Forests play an important role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. However, as the trees in a forest grow larger, neighboring branches and leaves overlap each other, constraining growth in the forest. Also, light will struggle to enter the forest and underbrush will no longer grow. Therefore, depending on how crowded the forest is, it may be necessary to cut down some of the trees to encourage the growth of the remaining trees. This is called thinning.

When thinning is done, the trees grow better due to the space created. It also allows light to penetrate the forest, plants can grow at the ground level, and rainwater is better able to soak into the soil. These conditions help to maintain a healthy forest.

When thinning is carried out, thinned wood stock is produced. To make effective use of the thinned wood, Hoppy Beverage created a "Forest Room" at its headquarters using cypress that has been grown and thinned in the forest near Lake Yamanaka. The thinning was done by a method called "circular peeling”. The bark is stripped all the way around the tree, and it is left to die as a standing tree. This method is said to allow the wood to retain a lot of anti-microbial phytoncide, a form of essential oils, in the trees.

The thinned wood is made into planks for flooring and the ceiling, and the remaining peripheral edges are incorporated into the walls. When you enter this room, you can still smell the fragrant wood. When meetings are held in this room, many employees do not want to leave the space after the meeting. Perhaps it is because this room is filled with the peacefulness of the forest.

episode 10
Thinned Trees Make a Forest Room