future.
As we gazed upon the dilapidated area together in May 2021, Junko told me about her future plans for improvement and her dreams for the future. Around that time, I had just reached a milestone in my career and was unsure of what to do next in life, so I decided to help her as she continued to forge ahead toward her dreams.
- What was it like being involved in the project?
Just two weeks later, a maintenance team (called a development team at the time) was formed.
I was so nervous the night before I set out to explore that desolate place that I couldn't sleep. But I still bought a complete set of boots, gloves, a jacket, etc., and I remember treading through it gingerly.
Since then, I've met a lot of different people.
Led by gardener Wakui, there were tree climbers working on the trees, people who recorded the process with drones, chainsaw artists, people who brought in their own heavy machinery, and people who tidied up everything neatly, each demonstrating their skills in their area of expertise, and at the same time the forest was steadily being shaped.
Interacting with unique and fascinating people in the midst of magnificent nature is a source of energy for the ongoing fight against weeds.
- Yuko has been coming to us 60 days a year for two years.
I personally like routines, and once I get hooked on something, I tend to keep going back. When I come here, there's always something for me to do, and that makes me happy.
I was born and raised in Saitama, but now Mori is my home and my place to be. It's only an hour by Shinkansen from Omiya, so I'm naturally light on my feet (laughs).
- What kind of place do you want Mori to become in the future?
I truly believe that the reason we were able to achieve such a great development in just two years is because of the power of this land. This land has the power to captivate people. I believe it will grow into a place where each visitor feels comfortable.
It will be the cafes and accommodations that will add value to Tsugumori in the future, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops.
I've been involved with the garden since the beginning, so I call myself the garden manager. I'd be happy to hear customers say things like, "It's beautiful, it feels good, I'm glad I came" when they come to the cafe. I'm also looking forward to meeting many new people through the succession of the forest.
Thank you, Yokogawa-san.
*It's the seventh day since we started developing the forest. We are entering a forest that is still densely packed.
※Yuko is stacking stones
