Iskandarova Feruza
During our visit to Hokkaido, we explored various places and took part in numerous activities, which greatly expanded my understanding. Despite spending time in the rural village of Shinshinotsu and the small city of Niseko, we met many different people and engaged in various activities. Initially, I assumed that rural areas, like those in my country, would have little to offer. However, after experiencing life in these villages, my perspective completely changed. It was incredibly enjoyable to be in the village and experience rural life. Our itinerary included visits to the observatory in Shinshinotsu village, Yonebayashi farm, Niseko high school, Hanazono resort, Hikobayu forest, and the Uppopoy museum.
One of the most fascinating and interactive activities for me was our visit to Hikobayu forest. Being there made me feel deeply connected to nature. Experiencing an untouched, virgin forest and witnessing its beauty was truly breathtaking. We had a lecture on forest management, where the director of Hikobayu forest explained the process of making essential oils, which was extremely informative.
Hikobayu is a small, family-run forestry business that operates in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. It is one of the few forestry businesses worldwide that practices self-cutting. They are also focused on nurturing future forestry workers, with a long-term vision for decades and centuries ahead. Many companies today utilize natural materials, but Hikobayu goes beyond merely enjoying nature’s benefits; they are dedicated to giving back. They have realized that donations, fundraising, and tree planting alone are insufficient in the forestry world. Therefore, they decided to directly practice forest management and give back to nature in the future. They do not cut down trees solely for materials but manage forests with a forward-looking perspective, using the unused branches and leaves to create products.
Their motto is “linking forests and people.” They bring the scent of Hokkaido’s cool forests and offer a real experience of “returning to the forest” using all five senses. While humans can destroy forests, they can also promote their growth. Hikobayu carefully monitors the forest, examining each tree, and uses human ingenuity to manage the light, allowing natural light to go into the forest. By selectively cutting trees, they maximize the number of trees and produce high-quality products such as the finest solid wood.
The unused resources collected from their managed forests are processed by their knowledgeable staff. They handle all processes in-house, from resource procurement to bottling. Resources from felled tree branches are often left unused in forestry. By producing essential oils from these resources, new value and circulation are created. The branches and leaves are chipped using a special machine, an essential process for checking their condition, which can vary based on the time of felling, temperature, and other factors. The essential oil is then extracted in-house, with dedicated staff adjusting the pressure to achieve optimal results. The extracted fir essential oil is bottled in-house, and blended oil is made by perfumers using 100% pure oil. After extraction, the chips are dried and reused as ground cover. Hikobayu is committed to recycling and regeneration, always mindful of their gratitude to nature.
Hikobayu’s activities provide opportunities to remember the often-forgotten respect for nature and the connection with it in modern society. They are taking steps toward a future where both forests and people thrive, valuing true harmony with nature.
