Listening to what the trees have to tell us - September 1, 2025

Even if you pass by them every day,
there are times when trees that don't usually speak to you
suddenly seem to do so.
Well then.

Tree: "What do you think will happen from here on out?"

Person: "That's a good question.
Because the upper parts aren't earning enough,
branches start growing vigorously from below...
When people see that,
those who don't understand the tree's circumstances
try to thoroughly cut off the branches
that the tree went out of its way to grow from below."

Tree: "And so, a miserable vicious cycle begins..."

Person: "Because you cut so much, it grows so much.
It's doing that desperately
because it's in a pinch.
In the past, they used to call that process
rejuvenation, so I wonder if they think, 'Great!' and
cut it again?
In recent years, I think there are opportunities
to learn that this way of thinking
is different from the reality..."

Tree: "Along with us,
you were also worried about that yew tree.
Even though that tree was in poor health,
they kept pruning it until
it finally passed away recently, didn't they?
It's not someone else's problem, is it?"

Person: "That's right...
Spending money on maintenance only to kill the tree.
I want to change this approach somehow."

Tree: "Shouldn't you hurry more?
With the environment being this harsh,
if you don't change the management methods
right away,
the trees you intended to protect
might not be able to endure the hardship
and might disappear..."

This was the conversation I had today.

Trees are living things that grow year by year.
However, this tree is getting smaller every year.
The reason is that it is being cut back more and more.
It is only natural that this tree
is worried about its own future.

I think there are many things in the current system
that should be changed.

But if we take our time,
eventually...

When I say that,
I am reminded of a poem by Mitsuo Aida.

Since it is a path I cannot return to,
I must walk it every day
while properly checking
whether the current direction is correct.