International Research Meeting ofForest Culture Science Network
in East Asia

16th to 20th March 2024

Venue
YAMANAKA Ryo Naito Seminar House
Yamanakako, JAPANhttps://www.uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp/focusea/
focusea@googlegroups.com
Dr. Ishibashi Seiji Dr. Saito Haruo Dr. Fujiwara Akio Dr. Liang Huaiyue

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Contents
4

Aim of the event

5

Program8

Special Invited Speakers

9

Keynote Speakers

11

Abstracts
Special Speech

12Special Speech 1 “Review of historical change about forest education in Japan”
Inoue Mariko (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Japan)

13

Special Speech 2 “Plant cultures in Yunnan with emphasis of large old trees” Long
Chunlin (Minzu University of China, China)
Keynote Speech

14

Keynote Speech 1 “Recreational Forests of Korea” Kim Soyeon (Catholic Kwandong
University, Korea)

18

Keynote Speech 2 “Sound Preferences of Alzheimer Patients on Natural sound andMusic: A Grounded Theory Approach” Peng Zhaohui (Huazhong Agriculture
University, China)

22

Keynote Speech 3 “How were forests recognized in 19th and early 20th century
tourism on Mount Fuji?” Chihara Koji (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World

23

Heritage Center, Japan)
Keynote Speech 4 “Examining the potential of wild, underutilized, and neglectededible plants in improving nutrition and wellbeing: A case study in West Java,
Indonesia” Yen Yen Sally Rahayu (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

27

Keynote Speech 5 “Research on Ethnobotany of Hainan Li Minority, China” Liu29

Shoubai (Hainan University, China)
Keynote Speech 6 “Indigenous Knowledge and Ethnobotany of Formosa” Yang ChiKai (National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan)
Poster Presentations

33

P01 “The formation and development of urban forest in European countries from theperspective of land tenure” Hu Ruizhe (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

34

P02 “Spatial image of Haikou Shishan Volcanic National Forest park based on
cognitive map” Zheag Zi-qi, Cheng En-qi, Fu Hui, Yuan Li-fei, Ye Rong-li,

35

Zhang Qing (Hainan University, China)
P03 “How do air quality and physical activity affect the mechanisms linking urban
forest park to respiratory health? A cross-sectional study in Nanjing, China” Li
Ke, Mao Yipei, Wei Jiaxing (Nanjing agriculture University, China)

2International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan37

P04 “Classical concert in the forest with the community” Fujiwara Akio (The
University of Tokyo, Japan)

39

P05 “The development process of Tokyo and Hokkaido’s MOKUIKU and the actual
state of MOKUIKU instructor training” Zhang Jingyi (The University of Tokyo,
Japan)

40

P06 “Examining the possibility of VR teaching materials in forest environmental
education” Sakamoto Kenzo (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

42

P07 “Wild mushroom use in Japan and its ecological background” Saito Haruo (The43

University of Tokyo, Japan)
P08 “Historical changes in the significance of Oshima Tsumugi in local
communities”Aiba Soshi, Harada Kazuhiro (Nagoy University, Japan)

45

P09 “Current status of Satoyama-type tree burial in Japan and forest management -A
study focused on urban areas-” You Xiaoan, Ishibashi Seiji, Yasumura Naoto,
Saito Haruo (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

47

P10 “The Relationship between the worldview of the anime “Natsume’s Book of
Friends” and the cognition of nature at the model site from the perspective of
yokai culture” Wu Shuyue, Liu Ming, Nakamura Kazuhiko (The University ofTokyo, Japan)

3International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Aims of the event“Forest culture” is a general term for the results of people's active engagement with thevarious resources and environments that forests provide to human society. It covers a wide rangeof areas, including food, clothing, shelter, science, technology, learning, art, morality, religion
and politics. Culture is developed based on the natural environment of the region, and a wide
variety of “forest cultures” are formed, reflecting the characteristics of the region. On the other
hand, there is also a spread of regions with common or similar “forest cultures”, but in order tostudy these relationships comprehensively, it is essential to have “in-depth knowledge of theculture of each region” and “comparative study of the cultures of different regions”. The freeexchange and sharing of information by many researchers can clarify the process of formationand spread of “forest cultures” and provide a deeper understanding of the meaning of local“forest cultures”. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to create a network where researchers
who are carrying out research related to “forest cultures” can exchange a variety of information.
As a first step towards developing forest culture research in the East Asian region, the aim of
this meeting is to bring together researchers on “forest culture”, build a research network anddeepen discussions.

4International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Program
Day1 (Saturday, 16 March)
17:00 Meet at Yamanaka Hall
Posting of Poster Presentations (even informative ones)
18:00 Dinner and Ice-break
Short Introduction of Poster Presentations Chaired by Liang Haiyue (Hainan
Universityu, China)
Poster presentation list
P01 “The formation and development of urban forest in European countries from theperspective of land tenure” Hu Ruizhe (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
P02 “Spatial image of Haikou Shishan Volcanic National Forest park based on cognitivemap” Zheag Zi-qi, Cheng En-qi, Fu Hui, Yuan Li-fei, Ye Rong-li, Zhang Qing
(Hainan University, China)
P03 “How do air quality and physical activity affect the mechanisms linking urban
forest park to respiratory health? A cross-sectional study in Nanjing, China” Li Ke,
Mao Yipei, Wei Jiaxing (Nanjing agriculture University, China)
P04 “Classical concert in the forest with the community” Fujiwara Akio (The
University of Tokyo, Japan)
P05 “The development process of Tokyo and Hokkaido’s MOKUIKU and the actual
state of MOKUIKU instructor training” Zhang Jingyi (The University of Tokyo,
Japan)
P06 “Examining the possibility of VR teaching materials in forest environmental
education” Sakamoto Kenzo (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
P07 “Wild mushroom use in Japan and its ecological background” Saito Haruo (The
University of Tokyo, Japan)
P08 “Historical changes in the significance of Oshima Tsumugi in local
communities”Aiba Soshi, Harada Kazuhiro (Nagoy University, Japan)
P09 “Current status of Satoyama-type tree burial in Japan and forest management -A
study focused on urban areas-” You Xiaoan, Ishibashi Seiji, Yasumura Naoto, Saito
Haruo (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
P10 “The Relationship between the worldview of the anime “Natsume’s Book of
Friends” and the cognition of nature at the model site from the perspective of yokai
culture” Wu Shuyue, Liu Ming, Nakamura Kazuhiko (The University of Tokyo,
Japan)

5

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Day2 (Sunday, 17 March)
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Welcome Speech
Session 1

Ishibashi Seiji (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

Chairperson Fujiwara Akio (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

9:20 Special Speech 1 “Review of historical change about forest education in Japan” Inoue
Mariko (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Japan)
10:00 Keynote Speech 1 “Recreational Forests of Korea” Kim Soyeon (Catholic Kwandong
University, Korea)
10:40 Coffee Break
11:00 Keynote Speech 2 “Sound Preferences of Alzheimer Patients on Natural sound and Music:
A Grounded Theory Approach” Peng Zhaohui (Huazhong Agriculture University, China)
11:40 Keynote Speech 3 “How were forests recognized in 19th and early 20th century tourism
on Mount Fuji?” Chihara Koji (Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center,
Japan)
12:20 Take a Meeting Photo and Session End
12:30 Lunch
Session 2

Chairperson Saito Haruo (The University of Tokyo, Japan)

14:00 Special Speech 2 “Plant cultures in Yunnan with emphasis of large old trees” Long
Chunlin (Minzu University of China, China)
14:40 Keynote Speech 4 “Examining the potential of wild, underutilized, and neglected edible
plants in improving nutrition and wellbeing: A case study in West Java, Indonesia” Yen Yen
Sally Rahayu (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
15:20 Coffee Break
15:40 Keynote Speech 5 “Research on Ethnobotany of Hainan Li Minority, China” Liu Shoubai(Hainan University, China)
16:20 Keynote Speech 6 “Indigenous Knowledge and Ethnobotany of Formosa” Yang Chi-Kai(National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan)
17:00 Session End
18:00 Welcome Dinner6International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Day3 (Monday, 18 March)
8:00 Breakfast
9:10 Depart on an In Meeting Excursion
9:30 The Fujisan Musium (Former Fujiyoshida Museum of History and Folklore)
10:30 The Togawa Oshi House, A Pilgrim’s Inn
12:00 Lunch at the Herves Terras
13:00 Sightseeing Around Mt.Fuji Area
15:00 The Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center
17:00 Return from an In Meeting Excursion
18:00 Dinner

Day4 (Tuesday, 19 March)
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Forest Visit and Inspection in Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Center, The Universityof Tokyo Forests
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Exchange of Views of Forest Cultures Science in East Asia (FOCUSEA)
Meeting Wrap-up
Removal of Poster Presentations
18:00 Farewell Dinner

Day5 (Wednesday, 20 March)
7:30 Breakfast
8:30 Depart on Excursion
Sightseeing in the Fuji Five Lakes to Lake Motosu
10:30 Depart from the Lake Motosu
Sightseeing from Fuji West Foothills to Lake Ashinoko, Hakone
13:00 Lunch at the Ryuguden at Ashinoko, Hakone
14:00 Marquetry Experience at Kanazashi Woodcraft at Harajyuku, Hakone
15:30 Depart from Hatajyuku
16:00 Arrive to Hakoneyumoto Station
18:05 Arrive to Sinjyuku Station and Disband

7International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Special Invited Speekers
Dr.Mariko Inoue
Dr. Mariko Inoue serves as a Group Leader at the Tama Forest
Science Garden, the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institutein Japan. She holds esteemed positions as a board member withinboth the Japanese Forest Society and the Japan Outdoor Education
Society. Additionally, she contributes her expertise as an associate
member to the Science Council of Japan. Dr. Inoue has established adistinguished career in forest science, the field in which she majoredduring her university studies. Her research, deeply rooted in her
comprehensive knowledge of forest science, primarily emphasizes advancing forest andenvironmental education. She applied her knowledge as a high school teacher in Tokyo, focusing
on agriculture and forestry. This practical teaching role not only enriched her experience but also
intensified her research interest in forest education. Her endeavors in this area led to significant
contributions, including the publication of "Forest Education" in 2015. Her work received
international acclaim when she was chosen as a finalist in the IUFRO Global Competition on
Best Practices in Forest Education in 2019, and her excellence was further recognized with theJapan Forest Society Prize in 2022.

Professor Chunlin LONG
Prof. Chunlin LONG is a full professor at Minzu University of
China, one of China’s prestigious universities located in Beijing. He
made significant contribution in fields of agrobiodiversity andbiodiversity, botany, ethnobiology, natural products, and planttaxonomy. In particular, Prof. Long has studied the relationships
between people and plants in different linguistic groups throughmulti-disciplinary approaches. He published 438 papers in national
and international journals. He is a prolific writer and authored 25 books and 19 patents ofinnovations. Prof. Long has been awarded 19 prizes.
Prof. Long is currently the Chair of Ethnobotanical Committee of China Wild Plant
Conservation Association, Vice-President of Chinese Association of Ethnobotany, and ViceChair of Committee of Seed Science & Technology, Botanical Society of China. He serves as
the Associate Editor of “Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution”, and “Journal of Ethnobiology
and Ethnomedicine”. He is also the editorial board member of various journals including“Archives of Pharmacal Research”, “Biodiversity Science”, “Diversity”, and other journals.
Prof. Long is a member of various expert committees or steering committees of Chinese
government agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,
National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and Ministry of Natural Resources.

8International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Keynote Speekers
Professor Soyeon Kim
Professor Soyeon Kim is a professor at Catholic Kwandong
University located in Gangneung, Kangwon-do, and has beenworking there since 2022. Previously, she completed her bachelor's,
master's, and doctoral studies at Kangwon National University andworked as a senior researcher at the Forest Science Research Institute.
Her major is forestry management, it is a field that deals with both
economics and public interest. Based on this, she is conducting research on forestry engineeringand forest recreation.

Her recent research was in the medical field to verify the scientificeffectiveness of forest healing for each subject using forest resources. She operates a forest
healing instructor training institute to produce experts in the field. She is also researching about
forest business models, where she utilizes forest culture. Her ultimate goal is to enable mountainowners to generate profitability through diverse forest management and to contribute to the local
community.

Peng ZhaohuiPeng Zhaohui, Chinese, Phd candidate, graduated from
Chongqing University as master degree, phd candidate of Huazhong
Agriculture University since 2023. Research field: Forest therapy
and environmental design. Participating in one national naturalscience project as the main researcher. Publishing an article on
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Presenter of the 10th Conference on Sustainable Development in the
Building and Environment(SuDBE2021). Winning Award of Excellence of IFLA 2020 as groupmember. Joining biological diversity protection project along Yangzi River held by WWF asmain researcher(2019).

Koji Chihara
Koji Chihara, Japanese, graduated from Hokkaido University as
master degree, curator of Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World
Heritage Center since 2022.

He majored forest science atuniversity. His research interests are environmental history, plantarchaeology, and tourism history.
At university, based on the wood anatomical method, he analyzed
wooden cultural properties such as archaeological wood in Hokkaido, Japan. Currently, he isresearching historical changes of the ways in which Japanese and foreign tourists and tourism

9International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japandevelopers faced the nature of Mt. Fuji. As a common theme among them, he aims to elucidate
how people from various cultural backgrounds have historically interacted with nature such as
forests in a particular area.

Dr. Liu Shoubai
Dr. Liu Shoubai, Chinese, graduated from Hainan University,
lecturer of Hainan University since 2017. Research field:
Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology. The traditional
medicinal plant resources of Li and Miao minority in Hainan were
investigated. Participate in compilation of Records of Li Folk
Medicine and Records of Miao Folk Medicine in Hainan. The
chemical constituents and biological activities of many kinds of Li
folk medicines such as Trichilia sinensis, Croton laui and Croton
laevigatus were studied. More than 10 articles have been published in RSC advance, Fitoterapia
and other journals.

Professor Yang Chih Kai
Professor Yang Chih-Kai is Taiwanese and graduated from
Taiwan Normal University. Assistant Professor at National
Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Department ofForestry since 2021.Research field: Ethnobotany, Forest ecology,
Plant taxonomy.He published 69 papers in national andinternational journals and authored 27 books. He explored the
ethnobotany of the Atayal, Bunon, Paiwan, and Kanakanavu tribes
from Taiwan. Currently, he is working on a project to study Bunon
indigenous knowledge used in restoration ecology. In addition, he
studies how Aboriginal people in Taiwan utilize natural fibers.

Dr. Yen Yen Sally Rahayu
Dr. Yen Yen Sally Rahayu, Indonesian, postdoctoral fellow at
Tokyo College of the University of Tokyo. She earned BSc in
chemistry, MSc in biochemical science and technology, and PhD in
agricultural development studies and interdisciplinary social design
and management at the University of Tokyo. Research interests:
area studies, food chemistry, and human nutrition.
Her research focuses on (re)valuing biodiversity in today'ssociety. Currently, she is engaged in transdisciplinary area studies
exploring the nexus between wild edible plant biodiversity, nutrition, and well-being ofrural/local communities in Indonesia.

10International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Abstracts

11

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Review of Historical Change about Forest Education in Japan
Mariko INOUE
Tama Forest Science Garden, Forestry and Forest Product Research Institute, JAPAN,
imariko@ffpri.affrc.go.jp
Introduction

In recent years, the international community has drawn attention to the vital role that
forests play for sustaining the ecological health of the earth. Forest education was highlighted as
the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), because it plays a vital role in promoting
sustainable forest management, forest products use and conservation. In this study, Japanese
historical records pertaining to forest education focusing on post- modern period were reviewed.

History of forest education

Japan entered into the modern period after the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the modern
school education system was established in 1872; the first forestry technical school wasestablished in 1882 for training forestry professionals. Forest education was initiated by Prof.
Hazama Matsuno who was the first student studied in old-Germany. The educational aims wereto learn about forest functions especially water source conservation and the importance of wooduse for economic purposes. Afterward, schools related to forest were established. Meanwhile,tree planting activities have been encouraged in general education since the 1890s; similar to theArbor Day in the United States of America.
The school education system was reconstructed in 1947; there were 25 universities orcolleges and 105 high schools related to forestry. In addition, greening forestation activities
were initiated to restore devastation from war. Forestry was taught in the schools, andeducational activities in the forest were conducted an outdoor excursion.
In the 1970’s, environmental pollution problem was drawn attention to the general public.
The forestry education that responded to timber production demand had gradually shifted torespond various demand such as recreation, environment. In schools, opportunities to learn
about forestry had been gradually decreased; instead, local forestry organizations filled the gap.
Forestry education as specialized education needed to be restructured in 1990s; “forestry
science” was renamed as “forest science.” Forestry courses in universities and high schools
have been reorganised into forest since the late 1880s.
In 1999, the National Forestry Council proposed a “Forest Environmental Education”
policy, which became a milestone in Japanese forest education. After the proposal, the Japanese
Forestry Agency promoted forestry education; the “Basic Law of Forest and Forestry,” revisedin 2001, included the terms “usage of forest for education.” In the 2000s, various types ofactivities related to forestry were conducted. One of the most successful activities was“Moku-iku” to promote sustainable wood use. Some kindergarten or nursery schools conducted
their childcare activities in forests or parks. In those days, new types of technical schools were
established for training forestry experts.

Conclusion

In summary, the specialty of the Japanese forest education is to include bothprofessional and general education and is characterized by its highly diverse activities. Forest
education has played a vital role to bring forests and the general public together.

12International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Plant Cultures in Yunnan with Emphasis of Large Old Trees
Chunlin LONG1, Zhuo CHENG2 & Qing ZHANG3
1

Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Areas, Minzu University of
China, CHINA, long.chunlin@muc.edu.cn
2College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, CHINA,
18515952092@163.com
3College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, CHINA,
chelseyzq@163.com

Yunnan, a province in southwest China, harbors over 19,000 higher plants within an area of
394,000 km2 and represents the highest plant diversity in the country. With 25 ethnic groups,
Yunnan is also the richest area of cultural diversity in China. Thus various plant cultures havebeen developed in the province. Large old trees are important heritages of our planet and humansocieties which have been supporting essential cultural values and ecological services. The
colourful plant cultures in Yunnan including those represented by large old trees have been
ignored, despite their significant roles in local people’s livelihood and nature conservation. This
study revealed the status of plant cultures in Yunnan. As an important component in plant
cultures, the traditional botanical knowledge (TBK) in different linguistic groups showed great
diversity. In particular, the TBK-based food culture and herbal medicinal culture are extremelyrich in southern and western Yunnan. We documented 421 species of edible flowers and theirassociated traditional knowledge which represented an interesting and unique plant culture, theflower-eating culture. Some plants have been endowed with super natural power. The large oldtrees in Yunnan are commonly regarded as landmark and worship trees with religious purposes.
The Yi people in central Yunnan treated the old trees of Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides,
Rhododendron delavayi, Keteleeria evelyniana and other species as totems and taboos or
objectives related to their ancestors. In Nujiang Prefecture of West Yunnan, the local people
have protected and maintained 73 species of large old trees for various purposes. It isoutstanding that the Dai ethnic group and other local people in Xishuangbanna and Pu’er ofsouthern Yunnan have established customary laws or regulations to maintain the conservationand sustainable use of large old trees. The tea trees (Camellia sinensis var. assamica) intraditional teagardens, and Senna siamea and banyan trees (Ficus spp.) around the villages are
the famous examples. The large old trees together with their TBK have played an important rolein the forest culture and plant culture in Yunnan. We conclude that the plant cultures including
forest culture, taking Yunnan as a case, have strongly contributed a lot to the conservation andsustainable uses of biodiversity.
Keywords: Plant cultures; Large old tree; Traditional knowledge; Biodiversity
conservation; Human-plant interaction

13

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Recreational Forests of Korea
Soyeon KIM
Forest Healing, Department of Human Service, Catholic Kwandong University,
South Korea, neon5947@cku.ac.kr

Forest from the past to modern days and assets
Korea's forest area takes 64% of the entire country. Our trees are in 3-5 age class,accounting for 80% from the total amount of trees. Trees belongs to forests below; 67% ofprivate forests, 24% of national forests, and 8% of public forests. Korea's forest-to-land area
proportion ranks 4th among OECD countries, following Finland (73.1%), Japan (68.5%), andSweden (68.4%), making itself as a global forest country. The reason our forests are this green
and have high resource value is because trees have grown well through national projects fromthe past: active forest reforestation and forest reclamation.
Forests have been considered important nationally from the past and have also been thebasis of life. These values of forests have had a positive impact on our lives and society. Music,
folk games, myths, and lifestyle derived from the forest are connected to our real lives. This
culture strengthened our identity and inherited as a traditional forest culture, and of course it ischanging along with rapid time flows.
Forest culture can be divided abstractly into traditional and modern forest culture.
Traditional forest culture gave priority to discovering its assets. Traditional forest culture can besaid to be a form of use for conservation and utilization. On the other hand, modern forest
culture can be classified by the purpose of the use and by identifying the demand for forest
culture. These are often combined or newly developed according to the trends of the times. So,
the Act on Forest Culture and Recreation was also revised and implemented in December 2023.
The revised contents separated the concepts of forest culture and forest recreation.
After revision of the law, ‘Forest culture’, which is totality of spiritual and material
products formed by the interaction of forests and humans, refers to every content of looking,enjoying, experiencing, and creating with forests and traditions, heritage, and lifestyles related
to the forest. ‘Forest recreation’ is defined as resting and healing of mind and body that takes
place in the forest. This means that the concept of forest culture has been cleared. Moreover, theKFS has designated tangible and intangible assets about forests which have high ecological,
landscape, and academic preservation value, and this is called 'national forest cultural asset'.
Currently 98 assets are designated, and forest cultural assets from a modern perspective are
selected and organized based on assets from a traditional perspective below. (Table 1)
Table 1. Traditional/Modern Forest Culture Assets
Traditional perspective
Class 2
Class 3
Urban forest,
Lumber forest,
Tangible
Temple forest,
ForestForestHabitat, Colony,
CulturalForest business site
Assetsetc.

Modern perspective

Class 1••14

Neighbourhood Park, Natural recre
ation forest, Meditation/Healing fo
rest
Related activities: Health improve
facilities (in neighbourhood park)/ Healing, forest interpretation prInternational Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

•

•

Tree

Protected trees,
Special trees,
Commemorative
trees, etc.

•

•
•
•

NatureOld roads, Rocks,
Springs, Valley
waterfalls, Caves,
Fossil sites, etc.

••

HeritageArchival
RecordWood andStone
product

Altar, Garden,
Buildings,
Facilities, Historicsites, etc.

•

Chalcolithic andwoodblockengravings,
Photographs,
videos and sounds,
Monuments, etc.

•

•

•

•

Wooden utensils,
Wooden ships,
Musicalinstruments, Stone
pagoda, Timber
tools, etc.

•
•

15

ograms.
Goods: Herbal products / Forest p
roducts / Forest welfare expert tra
ining
Forest resources, Avenue, Tree far
ms, etc.
Related activities: Rest area / Landscape improvement / History stor
ytelling / Funeral burial culture /Tree doctor training
Goods: Food and beverage sales(in the site)/ Wildflower pots sales
Forest paths and roads, trails, etc.
Related activities: Healing food experience in trail / Forest leisure s
ports / Green tour as local touris
m / Forest product sales
Goods: Local Festival / leisure ac
tivity (ziplining, mountain horseba
ck riding) / Forest lunch box / Forest trekking guide training
National and local garden, Herbal
farm, Arboretum, Forest house,
Camping, Bivouac, etc.
Related activities: Camping accom
modation / Plant interpretation pro
gram / Natural foodGoods: Medical plant products (flower tea) / Aromatherapy products / Handicrafts (pressed flower) /Indigenous plant interpreter and C
itizen gardener training
AR/VR experience, Promotion videos, SoopnadeulE, SNS, Forest ed
ucation, etc.
Goods: AR/VR program / Forest i
nterpreter and Forest welfare expe
rt training / Forest culture festival
Aromatherapy, rafts, wooden utens
ils, etc.
Related activities: Handicraft andWood culture experience program
Goods: Air fresheners, Handmade
soap / Rafting festival / Wooden t
ableware / Wood Educator and Ar
omatherapist training program

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan•

Fossil•Animal and plantfossil•Observing insects, birds, trees, etc.
Related activities: Forest experienc
e and observation program / Gro
wth monitoring program.
Goods: Insect breeding kit / Edible insect product and experience

•

Oral

Forest’s myths,
Fables, Folk songs,
etc.

Forest orchestra, Forest art gallery, F&B festival, etc.

Forkbeliefs andFolklore

Forest’s folk
beliefs, Folklore,
and games•

Urban forest, Local tradition cultu
ral heritage, etc.

Intangible
ForestTraditional
Culturalskills andAssetsknowledge

Forest andTraditional timberskills, knowledge•

To teach knowledge via education
using Forest educator training pr
ogram
Related activities: Forest welfare e
xpert training program••

Traditional
ceremony

Forest’s traditional
ceremony••

Woodland burial, forest festivals f
rom local areas, etc.
Related activities: Funeral culture/ Forest culture festival / Local fe
stivalGoods: Regional specialties

Benefits from forests in Korea nowadays
After the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the perspective on forests has changed, noweyes spotted on the function of recreation. Among several functions, especially 'Forest healing'
contributes to stabilizing the people's sentiment and improving the quality of life, throughdiverse activities and services based on forests. Economic, social, and emotional supports areprovided through these activities. They include forest prenatal care, infant forest experience,
mountain leisure sports, and forest healing. The people can receive benefits from forests during
the whole life, from birth to death. Plus, at the 2022 World Forest Expo, forests were evaluatedas having high solving potential to provide public interest functions more than the economic
function of wood production.
The public interest function of forests is increasing every year. As of 2023, it isestimated that each citizen receives an annual benefit of 4.99 million won. The total forest
welfare is 66.9 trillion won with recreation function (28.4 trillion won), for healing function (6.7
trillion won)that helps people to reduce medical expenses, and for landscape function(31.8
trillion won). The following table shows national facilities for forest recreation. (Table 2)16International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Facility

Functions•

Natural Recreational
ForestChildren’s Forest
Experience Center
Healing Forest

•

•

•

Forest Therapy
Instructor Training
Center•Forest Education
Expert Training
Center•Woodland Burial••

Forest Trail••

Forest of the People••

Urban Forest•

Certain forest areas designated by the government forpeople's health, rest, and entertainment.
Promote sustainable management of forest resources,
provide basic recreational facilities, and provide outdoor
recreational space for public health recreation, emotional
development, and forestry education.
A facility that trains and educates children so that they candevelop their emotions and develop holistically by
experiencing the various functions of the forest.
A forest (including facilities and land) created to utilize
diverse elements of the forest, such as scent and scenery, toincrease immunity and improve health.
A nationally qualified expert who supports efficient forest
healing activities by planning and developing customized
healing programs for each target via healing forests andnatural recreation forests.
Forest education expert is classified as a forest interpreter, aforest guide for children, and a forest trekking guide.
Qualified after expert course.
A funeral method burying burnt bone ashes under (or nearby) the tree in the forest.
A path in a forest and used for multi purposes. Created forhiking, trekking, leisure sports, exploration, recreation,
healing, etc.
Hiking trails, trekking trails, forest leisure sports trails,
exploring trails, and recreational and healing forest trails.
Contributes to promoting the welfare of the people throughvarious activities and services.
Place where people can experience forest culture and enjoy
the forest and nature with activities.
Group forests, experiential forests, forest leisure sports
forests, and social return forests.
Forests and trees created and managed for people's health,recreation, emotional development, and experiential
activities in the city.

Recently, the focus has been on the creation and operation of smart forest welfare
facilities. Korea Forest Welfare Institute (FoWI) is making various efforts to realize smart forest
welfare. By creating trail facilities, it is propelling few projects such as guiding andrecommending customer’s health, automation of the process collecting healing effect data. To
increase the accessibility of forest welfare services for vulnerable groups, the agency is planningto develop a surrealistic forest by using VR, graphics, and 3D sound technology, and distributeit to special schools, hospitals, and social welfare facilities.
The future smart forest welfare will protect our health and environment and become
the foundation for a better life. For us, forests are places that support our ecosystem, purify thepolluted air, and harmonize with nature. It is our responsibility to protect and manage forests ina sustainable way for the future era.

17

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia(FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Sound Preferences of Alzheimer Patients on Natural Sound and Music:
A Grounded Theory Approach
Xie, Hui1, Peng, Zhaohui2
Chongqing University, Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planning,
People’s Republic of China, xh@cqu.edu.cn
2
Huazhong Agricultural University, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences,
People’s Republic of China, pengzhaohui2022@126.com
1

Abstract
Background and Aim:
Dementia is a series of specific diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or Lewy bodies. Thosepatients suffer from loss of self-care abilities such as language, comprehension, and spatial
orientation[1, 2]. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60% -80% of dementia diseases[3]. Sound
intervention such as natural sound or music are found as non-phamarceutical method to treat
symptoms like cognition deterioration, depressive mood or agitated behavior [4, 5].
The potential therapeutic effects of natural soundscapes were mentioned in both Kaplan'sAttention Recovery Theory (ART) and Ulrich's Stress Reduction Theory (SRT), which revealed
that natural soundscapes establish the connection between people and the environment[6, 7].
Previous researches also indicated that bird sound and river sound in the morning generated
positive emotions[8]. Ocean wave and seabird sound was more relaxing for people compared tourban soundscapes[9]. On the other hand, elder people preferred the wind blowing sound andthe sound of magpies[10].
Music therapy was also proved to reduce many Alzheimer symptoms such as anxiety,depressive or sleep disturbances. Researchers used music that patients were familiar to reduceagitated behavior and enhance the connectivity of nerves[11, 12]. Another study revealed thatfamiliar music stimulated special memory and pleasant mood of patients[13]. On the other hand,music with interaction encouraged patients to sing or dance, which effectively alleviate theindifferent mood and disturbed behavior[14, 15].
However, little research explores the evaluation and response of Alzheimer patients on thosesound. This study presents to investigate the evaluation and behavioral change of Alzheimer
patients under different natural sound and music.

18

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia(FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Method:Figure 1 Listening and interviewing scene with Alzheimer patients
Participants
A total of 23 mild and middle Alzheimer patients(female:male=10:13) received naturalsound and music listening experiments and semi-structure interviews. The inclusion criteria was:
1. Able to understand, communicate with interviewees and express inner thoughts easily, 2.
With stable emotion and willing to take the interview, 3. Without serious hearing barrier. Theinterviewing time was 30min for each patient. Patients who meet the criteria will be informed
and signed the consent form with the help of family. Ethical approval was obtained through thehospital committee (2021-103).
Intervention Sound
Previous studies indicated that the sound which patients were familiar with stimulated themto memorize the past experiences[16]. Therefore, 10 natural sounds and 6 music which wereusually found in patients’ daily life and centuries were selected as intervention sound. Naturalsound included bird sound, water sound and rainy sound, while music was classic music with
fast or slow tempo. Each sound was abstracted with 1min part that was easily recognized bypatients.
Procedure
To reduce disturbance and insecurity of Alzheimer patients, the experimental area waschosen to a quiet room of hospital. A Sony HT-X8500 stereo was used as audio speaker todisplay the intervention sound. Before the experiment, patients relaxed at a comfort chair for
5min. Researchers would introduce the intervention briefly and encouraged patients to describe
feeling after listening. There are 5min interval between each sound playing. During eachinterval, participants would be asked by simple questions such as 1. What did you think about
after hearing the sound? 2.What did you prefer to listen during your daily time? 3.Could you
give me more information on your favorite sound? A sony PCM-D100 recorder was used torecord the answer of participants. Experiments which lasted beyond 30min would be conducted
twice.
Data Analysis
Grounded theory was carried out to investigate the sound preference of those patients andinfluencing factors. As the first interview was completed, open coding began immediately.
Keywords of each answer was extracted and compared. In the axial coding, keywords with samefeature were classified into the same category. As the set of similar keywords gradually
increased, the characteristic of different categories was described as one word. In the selective
coding, logic between categories was built to indicate the feature of understanding of Alzheimer
patients. When no new keyword appeared, the analysis stopped.

19

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia(FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Result:Featureof thesound

Demographic
factors ofpatients

Imagined
content

Natural soundMusic

Pattern of soundPattern of soundNumber of sounds

Clarity

Livingexperienceswith natural
sound

Past life innaturalenvironment

Natural scene

Eventsrelated withmusic

Past experiences

Expression and behavioral change on natural sound and music
Responseof patients

Evaluation of the natural sound and music

Figure 2 Characterization of evaluation of Alzheimer patients on natural sound and music
Sound preferences of dementia patients on natural sound was affected by their living
experiences and number of sounds, while preferences on music was influenced by clarity ofsound and past listening experiences. Both of patients’ preferences on natural sound and music
was related with the pattern of the sound. Familiar sound stimulated patients to memorize pastlife and showed behavioral change such as clapping hands or singing. This finding is beneficial
to design proper intervention sound and improve the interaction between dementia patients andthe sound.

20

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia(FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Shi, L., et al., Sleep disturbances increase the risk of dementia: A systematic review
and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2018. 40: p. 4-16.
Maaskant, M., et al., Circadian sleep-wake rhythm of older adults with intellectual
disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2013. 34(4): p. 1144-1151.
Gaugler, J., et al., 2022 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimers &Dementia, 2022. 18(4): p. 700-789.
Leggieri, M., et al., Music Intervention Approaches for Alzheimer's Disease: A
Review of the Literature. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019. 13.
Sharma, A., et al., Perspectives of Circadian-Based Music Therapy for the

Pathogenesis and Symptomatic Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 2022. 15.
Alvarsson, J.J., S. Wiens, and M.E. Nilsson, Stress Recovery during Exposure to
Nature Sound and Environmental Noise. International Journal of Environmental
Research and Public Health, 2010. 7(3): p. 1036-1046.
Berman, M.G., J. Jonides, and S. Kaplan, The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With
Nature. Psychological Science, 2008. 19(12): p. 1207-1212.
Curtin, S., Wildlife tourism: the intangible, psychological benefits of human-wildlife
encounters. Current Issues in Tourism, 2009. 12(5-6): p. 451-474.
Jahncke, H., et al., Open-plan office noise: Cognitive performance and restoration.
Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2011. 31(4): p. 373-382.
Hedblom, M., et al., Evaluation of natural sounds in urban greenery: potential
impact for urban nature preservation. Royal Society Open Science, 2017. 4(2).
Weise, L., et al., Study protocol: individualized music for people with dementia -improvement of quality of life and social participation for people with dementia ininstitutional care. Bmc Geriatrics, 2018. 18.
King, J.B., et al., Increased Functional Connectivity After Listening to FavoredMusic in Adults With Alzheimer Dementia. Jpad-Journal of Prevention of

13.

Alzheimers Disease, 2019. 6(1): p. 56-62.
Sakamoto, M., H. Ando, and A. Tsutou, Comparing the effects of different

14.

International Psychogeriatrics, 2013. 25(5): p. 775-784.
Thornley, J., H. Hirjee, and A. Vasudev, Music therapy in patients with dementia

15.
16.

individualized music interventions for elderly individuals with severe dementia.

and behavioral disturbance on an inpatient psychiatry unit: results from a pilot
randomized controlled study. International Psychogeriatrics, 2016. 28(5): p. 869-871.
Sung, H.C., et al., The effects of group music with movement intervention onagitated behaviours of institutionalized elders with dementia in Taiwan.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2006. 14(2): p. 113-119.
Bidelman, G.M. and C. Alain, Musical Training Orchestrates Coordinated

Neuroplasticity in Auditory Brainstem and Cortex to Counteract Age-Related
Declines in Categorical Vowel Perception. Journal of Neuroscience, 2015. 35(3): p.
1240-1249.

21

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

How were Forests Recognized in 19th and Early 20th Century Tourism
on Mount Fuji?
Koji CHIHARA

Introduction

Yamanashi Prefectural Fujisan World Heritage Center, Japan,
chihara-rjck@pref.yamanashi.lg.jp

Understanding the role of forests in tourism is important for studying the relationship between
forests and humans. This presentation points out the changes in tourism to Mt Fuji between the
19th and early 20th centuries and suggests that the perception of the forests around Mt Fuji haschanged accordingly.

1. Changes in Tourism around the Base of Mt. Fuji in the 1920s

Guidebooks and travelogues suggest that three different types of tourism coexisted at the baseof Mt. Fuji from the 19th century to the 1910s.
(A) Pilgrimage by Japanese (“Uchihakkai meguri”): Fuji-ko, groups of people who dedicated toworshiping Mt. Fuji, made a pilgrimage to the eight lakes and marshes around the mountain.
(B) Tourism by Westerners: When the British opened Shoji hotel on the shores of Lake Shojiko
in 1895, tourism changed to a stay-and-go type centered on the hotel. A cave (Fuji Fuketsu) andthe hill where the grand panorama can be seen (modern day Mt. Panorama-dai view Point) were
newly noted as tourist attractions that can be reached by a day trip from Shoji hotel.
(C) Circular Tour by Japanese: Short-stay tourism other than for religious purposes. The main
aim of this tourism was on enjoying the scenery, but the courses and spots visited were clearlywith an awareness of the pilgrimage by Japanese (A).
In October 1922, Crown Prince Hirohito (later Emperor Showa) stayed two nights at the Shoji
Hotel and visited the Mt. Panorama-dai view Point and Fuji Fuketsu, just as the Tourism byWesterners (B). In the northside of Mt. Fuji, tourism development influenced by this visit was
promoted in the mid-1920s, excursions around the "Fuji Five Lakes," became popular.

2. Changing Perceptions of the Aokigahara Jukai forest in the 1920s and 1930s

In Circular tour around the base of Mt. Fuji, it was necessary to pass through the Aokigahara
Jukai forest to move from Nenba (west shore of Lake Saiko) to Akaike (southeast shore of Lake
Shojiko). This forest has developed on the lava flow that divided Lake Saiko and Lake Shojiko,during the eruption of Mt. Fuji. Tourism development in the mid-1920s, as mentioned above, isthought to have altered the perceptions of this forest. This presentation suggests the following
three points.
(1) Rating as a place to be viewed from hills: Mt. Panorama-dai view Point used to be a place
visited only by Westerners, but a mountain trail was developed by the visit of the Crown Prince
in 1922. his hill became the center of tourism in "Fuji Five Lakes” from the mid-1920s to the
1930s. By the mid-1920s, hills such as Koyodai were newly listed in guidebooks as viewpoints.
These scenic spots were places to appreciate the combination of the Aokigahara Jukai forest.
(2) Losing of a perception as a "difficult route": The way between Nenba and Akaike was once
recognized as a “difficult route" required guides. When passenger cars began operating along
this section in the mid-1920s, it was no longer necessary to walk through the Aokigahara Jukai
forest. This reduced travel time and made travelers easy to visit the above-mentioned hills.
(3) Rating as a Primeval Forest: The forest in Aokigahara were already known as "Jukai" (sea oftrees) at the end of the 19th century. In 1926, part of the Aokigahara Jukai forest was designatedas a natural monument 'Mt. Fuji Primeval Forest', and guidebooks began to refer to this forest as
wilderness (untouched nature).
These changes in the perceptions of the Aokigahara Jukai forest, caused by tourism
development in the mid-1920s, may have formed the prototype for tourism to enjoy the natural
beauty of Mt Fuji, which continues to this day.

22

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Examining the Potential of Wild, Underutilized, and Neglected Edible
Plants in Improving Nutrition and Wellbeing: A Case Study in West
Java, Indonesia
Yen Yen Sally RAHAYUTokyo College, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN, rahayu.sally@mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp,
yenyenrahayu@gmail.com
Introduction
Current food systems have come to rely on a narrow range of low-nutrient plant species,
disregarding the diversity of nutrient-rich plants used historically [1][2]. In Southeast Asia,
while food security is almost no longer an issue, many people still do not have access to anutritious diet [3], leading to increasing public health issues stemming from malnutrition [4].
Encouragingly, the trend to mainstream biodiversity for improved food, nutrition, and health byembracing underutilized resources has gained momentum worldwide [5]. In this context, wild,
underutilized, and neglected edible plants (WUNEPs) have emerged as promising avenues toaddress nutritional disparities [6] because they often contain higher levels of micronutrients thancultivated crops [7], and their consumption is still practiced by local and indigenous
communities, including in Indonesia [6][8]. However, there is still insufficient evidence tosupport the broader adoption of this approach. Through a case study in West Java, Indonesia,
this study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the potential of WUNEPs to improve local
communities' nutrition and health/well-being. We asked specifically: 1) What WUNEPs are
consumed by local communities? 2) Can these WUNEPs be the sources of nutrients andcontributors to dietary requirements? 3) Is WUNEP intake linked with health and well-being?
Methodology
The study was based on surveys undertaken in West Java, Indonesia. The study site,
inhabited by Sundanese people, is located in the Rancakalong district of Sumedang Regency(Fig.1).

Fig.1. Study location

Fig.2. Overview of study phases and methods

23

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Result & Discussion
Diversity of WUNEPs and use trends
The study documented 53 species of WUNEPs from 27 families, including leafy
vegetables, spices/condiments, fruits, roots/tubers, and flowers. The most frequently citedspecies are consumed as vegetables (Fig.3). Most of the time, these WUNEPs are collected fromtheir natural habitats, e.g. surrounding forest, agricultural field, or kebun talun (the traditional
agroforest), where they grow spontaneously.

Fig. 3. Some examples of most consumed
WUNEPsMany respondents (97%) consumed WUNEP to meet their daily vegetable requirements inthe last year. Most of them agreed that consumption has declined due to reduced availability, alack of knowledge regarding the identification and nutritional benefits of the species, time
constraints, and a preference for improved varieties. The main motivations for using WUNEPs
were their availability as free food, medicinal value, nostalgic value, and preferred taste (Fig. 4).
While the economically motivated factor was perceived as necessary for both edible plants, theimportance of having medicinal values and personal factors or subjective reasons (such as taste
preference and nostalgia) was more emphasized for WUNEPs. However, nutritional benefits are
only recognized for vegetables, and none of the respondents perceived WUNEPs as convenient,indicating a lack of knowledge regarding its nutritional value and potential constraints related toaccess.
Nutritional values of WUNEPs and participants’ daily nutrient intake
Several WUNEPs in this study underscore significant nutritional value (Table 1).
Specifically, they serve as noteworthy sources of protein, fiber, essential minerals (calcium/Ca,
iron/Fe, zinc/Zn), and vitamin C (Table 1). The nutritional values of several documented
WUNEPs were comparable to or higher than those of common vegetables. For instance, C.
crepidioides leaves represented a high protein content (22.6 g/100 g) that was comparable to freshsoybean (30.0 g/100 g) [9], which is the most consumed plant-based protein source in Indonesia[10]. Moreover, the average vitamin C content in P. emblica and A. occidentale is five and threetimes greater than that of papaya [9].
Results from the dietary assessment revealed that participants consumed an average of 7
food groups daily, with 94% of participants meeting the Minimum Dietary Diversity/MDD byconsuming at least five different food groups in the criteria (i.e., grains, roots, tubers, pulses, nuts
and seed, meat/poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, vegetables, and fruits). However, most participants did
not meet the dietary requirements for many key macro- and micronutrients (Table 2). Among
macronutrients, fiber had the lowest percentage of those who met its recommended dietaryrequirement (0.9%), and none of the micronutrients were adequate in participants’ dietary intake,24

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

except for Na, Cu, and P elements. This finding implies that a diverse diet does not necessarily
guarantee nutrient adequacy.

Potential WUNEP contribution to the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
Several WENUPs documented in this study can contribute to meeting the RDA of certain
nutrients. RDA is the average daily dietary intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient
requirements of nearly all healthy individuals in an age-specific group. Considering theobserved nutrient deficiencies among the studied participants on the one hand and the notable
WUNEP nutritional qualities on the other, promoting WUNEP consumption appears to be asensible approach to improving nutrition. For example, approximately half of the documented
WUNEPs in this study were identified as Fe sources (Table 1). Our recent dietary survey

25International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

conducted in the study area found that the average daily Fe intake of 107 women is 16.8 mg/day(not shown). This value falls below the RDA of 18 mg/day for women aged 19–49 [11],suggesting a prevalence of Fe deficiency among women in the area. Therefore, consuming
Fe-rich WUNEPs (RDA > 30%) can be encouraged as a dietary choice. These include edible partsof A. ciliata, S. americanum, M. oleifera, G. divaricata, C. indica, B. pilosa, and B. androgyna.
Achieving the recommended intake would require the consumption of 50–100 g of their edible
parts.
WUNEP intake and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL)
Among the components in the self-assessed HRQOL, WUNEP intake is linked with ‘general
health’ and ‘role of physical functioning’ (Table 3). Higher WUNEP consumption correlates witha more positive evaluation of general health but is associated with poorer physical functioning(problems with activities). However, the associations with these variables appear weak.
Conclusion
The documented WUNEPs offer significant nutritional value. Specifically, several WUNEPs
serve as noteworthy sources of protein, fiber, essential minerals (calcium, iron, zinc), and vitaminC, meeting their RDA requirements. These findings highlight the potential role of WUNEPs in
addressing nutritional deficiencies that was found in the studied rural communities.
A perceived reduction in availability and changes in land use were the most prominent
factors contributing to the decline in WUNEP consumption, followed by limited knowledge about
species identification and nutritional benefits, coupled with impracticality. Nonetheless, theSundanese habit of consuming lalap (raw greens) still plays a significant role in sustaining the useof WUNEPs in the studied location, with motivations including their availability as free food,medicinal value, taste, and affective relationships tied to tradition and childhood memories.
References
1. Hunter D, Borelli T, Beltrame DMO, Oliveira CNS, Coradin L, Wasike VW, et al. The potentialof neglected and underutilized species for improving diets and nutrition. Planta. 2019;250:709–29
2. Kuhnlein H V, Erasmus B, Spigelski D. Indigenous Peoples Food Systems : The Many
Dimension of Culture, Diversity and Environment For Nutrition and Health. Rome.FAO; 2009.
3. FAO. State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI). Rome: FAO; 2020.
4. Development Initiatives. 2020 Global Nutrition Report. Bristol: Global Nutrition Report; 2020.
5. Borelli T, Güzelsoy NA, Hunter D, Tan A, Karabak S, Uçurum HÖ, et al. Assessment of the
Nutritional Value of Selected Wild Food Plants in Türkiye and Their Promotion for Improved
Nutrition. Sustainability. 2022;14:e11015.
6. Pawera L, Khomsan A, Zuhud EAM, Hunter D, Ickowitz A, Polesny Z. Wild food plants andtrends in their use: From knowledge and perceptions to drivers of change in West Sumatra,Indonesia. Foods. 2020;9.
7. Ogle BM, Dung NNX, Do TT, Hambraeus L. The contribution of wild vegetables tomicronutrient intakes among women: An example from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Ecol Food
Nutr. 2001;40:159–84.
8. Rahayu YYS, Araki T, Rosleine D. Factors affecting the use of herbal medicines in theuniversal health coverage system in Indonesia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020;260.
9. Dirjen Kemenkes. Tabel Komposisi Pangan Indonesia (Indonesian Food Composition Table).
Jakarta: Kemenkes RI: 2018; 2018.
10. Siswanto et al. Buku Studi diet total: Survei Konsumsi Makanan Individu Indonesia 2014.
Trihono, Atmarita, Jahari AB, Kartono D, editors. Jakarta: Balitbangkes RI: 2014; 2014.
11. Menkes RI. Permenkes RI No. 28/2019. Jakarta: Kemenkes RI: 2019; 2019.

26

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Research on Ethnobotany of Hainan Li Minority, China
Shoubai Liu1 & Haofu Dai2
Hainan University, CHINA, liushoubai@hainanu.edu.cn
Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical
Agricultural Sciences, CHINA, daihaofu@itbb.org.cn
1

2

Most of the ethnic minorities in Hainan live in the central and southern mountainous areasof Hainan Island. The Li ethnic group is a unique minority ethnic group that has only lived on
Hainan Island for over 3,000 years. In long-term living and working activities, the Li ethnic
group has accumulated rich experience in utilizing plants, thus forming a unique plant culture of
the Li ethnic group. At the same time, there exists accelerated urbanization and continuous
foreign culture shocks with the rapid socio-economic development. It leads to gradual changes
in the traditional lifestyles and customs of the Li ethnic group. Due to the lack of written
language in the Li ethnic group, there may be a loss risk of their traditional knowledge andexperience in utilizing plants. In view of the above, we excavated plant resources of the Li
ethnic group in Hainan, including resource collection and research on effective constituents ofsome Li folk medicines.

1. Research on indigenous medicinal plants in the Li ethnic group
1) Medicinal plants in the Li ethnic group

Li folk medicine, a component of traditional Chinese medicine, is gradually formed basedon the valuable experience accumulated and summarized by the Li ethnic group in theirlong-term struggle against various diseases. After 10 years of field visits, data collection andsummary, we have published three volumes of "Records of Li Folk Medicine (Li Zu Yao Zhi)",which includes 632 types of Li folk medicines, mainly common medicinal plants in Li folk
medicine. For the first time, this book scientifically and normatively sorts out and sums up thenames of medicines, aliases, names of Li ethnic dialects, plant sources, plant characteristics,
place of origin, harvesting and processing, properties, flavors, functions, chemical components,
pharmacology, and folk applications. With color pictures attached, each plant is provided with adetailed record of the actual species and content of the Li folk medicines.
Another work is "Compilation of Proved Folk Recipes from the Li Nationality (Hai Nan Li
Zu Min Jian Yan Fang Ji)", which involves 660 types of diseases and collects 7,776 provenrecipes.

2) Plants for medicated baths in the Li ethnic group

Medical fumigation is the process of boiling medicinal plants, fumigating on the affected
area, and then bathing when the temperature of the liquid medicine drops to a suitable range. Its
indications involve rashes, pain in the lumbar spine, joint pain, etc. We investigated andrecorded over 80 types of plants for medicated baths.

3) Wild edible plants in the Li ethnic group

The Li ethnic group has long lived in the central and southern mountainous areas of Hainan
Island. The abundant wild edible resources locally have become a part of resources for theirlivelihood. Nowadays, there is a continuous improvement in people's living standards andquality of life. Therefore, people are increasingly valuing physical and mental health as well as
dietary quality, accompanied by increasing demands for food quality. Wild edible plants are
generally characterized by strong stress resistance, unique flavor, natural source without
pollution, rich nutritional value, and homology of medicine and food, which are becoming
increasingly popular nowadays. Vegetables and wild fruits used to satisfy hunger have become
popular delectable dishes today. It is of great significance for the Li ethnic group locally toincrease their economic income and improve their living standards. By investigating natural27

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

villages and markets in the inhabited area of the Li ethnic group, we preliminarily recorded thecommon names, edible parts, methods of consumption and other aspects of 96 wild vegetables,
50 wild fruits, and 40 traditional substituting-for-tea plants.

2. Research on effective constituents of medicinal plants in the Li ethnic group
1) Research on effective constituents of agarwood

Agarwood is an oleoresin obtained from plants in the Aquilaria genus of the Thymelaceace
family. Agarwood cannot be originated from healthy Aquilaria sinensis, but can only be derived
through processing by natural factors (e.g., lightning strikes, fires, insect infestations, etc.) or
human factors (e.g., cutting, drilling, inoculation, etc.). Agarwood is both a traditional medicine
and a high-valued incense. The main chemical components in agarwood are sesquiterpenes and2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones, possessing various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties.

2) Research on effective constituents of plants of the Croton genus

Plants of the Croton genus have a wide range of medicinal value that can be used as
medicine in moderation. According to "Chinese Materia Medica (Zhong Hua Ben Cao)", Croton
seed-coat has functions of warming the middle-jiao, removing food retention, detoxicating anddestroying intestinal worms; Croton oil can be used to treat indications of stroke and coma dueto blocking of the respiratory system; Croton leaf and root can expel pathogenic wind andinvigorate the blood circulation, which are suitable for indications of injuries from falls,
fractures, contusions and strains. In Li folk medicines, plants of the Croton genus are used totreat various diseases. According to "Records of Li Folk Medicine (Li Zu Yao Zhi)", the Li ethnic
group used the plant of the plants of the Croton genus to treat various diseases. For instance,
Croton cassifolius decoction could treat congestion, pain, and stomach cold-induced pain; Rootdecoction of Croton cascarilloides (Zi Luo Dui) was used to treat abnormal vaginal discharge inwomen; Drinking, hot compress and fumigation by the boiled water with leaves of Croton laui(Zi Luo Diu) could treat headaches, stomach pain, and abdominal pain. Additionally, the main
active ingredients of plants of the Croton genus are diterpenes and their lactone compounds.

28

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Indigenous Knowledge and Ethnobotany of Formosa
Yang Chih Kai
Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology,
Taiwan, eflora.yang@gmail.com
ABSTRACT

Indigenous knowledge refers to native knowledge that has been generated and developedwith a particular area over time. Turning back to the Ming Dynasty (1603), records of the use andfeeding of plants by the Plain indigenous on the island of Taiwan were recorded. Later, throughthe Dutch East India Company period (1624-1661), the Kingdom of Tungning periods (16611683), the Qing dynasty (1683-1895), the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), and the
Nationalist period (1945-) to the new residents who came to live in Taiwan, the island Passengers
and forerunners allowed plants to spread over long distances during the Great Voyage, allowing
this small island to accommodate diverse ethnic groups and cultural connotations. We hope to let
the public understand the diverse cultural appearance of Taiwanese plants in the South Island andunderstand the role of plants in daily life.
Keywords: Plain indigenous, ethnobotany, Taiwan

Introduction

Taiwan is a beautiful island located in the Asia-Pacific region and is home to various ethnic
groups. Before the Dutch East India Company period occupied Taiwan in 1624, it was referred toas the Pre-Dutch era, characterized by scarce written records. In the past, some people also
referred to it as Taiwan's prehistoric era, which spanned from over 400 to 8,000 years ago (Blust,1999). During this period, the immigrants were mainly aborigines from the South Island, and theintroduced plants were native to Indochina and the Nanyang Islands. However, since there are no
historical records, it is difficult to verify the age of plant introduction. We can only speculate
based on records from the Ming Dynasty or after the Qing Dynasty and the unique living habitsof the aborigines. From the first document on Taiwan written by Chen Di (1603) of the Ming
Dynasty, it is evident that the plants commonly used by the aborigines at that time included
Sesame (Sesamum indicum), coix (Coix lacryma-jobi), coconut (Cocos nucifera), green onions(Allium fistulosum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas), sugar cane
(Saccharum officinarum), etc. Subsequently, by examining documents recorded by literati, we
can reconstruct the variety of exotic plants that existed in the pre-Nama era.
It is generally believed that the aboriginal people on the island of Taiwan migrated to Taiwan
from different regions at different times. Only some ethnic groups who migrated to Taiwan alsobrought plants from their places of origin. These food-related plants are the most important,followed by spices or hobby goods. Edible plants such as rice (Oryza rufipogon), millet (Setaria
italica), and taro (Colocasia esculenta) are the primary food crops of the Austronesian people.
They have the longest history of human cultivation, spanning thousands of years. Coconuts havea wide range of uses and can be utilized for various purposes such as food, shelter, and everyday
essentials. The habit of eating betel nut has long been practiced by the Austronesian people, andit became an indispensable plant in the lives of our ancestors during their long journeys andmigrations.
The Dutch East India Company period occupied Taiwan for 38 years (1624-1662), but itmarked the beginning of plant literature in Taiwan. In the early 17th century, the Netherlands
acquired colonies in Java to compete for the spice market. Later, trade between China and Japan
expanded, a stronghold was established in Taiwan, and planned economic activities were carriedout. When the Netherlands first arrived in Taiwan, they introduced a significant number of plant
species essential for people's livelihood from Java. Except for a few species that are native to the29International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

local area, most of them are domesticated alien species such as mango (Mangifera indica) andguava (Psidium guajava), which are native to Indonesia. During the Dutch era, around thirty toforty plant species such as wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) and jackfruit (Artocarpus
heterophyllus) were introduced, significantly impacting Taiwan's ecosystem thereafter. Amongthem, Plumeria acuminata was introduced as a flower for environmental medicine, ornamental
purposes, or headdress adornment. However, due to its strong floral fragrance and unique tree
shape, it is still planted in gardens everywhere.
During the Kingdom of Tungning periods eras (1662-1683), which lasted for 22 years, mostof the Zheng troops came from the Fujian area. Due to the severe maritime blockade, the only
remaining mode of transportation was by sea from Xiamen to Anping, significantly impeding
communication with foreign countries. Among fruit trees, pineapples (Ananas comosus) andpapayas (Carica papaya) are world-famous fruits and have been major contributors to Taiwan's
economy for a significant period of time.
The Qing Dynasty (1683-1895) lasted for 212 years. During this period, a large number ofplant species were introduced, second only to the Japanese era. Most of the plants were introduced
from China, and many exotic plants have been cultivated in China for a long time. During thisperiod, plants directly introduced from abroad accounted for a minority. Plants with edible
economic value occupied an important position during this period and have also influenced thepresent. For example, important fruits such as star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), pomelo (Citrus
maxima), Longan (Dimocarpus longan), and litchi (Litchi chinensis) have been successfully
introduced.
During the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), which lasted only 50 years, the largest
number of plant species in Taiwan's history were introduced. During this period, a variety of plants
were introduced from outside, each serving different purposes. The introduced countries andregions cover tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. This has had a significant impact on
Taiwan's economic development, natural ecology, and scenery. It can also be said that it haschanged Taiwan's economic model and people's lifestyle. In terms of forests, the introduction ofJapanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) has replaced the ecosystem of the cypress forest type
(Chamaecyparis forest type), altering the landscape of mountains ranging from 1,000 to 2,000
meters. Araucaria heterophylla from Australia, Araucaria cunninghamii, and Casuarina
equisetifolia have become the main tree species in low-altitude areas and coastal forests.
Melaleuca leucadendra, Eucalyptus robusta, Delonix regia, etc., commonly used for landscaping,can be found throughout Taiwan, particularly in campuses and parks. Many palm species werealso introduced during this time. The most representative coconut palm species are Roystonea
regia and Archontophoenix alexandrae, which continue to hold historical significance today.

During the Japanese colonial period, systematic study of traditional ecologicalknowledge and ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is a term coined by John Harshberger in 1895. The term originally refers to theknowledge of indigenous peoples regarding the understanding and utilization of plants, as well as
the conservation of plant species. During the development of this term, Taiwan was underJapanese occupation. Numerous naturalists explored this miraculous island. Famous scholars
include Torii Ryuzo, Ino Kanori, and Mori Chounsuke. Mori Ushinosuke and others conductedsystematic and scientific research on Taiwan's aborigines. This also laid the foundation for the
research outline of Taiwan's aboriginal ethnic groups. Among them, Torii Ryuzo went to Botel
Tobago (Orchid island) for investigation in 1897 and was a pioneer in research during theJapanese colonial period. During this period, he completed two ethnographic works:"Investigation Report on Local Customs of Botel Tobago" and "Anthropological Photo Collectionof Taiwan's Botel Tobago". Book. Mori Chou Nosuke documented the lives of many earlyindigenous peoples through video recordings, including the Paiwan, Yami, Atayal, Bunun, Tsou,and Ami tribes. These are the most valuable reference materials available today. There are
currently approximately 588,660 indigenous peoples, accounting for 2.5% of the total population.

30

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Currently, the indigenous peoples recognized by the government are: Amis, Atayal, Paiwan,
Bunun, Puyuma, Rukai, Tsou, Saisiyat, Yami, Thao, Kavalan, Taroko, Sakilaya, Seediq, La'aluwa,
Kanakanafu, totaling 16 ethnic groups (https://www.cip.gov.tw/zh-tw/menu/datalist/6726E5B80C8822F9info.html?cumid=6726E5B80C8822F9). Each group possesses its own
unique culture, language, customs, and social structure. For Taiwan, the aboriginal ethnic groups
are an important source of history and culture, and they are also unique and beautiful treasures.

Forbidden plants and ethnobotany-Barringtonia asiatica of the Tao/Yami tribe

Among all the plants on Orchid Island, the tree species that is most tabooed by the Tao people
and is also the most familiar to everyone is Barringtonia asiatica. The Yami people refer to it as
the devil tree, while its common names are kamanrarahet or tova, meaning "very unlucky" and"will be met with disaster," respectively (Cheng, 1996). Therefore, you should not mention its
elegant and popular names at any time and place; otherwise, it will be interpreted as wishing death
upon others. Chessboard tree is native to Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Pacific Islands, andis a typical species found in tropical coastal forests. Its fruits drift with the sea currents, creating
green corridors along the coastline of Orchid Island. The expansive tree canopy casts dense
shadows, intensifying the eerie presence of numerous malevolent spirits. The sandy land beneaththe forest often serves as the final resting place for the "good death" of the tribesmen. Therefore,
the pearly yellow-sanded swallowtail butterfly (Troides magellanus) dancing on the edge of theforest has become the spokesperson of the evil spirit soul. After the sun sets, Totoo's (Otus elegans)call to death is heard in the ears, so the Orchid Island Scops Owl is regarded as the incarnation ofevil spirits. In the minds of the Tao people, these unique species or subspecies of creatures havean inviolable status with every plant, tree, sand, and stone in the cemetery; otherwise, evil spirits
will possess them.

Ethnobotany and forest management-Schima superba of the Paiwan tribe

The Paiwan tribe calls it "sapejik." The Chinese Guger tree (Schima superba) grows quitetall, so the Paiwan people use this plant to describe tall individuals. In the residential area of the
Paiwan tribe, there are many large trees. In an era of abundant resources, the tribesmen do notneed to use wood for building materials. From their life experience, the Paiwan tribe knows two
characteristics of the Chinese Guger tree. It's the toxicity of the Chinese Guger tree. If you
accidentally rub against the bark of this species, it will cause a strong stinging sensation on theskin. In order to help children understand the characteristics of this plant, elders sometimes
intentionally ask them to take a piece of this wood home. You can observe the characteristics of
the Chinese Guger tree; the toxicity of this species is quite potent for the creatures in the river. If
you pour sawdust into the river, fish, shrimps, crabs, and other aquatic organisms will die. Second,building materials made of Chinese Guger-tree are prone to decay (Cheng et al., 2004). Judging
from the above-mentioned use of this species, the Paiwan people have a clear ecological andcultural concept, where tribesmen are interconnected. They cannot use this tree to poison fish.
When this species is introduced to crossbreed with the fish in a specific area, the impact on thatarea will be noticeable within five years. There will be no biological resources available for use.
This type of ecological maintenance involves interacting with nature. It is a cultural norm topossess knowledge of what can be done but choose not to act on it in order to preserve thecontinuity of the ethnic group. The Paiwan people do not use it. It is speculated that the plant has
a high moisture content, and the height of the plant helps prevent the spread of fire. In addition,it has strong vitality. If a fire breaks out, it will still sprout next year. No other tree species canmatch this fire prevention function.

31

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Conclusion

The botany of Formosa presents a subject of interest to the thoughtful student. For the
missionary there is a tongue in every leaf, a voice in every flower.
《From Far Formosa》
From George Leslie Mackay, 1895

Reference

Blust, Robert (1999) in E. Zeitoun & P.J.K Li (Eds.) Selected papers from the EighthInternational Conference on Austronesian Linguistics. pp. 31-94.
Cheng, H.W. (1996) The Ethnic Plant of Yami. Journal of Eastern Taiwan Studies 1: 67-104.
Cheng, H.W., H.H. Wang, H.F. Cheng, and H.Y. Lai (2004) The Ethnobotany Plant of Paiwan.
Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, MOA. pp. 325.
Chen, T.S. and T.W. Hu (1976) A List of Exotic ornamental plants in Taiwan. Self Published.
Taipei, Taiwan. pp. 617.
MacKay, George L. 1895 Macdonald, James A. (ed.). From Far Formosa: the island, its people
and missions. New York: F. H. Revell Co. (published 1896)
Chen Di's 1960 (1603) Dong Fan Ji in "Min Hai's Gifts" compiled by Shen Yourong. Taiwan
Literature Series No. 56. Taipei: Bank of Taiwan Economic Research Office.
https://www.cip.gov.tw/zh-tw/menu/datalist/6726E5B80C8822F9info.html?cumid=6726E5B80C8822F932

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, JapanThe Formation and Development of Urban Forest in European
Countries from the Perspective of Land Tenure
HU Ruizhe
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN
Abstract
This study examines the emergence and development of urban forests in Europe from themedieval period to the end of the 19th century from the perspective of land ownership. In the
Middle Ages, land was primarily owned by the royalty and the church, with trees within cities
almost entirely located in private gardens, while nearby forests were used as royal hunting
grounds. During this period, urban trees were mainly utilized by religious organizations or theupper class for self-sufficient living. In the Renaissance, the emerging merchant class, or the newnobility, demonstrated their wealth and status by purchasing land and building villas with gardens.
After the unification of Italy, many noble gardens were donated to the government as public
property. By the 17th century, the urban landscape of France became a model, and Baroquegardens spread widely across Europe. With the progress of urbanization and the Industrial
Revolution, there was a rapid increase in the demand for public green spaces, especially among
the lower class. In Britain, the English landscape gardens, Royal Parks, and commons were madeaccessible to the public through legal and other means. During this period, the diversification ofland ownership within cities promoted the growth of trees in various locations, and the types ofurban forests also diversified, including green spaces in commercial space and parks. This
research confirmed the process through which urban forests transformed from a private to a public
existence.
ResultFrom the perspective of land ownership, the development of urban forests in Europe can bedivided into three types.
1. Publicization of privately owned land within cities
Past
MonasteryLand tenure
Nobility
Royalty
Nature of urban forests
Enclosed garden
2. Publicization of private territories in suburbs

Land tenure

Past
Royalty
Nobility
Private landlord

Nature of urban forests
Suburban private territories
3. Construction of parks on public land within cities
Land tenure
Nature of urban forests

Present
Government or NGO
Nobility or Government
Government
publicly accessible garden
Present
Government
NGO
Mostly Government orNGOPublic green space
Government
Urban park

33

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Spatial Image of Haikou Shishan Volcanic National Forest Park Basedon Cognitive Map
ZHENG Zi-qi, CHENG En-qi, FU Hui1*, YUAN Li-fei, YE Rong-li & ZHANG Qing
1

College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry of Hainan University, PR China

Abstract

With junior students majoring in landscape architecture as the subjects, and Ma'anlingcore scenic spot of Haikou Shishan Volcanic Group National Geopark as a typical case place,using the cognitive map, questionnaire survey and IPA analysis method, from the cognitive map
classification and characteristics, the overall spatial image analysis, partition spatial image
analysis, spatial image evaluation and spatial image IPA analysis, analysis and evaluation its
spatial image. The results show that: (1)The tourist cognitive map of Ma'anling core scenic spotof Haikou Shishan Volcanic Group National Geopark has a high hierarchical structure. There arethree types: sequential types, spatial types and mixed types. The spatial type accounts for morethan half. There is an obvious spatial deformation phenomenon of the sequential cognitive map.
(2)Tourists have the strongest perception of markers, followed by roads, nodes and regions, withweak perception of boundaries. The frequency of spatial image elements in cognitive maps isrelatively consistent with its average number in each map. (3)Tourists have the clearest
cognition of crater core space and the vaguest cognition of tourist service leading space.
Tourism attractions are the most core image element, and there are great differences in theoccurrence rates of each image element. (4)The layout of the tourist service space of he corescenic area of Haikou Shishan Volcano Group National Geopark is chaotic. The scenic spot still
has some space for improvement in promoting the tourists' second tour. Image elements such as
fairy cave and volcanic temple need to be improved, and the parasitic volcano observation
platform can be improved in terms of increasing the attention of tourists. Finally, from the
aspects of adjusting the entrance and exit of the scenic spot, further dividing the leading spaceof tourist service, and creating the tourist story lines connecting the space of the scenic spot, thespace optimization strategy is proposed for the Ma'anling core scenic spot and the Haikou
Shishan Volcanic Group National Geopark. It provides data support and targeted reference
suggestions for the tourism planning of the crater Geopark from the perspective of tourist
perception.
Key words: Crater Geopark; cognitive map; spatial image; tourist image; ImportancePerformance Analysis

34

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, JapanHow Do Air Quality and Physical Activity Affect the Mechanisms
Linking Urban Forest Park to Respiratory Health? A Cross-sectional
Study in Nanjing, China
Ke Li1, Yipei Mao2 & Jiaxing Wei3*
1

Nanjing Agricultural University College of Horticulture, China, keli@stu.njau.edu.cn
2Nanjing Agricultural University College of Horticulture, China,
maoyipei@stu.njau.edu.cn
3Nanjing Agricultural University College of Horticulture, China, weijx@njau.edu.cn

Abstract
The pathways linking green space (GS) exposure to respiratory health have been
continuously examined. However, few studies have revealed the association between multiple
GS exposure indicators and respiratory health. Here, we aimed to construct a multi-dimensional
exposure indicator framework, including two-dimensional indicator Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index (NDVI) and three-dimensional indicators Green view index, andcanopy density, to explore whether or to what extent these exposure indicators affect the
hypothetical pathways: physical activity and air quality, and to calculate GS exposure thresholds
that are more conducive to respiratory health for different types of urban green space. The
cross-sectional study used an experimenter sample from Nanjing, China. The experimenterswere divided into two groups and conducted experiments simultaneously in two urban green
spaces. A partial least squares model (PLS) was used to investigate the parallel mediating effectsof GS exposure through physical activity, air quality, and respiratory health. A nonlinear
regression model was used to calculate the thresholds and trends of different exposure indicators.
The results showed that the promotion of physical activity and the reduction of air quality wereboth important mediating variables affecting GS and respiratory health. In the parallel mediation
model, physical activity was a relatively important mediator between GS and respiratory health.
There was a significant positive correlation between respiratory health and physical activity.
When air quality was poor to a certain extent, there was a negative correlation with respiratory
health, with statistical significance. The GS exposure indexes of urban green space near
mountain forests and waterfront urban green space have different threshold ranges. Our findings
can help epidemiologists clarify the pathways and mechanisms by which GS affect respiratory
health, as well as assist urban planners in implementing health-based GS interventions.

35

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Graphical abstract

36

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, JapanClassical Concert in the Forest with the Community
Akio FUJIWARA1, Haruo SAITO2 & Kazuhiko W. NAKAMURA3
1

Grad. School of Agric. and Life Sciences, UTokyo, JAPAN,akio@uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp
2Grad. School of Agric. and Life Sciences, UTokyo,
JAPAN,haruo_s@uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp
3Grad. School of Frontier Sciences, UTokyo, JAPAN,
k_nakamura@edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Introduction
Our poster introduces a case study of a classical music concert held in a forest space as apractical example of cultural activities utilizing forest spaces in contemporary Japan. The
presenters have been working with local residents at Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Centerto manage the forest and create a space where various activities can be held in the forest. The
modern lifestyle of Japanese people, whether they live in urban or rural areas, no longer requires
direct contact with forests, and the basic knowledge and skills for handling forests that were
essential for many people in the past to enter forests for various purposes, such as gathering,transportation, and obtaining fuel, have been lost. Communities in which people shared theirknowledge and skills through joint use of forests are not so common anymore, and forests forjoint use do not exist except in some areas, and even if they do exist, their use is not so active
anymore. This may be part of the reason why local residents have not made much progress inutilizing forests, even though many forests with the potential to be used for a variety ofactivities are close at hand.
Therefore, using a part of the forests of Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Center, wehave created a space and a system where local residents can have a series of continuous
experiences: they can come up with ideas and plans, work together with forest management
staff, create a space where they can enjoy various activities using the forest, and then use theforest. These activities involving local residents can be described as a social experiment aimed
at verifying the effects of the ripple effect of these activities, which will lead to the developmentof a community with the knowledge and skills to handle forests and to jointly utilize forests inthe community.

Classical Concerts in the Forest Space"Iyashinomori no kai" was established in 2017 to manage and utilize Iyashinomori Lecture
Room and surrounding forest space at Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Center in cooperation
with the Study Center by local residents. In 2019, "Iyashinomori no kai" created a wooden open
terrace in front of the Iyashinomori Lecture Room, made of larch harvested in the Study Center.
The pleasant open terrace surrounded by trees was completed, and our dreams were expanding
to use it for sitting down and taking a break from walking in the forest, enjoying meals andcoffee in the forest, and for exhibitions of our works and musical performances. Then came theCorona Disaster. By a series of fortunate coincidences, we decided to hold a concert of Classic
Encourage, a string trio from the NHK Symphony Orchestra, on the open terrace of the forest.
Although this was a completely new kind of event, the fact that we had no experience withconventional classical concerts led to the creation of an unprecedented project, a concert that
opened early in the morning at 6:00 a.m. in the forest. This project was made possible by the
relationship of trust that had been cultivated between Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Center,
local residents, local government, and other related parties..
"Iyashinomori no kai" played a central role in maintaining the forest at the concert site so37

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japanthat the general public could listen to the concert in a safe and pleasant environment. The local
government's health promotion point system introduced participation in the concert as an event
eligible for health promotion points, and visitors who drove to the concert were directed to thevillage office parking lot. The Omotenashi no Kai, a group of local young people, provided
refreshments and coffee at the venue early in the morning. Of course, the performance by the
NHK Symphony Orchestra String Trio was superb, despite the unfavorable conditions, with thehumidity changing rapidly as the morning sun gradually rose from the early morning dew (fig.1),
and the audience seemed to enjoy both the refreshing forest space of an early summer morningand the supreme music to the fullest (fig.2)
In the process of this collaboration, we were careful not to overly guess our collaborators'
feeling and bring our own expertise and ideas to the table, and since this was a new combinationand there were no precedents, we were aware that we should not hesitate to bring our ideas toeach other, exchange opinions, and solve each problem without preconceived ideas. It seems
that the musicians themselves enjoyed this project more than we had expected, and since 2020
they have been coming to the Forest Concert at the Open Terrace every year. In addition, we aretrying to expand the program to "Artist in Residence," in which artists are invited to stay in thecommunity for a certain number of days and interact with the community in various ways.
In the poster presentation, you will be able to see a record of the concerts that have been
held continuously and a video of the actual concerts.

fig.1 Classical musicians on open terrace

fig.2 Audience in the woods

38

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, JapanThe Development Process of Tokyo and Hokkaido’s MOKUIKU andthe Actual State of MOKUIKU Instructor Training
ZHANG JINGYI1
1

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN

Abstract

Mokuiku is an educational initiative aimed at deepening experiences with wood from anearly age, fostering a richer life, a better society, and an awareness of the importance of creating
new forests.
To achieve Mokuiku's goals, a project to develop professional "Mokuiku instructors" is being
implemented. This project focuses on developing instructors who have a thorough understandingof Mokuiku and are capable of coordinating and planning Mokuiku activities in various forest
education fields.
As the birthplace of Mokuiku education, Hokkaido plays an active role in the developmentof Mokuiku activities. Additionally, Tokyo's natural environment and ecosystems are rich incultural and historical heritage, making Mokuiku instructors vital for future urban planning andpromoting sustainable urban development through Mokuiku activities.
This study aims to investigate the current situation and challenges facing the Mokuiku
instructor training program. I conducted a literature survey to understand the regions where
Mokuiku instructor training was conducted. Through interviews and questionnaire surveys, I
planned to evaluated the training, the status of activities, and the awareness of Mokuiku
instructors after completing the training, and identified existing problems in the implementationof the training.
Using the literature survey method, I collected information on the implementation of
Mokuiku instructor training courses across all 47 prefectures in Japan and created a summary
table. Based on the list of Mokuiku Masters in Hokkaido, I analyzed and formulated hypotheses
regarding the list of Mokuiku instructors provided by Hokkaido.
The list of Mokuiku Masters in Hokkaido shows that the distribution of Mokuiku masters is
primarily concentrated in residential areas. Regions with fewer Mokuiku masters tend to have alower number of Mokuiku activities. Regarding the operational expenses for Mokuiku masters in
Hokkaido, there is a situation of sufficient demand.
Subsequently, through interviews and questionnaire surveys, I assessed the operationalsituation of this project, the value of the Mokuiku instructor training course, the activity of the
Mokuiku instructors after completing the course, and their current attitude.
Keywords: Mokuiku, Mokuiku Master, Mokuiku instructor, talent education system

39International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Examining the possibility of VR teaching materials
in forest environmental education
Kenzo SAKAMOTO
Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN1.Introduction

In recent years, forest environmental education has been promoted by organizations such as
the Forestry Agency. However, the Forestry Agency's efforts currently focus on education in forest,
as seen in the promotion of experiential activities, provision of field work, and human resource
development. Therefore, I thought that if we could incorporate VR (Virtual Reality), which has
recently been incorporated into education in various fields, into forest environmental education,
we could increase the means of education and lead to the spread of forest environmental education.
In this research, I actually created teaching materials that take advantage of the features of VR,
analyzed whether the features worked effectively through implementation, and examined thepossibility of VR teaching materials in forest environmental education.

2.Method

In this research, I examined the possibility of VR teaching materials through the steps of“designing the teaching material,” “developing the VR environment,” “testing teaching material,”and “evaluating”. In testing the teaching materials, I first conducted the preliminary trial and madeimprovements before conducting the main trial. Ten second-year students from S Junior HighSchool in Tokyo participated in both trials as subjects, and opinions were also collected fromteachers. In addition, I conducted pre-questionnaire of subjects regarding their experience with
VR and games, their knowledge and interests in forests and environmental issues, etc. Moreover,I conducted post-questionnaire which objects and information left an impression on them and why,
why they chose the culprit, and their experiences with VR and spaces. Questionnaires wereconducted for about 10 minutes. During the trial, visual field images were mirrored, andmovements were recorded by a video camera. From them, I recorded the number, and timing of
information discovered by the subject, and data on visual field and body movements were readfrom the video. And I evaluated VR teaching material by combining the results of pre- and postquestionnaire and video.

3. Development of VR teaching materials(1) Design of teaching materials: Since the target age of VR goggles is 13 years old andabove, and the Forestry Agency targets elementary and junior high school students as the main
targets for promoting forest environmental education, the teaching materials were designed totarget 2nd and 3rd year junior high school students. This teaching material focuses on thecharacteristics of VR, such as ``accompanied by movement,'' ``free handling of information,'' and``conveying a sense of size,'' with the aim of ①Be memorable, ②without getting bored, and③inducing movement. It was created with the goal of The topic was ``Forest Damage Caused byDeer in Japan,'' which deals with both plants and animals, and assumes something that is not
usually covered in class. Students will walk and explore two forests with different degrees offorest damage caused by deer. The game is played in the form of a deduction game to identify thecause.
(2) Development of VR environment: Image materials of trees were taken at the University ofTokyo Chichibu Forest and Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Center, and 3D models of several
types of trees were obtained by 3D scanning with Lidar. Using this data, I developed a VR
environment using the game engine Unity and 3D model creation software Blender. In addition
to several types of trees, the forest in the VR environment includes objects that can be grasped,

40

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japansuch as mushrooms and droppings, as well as objects for observation, such as deer and black bears.
It is also equipped with a gimmick (in-game device) that pops up various information from objects
in response to player's line of sight.
Table1 Target and ideas in teaching material
TargetIdeas in teaching material①be memorable
・Realism of objects ・Pop-up information
・Gameplay that requires observation②without
・Diverse objects ・Pop-up information
getting bored・Game ・Forests with different appearances ・interactive③inducting
・graspable objects ・Pop-up information
movement
・Objects placed above and below

4. Implementation and evaluation of VR teaching materials

This survey was conducted on January 4, 2024. I prepared two 15m x 15m spaces in theschool and tried out the VR teaching material for about 30 minutes per student. Of the 26 valid
questionnaire answers (3 answers/person, 4 no answers), “because of the pop-up information''
was the most common reason why the object left an impression (7 answers), followed by “because
I was able to grasp objects ”, “Because of looks”, and “because it was related with the cause”
were cited (each five answer). I measured the position every 10 seconds from the external video
to see the change in momentum over time, and from the visual field I measured the timing of thefour movements of "grabbing, crouching, looking up, and observing" and the timing when object
information was displayed. Figure 1 shows an example of each measurement and summary. The
display of actions and objects occurs constantly without maldistribution, and considering thesurvey results, it can be said that the goals of the teaching materials have been achieved.

Figure1 Time changes in amount of exercise and timing of movement of subject No. 17○：all movement ▲： impressive object

5.Consideration

In terms of educational material design, the walking exploration game format was able to achieve
the goal of making the game memorable and not boring by taking advantage of the features of
VR that involve movement. Furthermore, in the development of VR environments, theinteractivity of gimmicks that display information and objects that can be grasped greatly
contributed to being memorable and inducing movement. Through this trial, I was able to confirm
the possibility of using VR teaching materials for forest environmental education.

41

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Wild Mushroom Use in Japan and its Ecological Background
Haruo SAITO
Arboricultural Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Forests, JAPAN,
haruo_s@uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Introduction“Shiitake” mushroom (Lentinula edodes) or “Matsutake” mushroom (Tricholoma
matsutake) are the most common edible mushrooms in Japan, but in the past they were not always
used throughout the country. The occurrence of mushrooms in the wild is highly dependent on
the local vegetation environment. Different types of forest vegetation exist in different regions ofJapan, and they have also undergone significant historical changes. Although the regional
differences in wild mushroom utilization have been noted, this has never been examined as aneffect of the vegetation environment.
The objectives of this study are 1) to clarify the distribution patterns of wild mushroom use,
2) to investigate the characteristics of the forest environment forming the background tomushroom usage in a particular region, and 3) to discuss the relationship between mushroom
growing conditions and the human influence.

Material and Method
The "Complete Collection of Dietary Habits in Japan" was used as a resource. This series ofbooks comprehensively documents the dietary habits of various regions of Japan during the period
1920’s-1930’s. Names of wild mushrooms used in various regions were extracted, and local
names were converted to common names.
The extracted mushrooms were classified as either saprophytic or mycorrhizal fungi, andtheir geographic distribution was examined. Next, I examined the vegetation environment inwhich wild mushroom gathering takes place and the anthropogenic influences behind it, based on
folklore documents.

Results and Discussion
As the result of analyzing records, Japan was classified into 3 areas as follows. The area type[Ⅰ] locates in northern part of the mainland and mountainous area of Chugoku region, wherelarge number of species of mushrooms are used and greater part of them are saprophytic fungi.
The type [Ⅱ] is laid in central part of the Japanese archipelago from Kanto region to northern
Kyushu region, where small number of species of mushrooms are used and its species
composition relies on mycorrhizal fungi. The type [Ⅲ] locates on southern part of Shikoku andKyushu region, where only a few mushrooms are used and both saprophytic fungi andmycorrhizal fungi are almost equally used. Focusing on the behaviours of saprophytic andmycorrhizal one, it is considered that these area types are characterized by the intensity ofvegetation disturbance rather than their indigenous climatic vegetations. It was high population
density that caused the intense disturbance and exploitation toward forest. In the [Ⅱ] area
populated densely, on the one hand saprophytic fungi which feed on organic materials such as
timber, fallen leaves and hums were driven away because of forest exploitation, on the other handforest was dominated by pioneer trees which can became host trees of mycorrhizal fungi becauseof repeating deforestation. Furthermore, considering historical data, the area where only
mycorrhizal fungi can be used seem to have expanded historically.

42

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Oshima Tsumugi as Forest Culture and Factors Related to its Survival
Soshi AIBA1, & Kazuhiro HARADA1

1

Graduate School of Bioagricultural Science, Nagoya University, JAPANaiba.soshi.p6@s.mail.nagoya-u.ac.jp

1. Introduction

Drastic changes in socioeconomic systems have had a profound impact on the survival offorest culture. In Japan, the underuse of forests has led to a weakening of the relationship between
people and forests, which has called into question the survival and succession of forest culture
and its necessity (Ebihara et al. 2019).
Oshima Tsumugi textile, which is the subject of this presentation, can be interpreted as
belonging to forest culture in that it is dyed using mud containing iron ions and Sharinbai(Rhaphiolepis indica var.umbellata). It should be noted that one of the management policies of
the Amami Gunto National Park is "Environmental Culture," which aim to preserve culture
including Oshima Tsumugi. While Oshima Tsumugi strongly supported the local economy as arepresentative of high-class Japanese clothing, it is now subject to preservation as a "culture”.
Based on the case of Oshima Tsumugi, which has been positioned differently by local
communities over time, we aim to clarify the factors related to the survival of forest culture.

2. Modern Oshima Tsumugi: “The Axis of the Oshima Economy”

The figure shows the trend of Oshima Tsumugi production after the World War II. Oshima
Tsumugi was actively produced from 1910-1920 and from 1970-1990 (Sekiguchi 2018). This
increase in production, in addition to the efficiency of production, was in response to theincreasing demand for kimono in mainland Japan. The Great Depression and World War II after
1920 made it difficult to make Oshima Tsumugi because the production bases were destroyed by
the war. Historical documents issued in 1946 cited the geographical conditions as unsuitable forfarming and other businesses as reasons for relying on Oshima Tsumugi (Minamura 2017).
Minamura (2017) describes Oshima Tsumugi during this period as “The Axis of Oshimaeconomy" and the trend of the Tsumugi industry as a "barometer of Oshima's reconstruction.
Later, with reconstruction assistance from the U.S. military and the Japanese government,
production reached its peak during the period of rapid economic growth (Sekiguchi 2018). During
this period, the division of labour was such that men performed forestry and construction labourfor hourly and daily wages, while women weaved Oshima Tsumugi in between housework andchildcare (Suyama 2017). During the interviews, residents testified "Often the income from
Tsumugi were used to send their children to college.", which implied the income from weaving,done in between household chores, played a role in supporting them when they needed a large
sum of money.
Until 1980, Oshima Tsumugi was expected to be “The Axis of the Oshima economy," as oneof the key industries. Weaving is done by women in between housework and child-rearing, which
had supported the production of Oshima Tsumugi.

3. Current Situation of Oshima Tsumugi: Conserved as “Environmental culture”?

The production of Oshima Tsumugi has decreased to 2,710 bolts in 2023, about one ninetiethof the peak period. As a cause of the decline, in addition to the decline in demand for Japaneseclothing on the mainland, the producers continued to be in the position of subcontractors on themainland, which meant that product development and other know-how did not develop locally(Suyama 2017). The number of craftsmen was also declining because part-time jobs provided
more income than income from weaving There was testimony that although tourism demand isincreasing with the registration of national parks and World Natural Heritage sites, it has not led
to an increase in Tsumugi demand.
Production of the dye, Sharinbai, was also declining. Although there were records of planta-

43

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

1946
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022

tions of Sharinbai, it became
297628(Bolt)
difficult to secure Sharinbai 300000
due to the lack of information 250000
and records, and the roughnessof the work roads used to carry 200000
Sharinbai out. In addition, the 150000
113594
101285registration of the area as a 100000
national park had a negative
43651
22291
impact on the collection of 50000 2590
2710
Sharinbai. The closure of the0
woodchip mill had also delayed
the collection of the Sharinbai,
which is collected along with
Figure: Oshima Tsumugi production results from 1946
the woodchips. We also
confirmed testimony that even Source: Prepared by authors from Honba Oshima-Tsumugi
in areas where tree collection is Orimono Cooperative Society (2022) and Amami Shimbun (2023)
Note: Indicates the number of fabrics for which quality
legally allowed, people are inspections were conducted by the Cooperative Society
refraining from collecting trees.
Although the management policy of the national park is aimed at preserving the environmental
culture, the designation of the park had a negative impact on the collection of dyes at this time.

4. Conclusion

The production of Oshima Tsumugi was largely influenced by the relationship with mainland
Japan, in addition to the effects of local social and economic fluctuations. Nawa (2003) pointed
out that the importance of focusing on the relationship between developing countries that havepreserved traditional knowledge and developed countries that consume knowledge-based
products. This study revealed that even within the same country, a similar relationship can berecognized between disadvantaged areas such as islands and mountainous regions and urban areas.

Reference (in Japanese)

Amami Shimbun. 2023. 23 nen Oshima Tsumugi seisan tan su [Number of Oshima Tsumugi
production in 2023]. https://amamishimbun.co.jp/2023/12/29/47881/ [accessed 2024 Jan 5].
Ebihara I., Saito H., Ubukata F. 2019. Mori to tomoni ikiru hitobito no bunka to minzoku chi[Whereabouts of Folk Knowledge Living with Forests]. In: Ebihara I., Saito H., Ubukata F.,
editors. Shinrin to bunka mori to Tomoni ikiru minzoku chi no yukue [Forest and Human
Culture: The Future of Folk Knowledge in Changing Human Forest Interaction]. Tokyo:
Kyoritsu Publishing; 1-17.
Honba Oshima-Tsumugi Orimono Cooperative Society (2022) Dai 67 kai tsujo soukai gian
[Proposal for the 67th Ordinary General Meeting]. Amami (JP): Honba Oshima-Tsumugi
Orimono Cooperative Society.
Minamura T. 2017. Beigun touchika no Amami Gunto to Uken son [Amami Islands and Uken
Village under U.S. Military Rule]. In Uken Village Board of Education editor. Uken son shi
shizen tsuushi hen [History of Uken son, Nature and History]. Amami (JP): Uken son; 709-754.
Nawa K. 2003. Dentoteki chishiki to chiteki shoyu ken kaisetsu [Traditional Knowledge andIntellectual Property Rights : A Review]. Joho Chishiki Gakkaishi 12(4): 77-83.
Sekiguchi C. 2018. Oshima Tsumugi wo megutte no shikou [My Thoughts on Oshima Tsumugi].
Bulletin of Japan Cultural Studies Research Institute Kindai University 1: 181-192.
Suyama S. 2017. Sangyo kiban no saihen to aratana shima okoshi [Reorganization of Industrial
Base and New Island Development]. In Uken Village Board of Education editor. Uken son shi
shizen tsuushi hen [History of Uken son, Nature and History]. Amami (JP): Uken son; 929-944.

44

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Current Status of Satoyama-type Tree Burial in Japan and Forest
Management-A Study Focused on Urban AreasXiaoan YOU 1, Seiji ISHIBASHI2, Naoki YASUMRA3 & Haruo SAITO4
1

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN,
youxiaoan574@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
2
The University of Tokyo Tanashi Forest, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life
Sciences, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN, bashi@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
3
The Ecohydrology Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Forest, Graduate
School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN,
anson@g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp
4
The Arboricultural Research Institute, The University of Tokyo Forest, Graduate
School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN,
haruo_s@uf.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Background

In Japan, tree burials have been rapidly gaining popularity over recent decades. According
to the 2019 "Good Tomb" National Survey of Grave Consumers, the proportion of tree burial
buyers exceeded 40%, surpassing traditional graves. However, the proportion of Satoyama-type
tree burials, originally established to conserve rural landscapes, remains very small. This study
aims to explore the factors contributing to the rapid spread of tree burials, the reasons for thelimited increase in Satoyama-type tree burials, and the future direction of forest management at
tree burial sites.

Research Method

Firstly, we conducted a comprehensive review of academic literature and survey reports to
identify the factors driving the popularity of tree burials. Additionally, to gain a comprehensive
understanding of tree burials across the Kanto region, we collected and analyzed informationfrom various websites. Subsequently, from September to November, we interviewed
administrators from four different tree burial sites to assess their unique characteristics andmanagement strategies. Lastly, we distributed a questionnaire by mail to 190 users of a
Satoyama-type tree burial site in Tokyo to gather and analyze users' perceptions andopinions.Tree burials in Japan exhibit diverse forms and are typically categorized into four types
based on previous research (Ueda, 2022): "Satoyama-type," which utilizes existing forests tobury cremated remains at the base of trees; "Forest-type," which involves planting seedlings atburial sites for cremated remains; "Symbolic Tree-type," which features trees serving asmonuments with cremated remains buried around them; and "Garden-type," which embellishes
existing grave plots with trees and flower beds. This study generally follows Ueda's
classification.

Literature Review

The rapid proliferation of tree burials in recent decades can be attributed to three primaryfactors: 1) a decline in familial consciousness, 2) urban cemetery shortages, and 3) a growing
affinity for natural orientation. The establishment of Japan's first tree burial site in 1997,
coupled with extensive media coverage promoting the romantic image of tree burials, has been
diminishing people’s resistance to it. In recent years, as the baby boomer generation has entered
their 70s and started considering their burial arrangements, tree burials have emerged as a
notable option, contributing to the significant increase in the number of users.

45

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Website Research

In the Kanto region, 83% of tree burials are concentrated in the densely populated southern
Kanto area (Chiba, Saitama, Tokyo, Kanagawa). The price range varies by region, but 56% of
the cemeteries are in the range of 200,000-500,000 yen. Additionally, it has become evident thatgarden-type dominates, accounting for 85% of the total. Satoyama-type and forest-type sites
together represent only 2%, mainly concentrated in the mountainous Chiba Prefecture.

Interview Survey

Considering the high demand for tree burials in the southern Kanto region and theconvenience of the investigation, two garden-type and two Satoyama-type sites were selected in
Chiba Prefecture and Tokyo for this study.
The Satoyama-type sites, managed by religious corporations, contrast with the garden-typesites, where stonemasonry companies handle management. The stonemasonry company
responsible for the garden-type site in Chiba has developed over 100 garden-type tree burialsites nationwide, indicating the involvement of stonemasonry companies as a characteristicfeature of garden-type sites.
The operators of garden-type tree burials recognize the changing demand and aim torevitalize the utilization of traditional graves. Their form resembles traditional graves, with amore compact layout of plots. Within the burial plots, garden trees and flowers are arranged,
requiring little effort for maintenance and management. It is relatively easy for it to obtain
cemetery permits.
In contrast, the operators of Satoyama-type sites aim to conserve Satoyama and to build up
graves surrounding by nature. The tree burial sites are well-maintained and give a bright
impression within the forest. Regarding environmental management and maintenance, theSatoyama-type site in Tokyo has replanted sakura trees and other Satoyama plant species torestore the original forest, while the Satoyama-type site in Chiba, originally populated by beech
trees, has cleared dense oak forests to replant oak seedlings, along with thinning bamboo grovesand mowing grass to create a well-lit forest environment. Environmental management tasks
such as mowing grass and pruning trees are regularly carried out at these sites. Overall,significant effort is invested in maintenance and management to create and maintain a naturalenvironment preferred by users, and various strategies are employed to gain cemetery permits.

Questionnaire Survey

A questionnaire was distributed to 190 users, and responses were obtained from 68
individuals (response rate:35.8%). The primary reasons for choosing the burial site include thedesire to "return to nature" (90%) and the appeal of "natural environment and atmosphere"(49%), indicating a strong inclination towards nature among users. Factors such as "perpetual
memorialization," "price," and "distance" (29%) are also considered to some extent, although
they are not the decisive factors in decision-making. Furthermore, there is a trend of highsatisfaction with the well-lit environment of tree burial sites, with expectations for diverse andattractive surroundings surrounded by various trees and flowers. They also seek a sense of security
for the future and sustainable management.

Conclusion

The demand for traditional graves has decreased, leading to the widespread adoption of
low-cost garden-type tree burials. On the other hand, the Satoyama type emphasizes the preservationand management of the natural environment, which requires significant resources and effort.
Consequently, there are limited developers. However, there is still demand, and the Satoyama typemeets the needs of "returning to nature." Responding to the preferences of users, it is important toconsider landscape and seasonal changes and to plant different types of trees to maintain diversity.
Given the permanency of the cemetery, a long-term management plan for tree felling is considereddesirable.

46

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, JapanThe Relationship between the Worldview of the Anime “Natsume’sBook of Friends” and the Cognition of Nature at the Model Site fromthe Perspective of Yokai Culture
Shuyue WU1, Ming LIU2 & Kazuhiko W. NAKAMURA3
Department of Natural Environmental Studies, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN,
wu.shuyue@s.nenv.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
2
Faculty of Tourism and Community Development, Kokugakuin University, JAPAN,
ming711@kokugakuin.ac.jp
3
Department of Natural Environmental Studies, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN,
k_nakamura@edu.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
11.

Introduction

2.

Study Area

3.

Methodology

The role of the natural environment in society has gradually shifted from that of a living
environment to that of a recreational environment, and activities to familiarize people with nature
have become popular.1) Particularly in rural areas rich in nature, the natural environment was often
used as a resource for regional revitalization, resulting in its own destruction.2)
Given the importance of ecotourism in scenic areas rich in natural beauty, it is essential toknow how to convey local perceptions of nature to visitors. In this context, to covey to visitors
about the residents’ feelings (reverent, grateful etc.) or worldview toward the natural environmentand scenery in an easy-to-understand way, local folk culture (gods, monsters, etc.) can beconsidered a possible countermeasure to environmental problems. 3) However, while studies onfolk culture are common, few studies have examined the connection between the perception ofnature conveyed to visitors by folk culture and the original perception of nature in the region.
Therefore, the present study focuses on the connection between the folk culture expressed in the
anime video works——a valid new style to impress people nowadays——which can attract visitors to
the site and the cognition of nature held by the residents of the model site.
From this perspective, this study considers the possibility that Yokai culture may contributeto the environmental preservation of natural scenic areas in view of the anime “Natsume’s Book
of Friends” (“Natsume”), which is related to Yokai culture, and the traditional perception of naturein the nature-rich Hitoyoshi-Kuma region, which is the main model site.
2.1 The natural characteristics of Hitoyoshi-Kuma region
The Hitoyoshi-Kuma region is located in the central part of Southern Kyushu and forms atypical basin surrounded by the lush and mountainous Kyushu Central Mountain Range. It is
prone to fog due to the large temperature variation between day and night. The Kuma River, oneof the three fastest-flowing rivers in Japan, runs through the center of the region and has long
been used for water transportation and agricultural purposes to support the local lifestyle.
2.2 The anime “Natsume’s Book of Friends”“Natsume” is mainly set in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region, and since 2008, it has gained fansworldwide, with up to six series airing until 2017, and the production of the seventh season wasannounced in 2023. The content of the work can be summarized as follows: “The main character,
Takashi Natsume, who has been able to see Yokai since he was a child, begins to search for his
own path through contact with Yokai and the people involved and tries to find ways to protect his
precious days with the help of friends who share his thoughts and feelings.”
To achieve the research objectives described in the previous section, this study used thefollowing three survey steps.
Survey 1: Local Yokai Culture and Nature Awareness47

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, JapanTo understand the relationship between the traditional Yokai culture and the perception ofnature in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma area, we have organized the folk legends of the Hitoyoshi-Kuma
area and combined them with the geographical features of the area to understand the traditional
relationship between humans, Yokai, and nature.
Survey 2: The Yokai Characters’ Attributes and Worldview of “Natsume”
The attributes of the Yokai that appeared in the first four phases of the “Natsume” and theirrelationship to the natural environment are summarized; their primary feelings toward humans
are analyzed; and a comparison is made with the local Yokai culture analyzed in the previous
chapters.
Survey 3: Tourism Stakeholders’ Perceptions of “Natsume” Tourism
Through field surveys and interviews with tourism stakeholders in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma
region, we clarified the perceptions of nature and “Natsume” tourism by people who holdmultiple positions, such as event organizers, tourism business operators, “Natsume” fans, andlocal residents.

4.

Results and discussion

Table 1. Relationship between Tales of Yokai and the Natural Environment in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma
RegionAppearance Location(N=80)
Relationship to Nature(N=80)
Primary feelings/positions towards human(N=80)
Character

Mountain

Count
Percentage

River

Tree

Shinto shrine

House

OthersRelateAnimal

Plant

Others

Not relate

Opposite

Friendly

Utilized

Enshrined

Others

46

24

3

6

9

11

16

3

53

9

42

2

5

19

24

57.50%

30.00%

3.75%

7.50%

11.25%

13.75%

20.00%

3.75%

66.25%

11.25%

52.50%

2.50%

6.25%

23.75%

30.00%※May appear in mountains and rivers at the same time.

Table 2. Attributes of Yokai that Appeared in the First Four Seasons of the “Natsume”
Appearance Location(N=71)
Character

Mountain

Count
Percentage

River

Tree

Shinto shrine

Relationship to Nature(N=71)
House

OthersRelateAnimal

Plant

OthersPrimary feelings/positions towards human(N=71)

Not relate

Opposite

Friendly

Utilized

Enshrined

29

2

1

5

4

14

9

5

10

47

17

32

7

5

14

40.85%

2.82%

1.41%

7.04%

5.63%

19.72%

12.68%

7.04%

14.08%

66.20%

23.94%

45.07%

9.86%

7.04%

19.72%

Contrary to the belief that most of the Yokai discussed in the folk legends of the HitoyoshiKuma region are confrontational and feared by humans (Table 1), the Yokai depicted in “Natsume”
have basically no ill will toward humans (Table 2), showing diversity in character.
Worth noting are the results of survey 3 that residents are aware of the rich natural resourcesof the region and the risk of flooding, while their sensory cognition consists mainly of positive
emotions such as “admiration” and “benefit.” Therefore, while “Natsume” differs from the
Hitoyoshi-Kuma region’s perception of Yokai, the common feature of the worldviews of the“Natsume” is their local cognition of nature. It is thought that the worldview of the “Natsume”
makes it possible to gain a common understanding of nature with local residents through theexpression of their perception of Yokai and to contribute to the conservation of nature for local
tourism.

References
1)

2)

3)

OthersNoriko Kaihatsu. (2007). Citizen Participation in 'Fureai Chosa': Toward Conservation of
Local Nature and Consensus Building. Journal of Environmental Sociology, 13: 84-88 (inJapanese)
Iwamitsu Kaneda, Takeo Kondo. (2001). Study on Vitalizing a Region by Using the
Ecotourism Concept o Ecotourism- I ~ Study on the definition of Ecotourism and its
Applicable Way. CELSS JOURNAL, 13-2: 25-32 (in Japanese)
Tatsuhiko Sakurai. (1999). The Potential of folklales for the protection of the naturalenvironment and development. Wildlife Conservation Japan 4(2), 63-92 (in Japanese)48

International Research Meeting of Forest Culture Science in East Asia（FOCUSEA) 16-20 March 2024, Yamanakako, Japan

Special thanks to the staff of the Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study
Center and YAMANAKA Ryo Naito Seminar House for their cooperation inorganising FOCUSEA.
We also thank all special speakers, keynote speakers and participants.
2024 Mar.
FOCUSEA Executive Committee
Chairperson Ishibashi Seiji

49