nature– tag –

Why do we seek fictional fear? Because that emotion overwhelms the rational knowledge of whether the threat is real (unlike sadness, which is easily dismissed). This explains the difference between Hollywood and J-Horror. Hollywood gives us physical terror—monsters that bite and claw. J-Horror, exemplified by The Ring, gives us psychological anxiety—the silent evil that crawls out of a video cassette, breaching the reality of our everyday life. This unique Japanese trait—finding a small dose of the extraordinary in the ordinary (like going to a public bath)—is what makes the horror so pervasive. Our furniture aims for a similar, though less scary, effect: making your everyday activities a little more special.

Tomamu was a ruin left by Japan's Bubble Economy. We uncover the Unkai Paradox: its resurrection came not from a CEO, but a humble lift mechanic's observation. We analyze the success of the 'Unkai Terrace'—a tourism product based on luck and a 3-hour window—and how we captured that cloud-like comfort in our Mola sofa. Why drive nine hours for a chance at a cloud when you can guarantee a perfect simulation at home?

Why do people object to windmills? They say "natural landscapes are spoiled by artificial human structures." But I suspect this reflects human arrogance. I find validation in the words of sci-fi writer Stanisław Herman Lem: he argued that we see an anthill as "natural" but our houses as "artificial" because we believe we are beyond nature. If we accept that we are merely one part of nature, then a human structure is no more "artificial" than a structure built by a beaver. This perspective is liberating. Maybe we should stop seeing "artificial blight" where there is just a very tall anthill, built by nature's cleverest species.

Why did our ancestors risk death to eat blowfish? I argue that the answer is not taste, but our insatiable human curiosity. I demonstrate this uncontrollable urge by sharing a behavioral science experiment where students voluntarily chose to receive an electric shock—repeatedly—just to satisfy their curiosity. This inherent human nature leads to our new product: Hokkaido Smoked Coffee, where beans are smoked using the wood chips from our furniture. Don't pretend you aren't curious; you can't help yourself. Risk a small shock of flavor!

Why does planting a tree feel so profoundly positive? You cannot plant a tree without a radical, almost arrogant degree of hope for a future you will not see. For us, this means taking a 100-Year Bet: planting oak trees today that the children who join us will likely never see turned into furniture. This is the profound irony of investing in a raw material only for an entirely unseen future generation.

Have you ever seen "jewelry ice?" It is completely different from drift ice, made of not sea water but fresh water, and so, it's highly transparent like a diamond. River water turns into ice on the surface at river mouth, and the ice pieces, before getting washed ashore, drift in the sea for a while, get rounded off, and are more brightly polished. According to Wikipedia, this natural phenomenon occurs only along the coast of a small town in Hokkaido even in all the wide world.

There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【Autumn leaves everywhere】 Many people may not like to Hokkaido after ...

Why does Japan's $300 Matsutake mushroom smell like dirty socks overseas? I explore the cultural acclimatization of fungi, the 4,000-year history of risk, and the scientific mystery of poisonous mushrooms. I then take you to Hokkaido, the last mushroom frontier, where unpicked bounty proves the biodiversity and health of our forests—and the quality of our wooden furniture.

There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【Must visit in eastern part of Hokkaido】 Lake Akan is a beautiful crat...

There are so many hidden gems in Hokkaido. You can see beautiful scenery e.g.; lakes, mountains, forest, sea and so on. I would like to share some gems in Hokkaido. 【The Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido "Mt. Yotei"】 Mt. Yotei, known as Yotei zan, ...