Hello, this is Sasaka from the staff.
Kamiyama still has days when snow flutters, and during this chilling season, Shizuku has a big annual task.
It's the "logging and milling work" which is the essence of SHIZQ's vessels.
This year is my second time doing this work, following last year.
This time, with the cooperation of the Kinsen Sawmill family, who run a sawmilling business in Kamiyama, all Shizuku members participated.
As we were heading to the logging site, I was talking to Mr. Kinsen, and he said, "Although the mountains of Kamiyama are full of cedar trees, I don't cut trees indiscriminately; I only cut trees that are truly needed." Hearing that, I was struck.
I always thought about actively utilizing cedar and letting a lot of light reach the mountainside, but it's not just that. The cedar we use was also planted by Mr. Kinsen's grandfather's generation and carefully nurtured.
I strongly felt that once a life is taken, there is a mission to connect it to a new life.
After successfully logging and debarking, it's finally time for milling!
We attach a jig to fix the length of the lumber to be milled.
If the jig is not securely fastened, the lengths will be uneven, affecting subsequent vessel creation, so it's a crucial task. Tojo, a staff member, managed to securely fasten it after being taught.
And this year, the "wood layout" was handled by craftsman Fujimoto.
He envisions how many products can be obtained from one log and decides how to cut it.
Shizuku's vessels are completed approximately two years after the cedar is logged, so it is necessary to plan production two years in advance, making wood layout very difficult and important.
Also, the wood must be cut so that the beautiful two-tone red and white colors are visible, so that is also taken into account during milling.
This year's wood layout drawing
Cedar lumber being milled according to Fujimoto's instructions
And this year too, Chief Watanabe's forklift was a huge success! It freely transported logs and square timber that were being milled to where they were needed.
Every year during the milling process, we rack our brains and all staff members think of the best solutions, such as "this way is more efficient" or "this will make subsequent work easier."
These small discoveries and accumulated knowledge are very important discussions because they will be utilized in future milling operations.
And this year, I tried using a chainsaw for the first time!
As someone who has always worked a desk job, it was the furthest thing from my experience (lol).
At first, it was very scary, and my body became stiff, causing me to cut at an angle.
Seeing this, Chief Watanabe told me, "Try lowering your hips," and he stood by me and taught me again how to use my body and apply force, and gradually I was able to cut straight.
I still haven't mastered it, but I made my chainsaw debut successfully, so I plan to actively use it from now on!
The milled square timber is marked according to the wood layout drawing to indicate its intended use and stored on pallets. From here, it will be moved to another location for crack prevention coating.
With this, the full day of milling work has finally concluded!
As I felt last year, experiencing this "logging and milling work" makes me grateful for the blessings of nature that create SHIZQ's vessels, and I am fascinated by the beautiful wood grain that takes many years to form.
Trees can live long not because they replace all their cells like animals, but because they skillfully use dead cells, which are few in living parts, to support their bodies like bones. By choosing a motionless life, trees acquired a body that can live long. Knowing this, I am overwhelmed by the vitality of cedar.
Recalling Mr. Kinsen's words at the beginning, there is no such thing as a wasted tree.
Even now, Kamiyama's mountains are full of cedar, and with low demand, the value of cedar may be low.
While the criteria for value differ for everyone, I realized once again that this beauty is truly irreplaceable for me.
I am excited to see these beautiful cedar trees reborn as SHIZQ vessels two years from now.
