@OKUYAMATO NARA 奥大和 奈良

As forestry declines, what can the fourth generation do?

ーーMorisho Fine Wood is now in its fourth generation with you, Mr. Morimoto.

Morimoto：Yes. It was founded by my great-grandfather in 1927, followed by my grandfather and my father, who is the current president. Initially, we were involved in forestry and producing ultra-high-quality polished logs for hospitality Japanese-style rooms. However, as times changed, we expanded to other types of timber, fine woods, and furniture manufacturing and sales.

ーーAs the 100th anniversary approaches, did you naturally feel inclined to take over the family business, being raised in a forestry environment?

Morimoto：Not exactly. I’m the second son, and in an industry shrinking over time, there was no expectation for me to take over. My brother works in Tokyo now. However, forests deteriorate and change if not maintained. It would be easy for us to give up on the company, but neglected mountains can lead to increased disasters. Knowing this reality, I began to believe we could do more, and this conviction led me to take over.

After graduating from university, I spent three years training with a major trading company dealing with timber. Witnessing the business side of timber distribution and the forestry industry’s struggles in Japan’s capitalism, my desire to act became clearer. One is to nurture the mountains and protect the environment. The other is to do what we, as a manufacturer, haven’t been able to do for our customers. If they don’t know how the wood grows, we should tell them. If there are people who have never touched wood, we should invite as many as possible into the forest. To achieve this, I want to collaborate with architecture professionals and design offices who love wood and propose what we can do together.

ーーYou are also involved in providing timber for new housing, as well as custom-made desks and workstations. Are these initiatives aimed at increasing exposure to Japanese wood?

Morimoto：The idea started purely from the belief that we, who understand wood best, could create better products from scratch. I like to call it ‘creating a hook that turns people’s attention to the forest.’ It’s about steadily working on things like, ‘This wood looks great,’ or ‘This could look cute if done this way.’ That’s why I own quite a few pieces of furniture and woodcraft made by artisans in Okuyamato. I tend to collect things I like.

The Shell Shelf – Feeling Like Sunlight Filtering Through Trees

ーーWhat inspired the creation of the Shell Shelf, which features beautiful lines of light shining through round bars of cypress?

Morimoto：The design sketch for this shelf won the gold prize in the 2022 Furniture Design Competition. I had also entered with my branch hanger design and was selected, so when I went to the award ceremony, I wondered how such a design could be made. A few months later, I received an email from the award-winning designer asking, ‘Can we actually make this, Morimoto?’ That’s when I started reaching out to various acquaintances and finally found the right craftsman to make it a reality.

Working closely with the designer and creating something from scratch was a new and exciting experience. We discussed every detail, like what type of wood to use, what grain pattern, what color, what width, and so on. It felt like I was coordinating while accompanying the project. It was a great learning experience in craftsmanship. More than anything, I enjoy meeting new customers through this shelf and having conversations about wood. The shelf is angled, creating a ridgeline effect, and depending on how the light hits, the shadows change, much like sunlight filtering through trees.

ーーWhat are your future plans and focuses?

Morimto：This might deviate slightly from your question, but my primary focus is on concentrating on forestry. Indeed, without introducing new elements like J-Credits, which guarantee greenhouse gas reduction and absorption as certified by the government, it’s tough to enhance the value of wood. We’ll continue making furniture and building houses, as we are doing now. However, the more I focus on these, the less time I spend in the forest, which is a dilemma I face. Forestry is Japan’s most dangerous job, and I don’t want to add to my worries while engaging in such a life-threatening profession. The current situation, where forestry is undervalued, truly shocks me. Forestry is a noble profession, and I want to restore a situation where those who create good forests are valued and can focus on their work in the mountains.