About Wanomori
About us
A father-son duo's challenge
Dreaming of a rich Satoyama once again
Fifty years have passed since the previous generation began cultivating log-grown shiitake mushrooms here.
To improve production efficiency, we shifted to a centralized facility cultivation system by sourcing logs from other prefectures, avoiding the dangerous work of procuring local logs.
While this allowed us to secure inexpensive and stable log supplies, expand production, and ensure planned, stable yields, it also meant that the local mountains and forests were no longer maintained. As a result, they became overgrown with bamboo, turning into thickets and leading to an increase in wildlife damage from boars and deer.
Then came the devastating blow from the radioactive contamination caused by the Fukushima nuclear accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake. At that time, the Tohoku region—Japan’s main supplier of shiitake logs—was contaminated, halting distribution. This triggered a nationwide shortage of shiitake logs and soaring prices, the effects of which continue to this day.
This crisis made me determined to return to the origins of shiitake cultivation—growing my own logs to produce safe, genuine shiitake mushrooms.
Satoyama, or village forests, are landscapes sustainably preserved through human care, where resources from the forest are utilized in harmony with nature. Once neglected, however, restoring a satoyama requires tremendous effort and can take more than a decade. Compared to centralized shiitake farming, it is far less efficient and uncertain in terms of profitability. Yet, I believe it is worth dedicating my life to.
Through the production and sale of log-grown shiitake mushrooms and firewood, I hope to sustainably utilize local satoyama resources, restore these landscapes, and pass down the beautiful rural scenery to future generations.
It was with this vision that Wa no Mori (The Forest of Harmony) was born.
Activities of Wanomori
Current state of Satoyama
In my hometown, too, where there are no longer people to use and manage the satoyama, such scenes have become widespread.
The once-managed forests and hills, now left unattended, have turned into habitats for wild animals that damage fields and crops, while bamboo has invaded abandoned farmland.
At first glance, the countryside may seem rich in nature, but it no longer holds the familiar satoyama landscape I remember from my childhood, when we would run and play freely in the woods and hills.
![GYIZE6973[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/b3b451_3014950f9d194444a9e09cad639fe49b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_337,w_3009,h_2335/fill/w_290,h_225,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/GYIZE6973%5B1%5D.jpg)
The First Step Toward Satoyama Restoration
Originally, satoyama—village forests—were beautiful landscapes preserved and passed down for decades and even centuries through continuous care, allowing people to sustainably use the resources they provided.
When a forest becomes overgrown with bamboo and filled with aging, diseased trees, it must be reset by clear-cutting all the trees and bamboo. From there, it can be transformed into a renewed, healthy forest.
reforestation and silviculture
On a clear-cut mountain, we plant seedlings of traditional satoyama tree species—such as sawtooth oak (kunugi)—which have long been used for shiitake logs, firewood, and charcoal. We also nurture useful broadleaf trees like konara oak and abemaki oak, which sprout from those stamps naturally after cutting.
For the first few years after planting, we continue clearing undergrowth to prevent weeds and bamboo from taking over. Eventually, as the broadleaf trees grow taller than the weeds, they will, over the course of 15 to 20 years, mature into a rich and bright satoyama forest.
Utilizing Satoyama resources
From the harvested logs, tree species suitable for mushroom cultivation are inoculated with shiitake or other mushroom spores. Other trees are processed into firewood, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
We use local forests as hodaba—places where shiitake logs are nurtured—striving to cultivate in a way that is as close to nature as possible.
By making full use of satoyama resources, we aim to preserve and pass down the beauty of these landscapes to future generations.
The perfect Satoyama
By harvesting trees on a roughly 20-year cycle, there is no longer a need for repeated replanting. New shoots naturally sprout through coppice regeneration, and with just minimal care, the rich satoyama landscape can be restored.
A well-managed satoyama becomes a bright and beautiful forest. In spring, fresh green leaves, in autumn, vibrant foliage, and in winter, the fallen leaves—all these seasonal changes delight and soothe the heart. The forest also maintains a healthy balance with wildlife, reducing crop damage caused by animals while allowing coexistence.
By repeating the cycle of harvesting → utilizing → regenerating every decade or so, we keep the forest alive, benefit from its blessings, and strive to pass down the beautiful hometown scenery to future generations.
This is the mission of Wanomori.
The Challenge of Two Shiitake Farmers
Wanomori
Thanks Farm
For many years, Naoto Yokota of Wanomori and Yuta Nakashima of Thanks Farm worked together cultivating shiitake mushrooms at the same agricultural company.
Eventually, they each became independent, pursuing a shared goal while making use of their own unique strengths and individuality.
Wanomori focuses on satoyama restoration and cultivating shiitake logs,
while Thanks Farm rents those logs and specializes in cultivating log-grown shiitake mushrooms and sharing their appeal with consumers.
Without wood, there can grow no shiitake.
Without selling shiitake, the business cannot be sustained.
This mutual dependency gave birth to an entirely new model—renting shiitake logs—allowing the two to work together once again.
Built on years of deep trust, this partnership enables both to fully dedicate themselves to their respective missions.
The logs grown in the local satoyama are used locally to cultivate shiitake mushrooms and deliver them to many people.
When the logs have fulfilled their role, they return to the satoyama, giving new life to the next generation.
Different work, but the same vision.
Their shared journey—and challenge—continues.
[Satoyama Shiitake Forest]
Satoyama Shiitake Forest is a facility operated by Thanks Farm inside Gifu Seiryu Satoyama Park, offering shiitake mushroom sales and harvesting experiences.
Here, you can enjoy the taste and harvesting of authentic log-grown shiitake mushrooms, cultivated 100% on logs produced by Wanomori.
We warmly invite you to visit!
〒505-0003
2292-1 Yamanouecho, Minokamo City, Gifu Prefecture
