Japanese singer and actress Kyoko Koizumi has launched a forest restoration initiative aimed at planting 3,000 acorn-producing trees in the mountains of northeastern Japan, hoping to create a richer habitat for bears and other wildlife following a sharp increase in bear attacks across the country.
Koizumi, who turned 60 this year, completed a nationwide concert tour in May and is taking a break from performing for the remainder of the year. Rather than spending the entire period resting, she has turned her attention to environmental conservation, joining a long-term project to restore forests and provide food sources for wild animals.
The initiative emerged from a discussion on a radio program about the growing number of encounters between humans and bears. With bear attacks reaching record levels, Koizumi questioned whether a shortage of acorns and other natural food sources was forcing the animals to descend from the mountains into populated areas.
She was particularly troubled by reports that some bears killed after entering residential areas had almost no body fat, suggesting they had been struggling to find enough food.
Koizumi proposed planting trees that produce nuts and other food in mountainous areas, hoping that animals would have less reason to venture into towns and villages.
"If there were trees bearing fruit that animals could eat higher up in the mountains, perhaps they wouldn't need to come down," she said.
The idea developed into the Forest of Tomorrow Project, which aims to plant 3,000 acorn-producing trees and nurture them into a healthy, sustainable forest over the coming decades.
Koizumi encouraged fans to support the project during her nationwide concert tour. In an unusual departure from customary entertainment industry practices, she declined all flowers and gifts from concertgoers, instead asking them to contribute to the forest restoration effort.
Although she appreciated receiving flowers and presents, Koizumi had long felt uncomfortable about being unable to take everything home or make full use of the gifts. By redirecting that generosity toward environmental conservation, she hoped to turn the support of her fans into something that would benefit future generations.
The appeal attracted donations from more than 3,400 people, providing support for the planting initiative.
Koizumi visited Mount Kurikoma in the Tohoku region in October to take part in the planting work herself.
Heavy rain leading up to the event had left the mountainous terrain muddy and slippery. Participants had to climb a steep slope extending about 50 meters, where losing their footing could easily result in a fall.
Despite the difficult conditions, Koizumi joined volunteers in digging holes, planting saplings and installing protective shelters around the young trees to prevent deer and other animals from eating them.
The work proved considerably more physically demanding than she had anticipated, with participants struggling to maintain their footing while clearing obstacles and finding suitable locations for each sapling.
During a lunch break, Koizumi joked that she could already tell her muscles would be aching the following day.
One of the project's central members, Hiroshi Oi, who has observed changes in the mountain environment for nearly 30 years, explained that restoring a healthy forest requires patience and sustained human involvement.
The surrounding woodland has gradually become darker and less hospitable, highlighting the importance of carefully managing forest growth and maintaining an environment where a variety of trees and plants can thrive.
According to Oi, newly planted trees will take approximately eight to 10 years before they begin producing acorns, while developing a mature, healthy forest will require several more decades.
"Trees don't grow in one or two years. It takes 50 or 60 years," Oi said, emphasizing that people must take responsibility for nurturing the forest over the long term.
After approximately four hours of work, Koizumi's team had planted around 50 saplings, while participants across the site planted approximately 500 trees in total.
Koizumi said she felt a personal responsibility to participate directly because so many people had contributed money to the project.
"I felt that just talking about it wasn't enough. Since everyone had entrusted us with their support, I needed to experience planting the trees myself," she said.
Her involvement extends beyond the initial planting. Young trees require regular maintenance, including grass cutting, weeding and other protective measures to ensure they survive and grow.
Koizumi has expressed her intention to return to the forest periodically to help maintain the trees and monitor their development.
The project is intended not simply as a short-term response to bear attacks but as an investment in the environment over the next half-century.
Koizumi acknowledged that environmental problems can sometimes appear overwhelming, with people suggesting that meaningful action is already too late.
However, she argued that giving up would accomplish nothing and that even modest individual efforts could become significant when combined.
"It's easy to say that we're already too late or that nothing can be done," she said. "But I hope we can continue bringing together these small efforts and keep working toward a better future without giving up."
Koizumi also recognized that she may never see the forest reach full maturity.
"By the time this becomes a truly rich forest, I probably won't be here anymore," she said. "But I hope we can pass these feelings on to the younger generations and children who come after us, and entrust the future to them."
While the planting initiative was inspired by the increasing frequency of bear attacks, its broader objective is to restore a more diverse natural environment where wildlife can find food and shelter without relying on human settlements.
The project also reflects a growing recognition that forest conservation requires continued management rather than simply planting trees and leaving them to grow.
For Koizumi, the work represents a shift from expressing concern about environmental problems to becoming directly involved in finding solutions, with the hope that the forest planted today will provide lasting benefits for wildlife and future generations.
Source: TBS
On a lighter note, here is the pilot of a fictional story about a mystical village in Japan where bears and humans live in harmony.
