Japan Will Be Revived by Forests: Stop the Collapse of Forestry

2021/10/26

In 'Japan Will Be Revived by Forests,' I explain everything from forestry to timber and traditional wooden structures. Both this book and my previous work, 'The Collapse of Forests,' were said to have too much information and were significantly cut. Because I felt the content needed to be shared with a wide audience, there are only a few pages about my own research. Most of what I wrote consists of things I happened to discover while conducting research and development. The publication of my previous book was also a coincidence. I was merely a reader of an international information magazine published by Shinchosha, and I sent a document intending to comment as a researcher on an article that felt off to me. I never imagined it would become part of a manuscript for a book sold in bookstores.

I never imagined that I, an engineering specialist, would write a paperback. At the time, I don't think I could have finished the manuscript if I hadn't happened to be a Postdoctoral Fellow (PD) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. After writing my previous book, 'The Collapse of Forests,' I thought I would never write again. This was because I believed everything was moving in a better direction, and that was my hope. However, reality did not turn out that way.

The reason I wrote 'Japan Will Be Revived by Forests' was that I wanted to match the enthusiasm of the official in charge of regulatory reform at the Cabinet Office. While serving as a specialist member for regulatory reform, I involved acquaintances who were practitioners and devoted myself to explaining what was happening and why. It was almost entirely volunteer work. The official responded to my meddling with sincerity. Since I had done a lot of behind-the-scenes work in Kasumigaseki during my time at Nomura Research Institute, I also felt how quickly time passes.

Surprisingly, my previous book was first read by organizational leaders and businesspeople involved in management, and I heard it was displayed in stacks at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This book seems to follow the same trend and is reportedly selling well at the bookstore within the Ministry.

Now that I have finally published the book and feel I have fulfilled a small part of my role in contributing to society, I would like to focus on my research again. Researchers can use their expertise to conceive and create something. There is no profession as interesting as solving difficult and hard-to-understand phenomena. Right after my previous book was published, I went to France to conduct research. Having finished another task this time, I want to enjoy my life as a researcher once more.

'Japan Will Be Revived by Forests: Stop the Collapse of Forestry'

Yuko Shirai

Shincho Shinsho

192 pages, 792 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.