EVENT

Nature Hike with Forest Guide Miura Yutaka Exploring the Cycles of Tsubata’s Forests

01/3

Tour the woodlands of Tsubata’s Shichikuro area with Miura Yutaka, a forest guide with over two decades of experience studying Japan’s woodlands. Miura’s philosophies have been highly inspirational for Kawai Masaru, the artist whose Sliced Wood Plate made of wood paper are being featured at Si Zhi Tang Kanazawa during Go for Kogei. One of the workshop’s themes is to explore the cycles that comprise humanity’s intricate relationship with nature. Participants will return used wood paper Sliced Wood Plate to the earth to engage with these cycles directly. The workshop offers an opportunity to reflect on your own place in nature as you recenter yourself amidst the tranquility of a lush forest.

OVERVIEW

Nature Hike with Forest Guide Miura Yutaka Exploring the Cycles of Tsubata’s Forests
Dates	October 20
Hours	9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Venue	Shichikuro, Tsubata
Cost	2,000 yen *No. of Participants: 20

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Kawai Masaru

b. 1979 in Gifu Prefecture. Kawai graduated with a degree in architecture from Kyoto Seika University in 2001. He opened his own business in 2007 after studying woodworking in Hida and furniture craftsmanship in Kyoto. In parallel with his work as an artist, he launched the brand Soma to showcase the potential benefits of forests in 2016. He develops products using cedar and cypress, conducts fieldwork as he walks through the forest to learn from nature, and plans hands-on experiences, like crafting chairs with hand tools alone. Past exhibits include Soma: Japanese Forests and the Possibilities of Untreated Wood (Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, 2019). His works are in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Sweden.

Tsukamoto Yoshiki

b. 1975 in Ishikawa Prefecture. In 2005, Tsukamoto opened Sklo Room Accessories, an antique shop located next to the Saigawa river in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The same year, he entered the agriculture industry by starting Skuro Farm in Tsubata to protect rice farming in the area. Tsukamoto founded the Sklo Gallery in 2018, a Taiwanese restaurant called Si Zhi Tang Kanazawa in 2020, and a shop called Karch in the hotel Korinkyo in 2021. He engages in a diverse activities in addition to store management, including growing pesticide-free black rice, organizing exhibitions and events, and interior styling.

Miura Yutaka

b. 1977 in Kyoto. Miura first became enamored with gardens while studying architecture at the Nihon University College of Art. After graduating, he trained to become a horticulturalist specializing in traditional Japanese gardens. He spent five years visiting locations across Japan to learn more about the country’s nature and climate. Deeply moved by his experiences, Miura became a forest guide in 2010 to share his passion with the wider world. In the course of his career, he has visited over 3,000 forests and famed natural sites. Miura is the author of the book Friends of the Trees: Exploring Cities and Forests on Foot (Kyoto: Mishimasha, 2017).

INFORMATION

Shichikuro, Tsubata

The workshop will take place at an agricultural site managed by Tsukamoto Yoshiki, the owner of the restaurant Si Zhi Tang Kanazawa.
*Participants will be notified of the exact location at a later date.