Cedars of the North Mountains: Historical forest culture and practices in modern day nature policies

Abstract

The region north of Kyoto is referred to as Kitayama, which literally translates as North Mountains. The region is the location of Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese cedar or sugi, production in Japan. Cedar logs grown there are used as pillars in the construction of buildings in a typical Japanese minimalist style, but also traditional rooms included in modern houses. Cedar was planted widely in Japan following World War II not only to rebuild the economy but also to grow raw materials to contribute to post-war housing reconstruction. In Kitayama, cedar has been grown for over 600 years and using specific silvicultural techniques by a community that has a unique cultural legacy which developed around cedar cultivation. The Kitayama sugi economic-socio-cultural-ecological complex thrived following World War II but is currently under stress. Demand for its highly priced products is declining. It is recognized in Japan and by the city of Kyoto as a valuable cultural historical heritage and efforts are being made to preserve it as such. The success of these efforts has been mixed so far. This paper reviews the Kitayama sugi economic-socio-cultural-ecological complex in order to understand how historical indigenous forestry practices change over time and how they might be dealt with in advanced societies such as Japan.