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Kyoto Kitayama Traditional Forestry ‘Honjikomi’ Event

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Our old friend Michael B. (aka Peko) of Kyoto Foodie & Open Kyoto has asked me to post something about this old Kitayama tradition – “another Kyoto thing that REALLY needs saving!” How could I say no? Michael says…

Kyoto Kitayama Traditional Forestry ‘Honjikomi’ Event
Nakagawa, Kitayama
September 4, 2010 (Sat) 10:00 – 11:45 am and 2:00 – 3:50 pm
1000 yen (optional charter bus from Kyoto Station additional 1000 yen)

…Every year Nakagen Forestry Co. puts on this event for people to learn about the 600 year history and culture of Kitayama’s traditional forestry industry.

Kitayama are the north mountains of Kyoto. Here the best cedar for traditional Japanese architecture is carefully and meticulously grown.

Kitayama Sugi (cedar) is used for traditional Japanese teahouse and tearoom construction and the tokonoma alcove’s main column is usually Kitayama cedar. Kitayama Sugi is raised and processed based on the aesthetic ideals of tea master Sen-no-rikyu.

This is the traditional tokonoma alcove. The kitayama sugi is the most prized pole for this important space in the traditional Japanese room.

Kitayama’s traditional forestry created beautiful wood and is ecologically friendly. Japan can boast an unsurpassed wood culture in the world.

This pattern naturally forms on the cedar trees. It is actually a genetic mutation and each grower has their own signature mutations, some several centuries old. To continue this mutation, seedlings are cloned from branches rather than grown from seeds.

The traditional harvesting techniques call ‘honjikomi’ (本仕込み) are only extant with one 5 man team of Kyoto lumberjacks. This team will be the main event.

This is the traditional way of harvesting the cedar trees. The trees are partially cut and stripped of bark while still vertical and allowed to dry for several days like this. There is only one crew of 5 lumberjacks that still does this traditional method of harvesting.

I participated in the event last year and it was really great. We went up to the mountain and got to observe and talk with the lumberjacks as they worked. Then, back at Nakagen we got to try our hand at polishing the logs with sand. We also got a tour of the Nakagen warehouse, they have some incredibly beautiful wood including one log that the emperor complimented when he visited.

Me getting a lesson on polishing from an old hand.

The weather should be cool up at Nakagawa, contact me if you would like to go.

Check out more of my photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=196951&id=850054480

UPDATE! More details on bus times:

Charter Bus (1000 yen round trip)

morning session:
9:00am JR Kyoto Station Hachijoguchi Bus Pool
9:15am JR Nijo Station West Exit

afternoon session:
12:50pm JR Kyoto Station Hachijoguchi Bus Pool
1:05pm JR Nijo Station West Exit

Thanks Michael!

(All pictures courtesy of Michael B.)

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