Lynn KellerDec 15, 2022
The Japanese have been producing wood for 700 years without cutting down trees. In the 14th century, the extraordinary daisugi pruning technique was born in Japan. The cedar trees are pruned as if they are giant bonsai trees; the wood grows uniform, straight and without knots, perfect for construction. No trees are ever cut down.
Show threadJennyDDec 16, 2022
@majordopolis
If the trees are never cut down, then they must be getting wood for construction from other countries.....sort of saving their own but 'culling' from others that let them. Tree deaths done behind closed doors, so to speak, and then taking credit for lush forests. I never knew about this. Almost wish I didn't now.
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@JennyD @majordopolis Well they are, of course, getting lumber from these trees without ever killing the trees. But you're right that they still import trees as well. They are, after all, a large manufacturing nation.

But there are some other issues as well that are generally not as well understood, such as the lack of diversity in some of the forests because they are more like tree farms. It's complicated. They do some things well, other things not as well. We can learn from both.

Dec 16, 2022 at 11:08pmWeb
Show threadJennyDDec 18, 2022
@markrvickers @majordopolis
I loved your reply, Mark, and really thank you for that. It's all probably things I should have known but didn't, so you put my mind to rest in a lot of ways.
I never thought about getting lumber w/o felling the trees, so I imagine they use large branches for whatever products. Am I on the right track with that?
Show threadmarkDec 18, 2022
@JennyD @majordopolis Thanks. I'm not an expert, but I think technically they are shoots rather than branches. In essence, they are giant bonsai trees that are cultivated to have many shoots come up all growing off the same original trunk. They are very straight, pliable and strong, as I understand it. I'd love to see how they work on them in person.