VOICE

This man was introduced to this event by someone who has lived in a number of countries for many years working for the United Nations. I (Makiko Sugishita) have worked in a similar environment, so I understand all too well the good things, the challenges, and the stress. In-between his work deployments, this gentleman came to the forest to reflect on his work so far and his future career.
Above all, it was a time for him to open his senses and quietly reflect on himself!

Compared to before the trip, I felt a little more relaxed. I felt like the tension in my shoulders had been released. I was able to smell the earth and trees, which I don't usually pay much attention to, and hear the sounds of the wind and water. It felt like the forest was alive.
Beyond that, positive memories of the countries I have lived in have come back to me.
In my daily life and work, I want to be conscious of not only focusing on results but also on the process, and of valuing other senses rather than just the right brain and vision. (Man in his 40s (UN employee))

He expressed a desire to participate again before being posted to his next country, so we did. The deep Shinrin-yoku®︎ program aims to improve your physical and mental health and promote introspection, so we recommend participating more than once as you will be able to go deeper into the program.

I felt my brain become very relaxed as I took slow, deep breaths following the forest therapist's words to help me feel the natural beauty. We walked slowly while listening to the sounds of cicadas, birds, and leaves rustling in the wind. More than anything, my daughter, who was initially afraid of insects and even touching trees, now had a very calm expression on her face.

We went further into the forest and peered into the world of moss through a magnifying glass, revealing yet another beautiful forest. The sky and trees were reflected in the lens of the magnifying glass, creating a stunning beauty... The tea ceremony in the midst of all this nature was especially delicious, and after our session, I felt as refreshed as if I had had a good night's sleep. Having spent such a fulfilling time, we were about to leave the forest when we came across a stag having a meal - it was amazing how close it was.

My experience of deep Shinrin-yoku®︎ was like a series of miracles, and I think it was a wonderful experience for my daughter too!
Woman in her 40s (Yoga instructor/Forest therapy guide)

I hadn't really felt the sensation of gripping the ground and walking firmly lately, so I became aware of the sensation in the soles of my feet.

I was impressed by the coolness of the forest and the dense moss growing on the rocks. This program truly awakens our innate senses and sensibilities.
A couple in their 60s (medical clinic owners)

I had forgotten about it in my busy schedule, but I remembered that I have always been familiar with mountains and forests and really love them!

I suddenly became aware of the fatigue I had been trying to ignore. After the session, I realized that my whole body was tired and I was feeling unwell due to lack of sleep.

A woman in her 30s (doctor working at a cancer center)

Two researchers who teach at Oxford University in the UK joined us for deep Shinrin-yoku®︎ !

Considering that the forest is a single ecosystem, it occurred to me that the roots of the small tree I stepped on were connected to the entire forest, and that perhaps they were actually transmitting information in some way. And perhaps animals, which are part of nature, and humans, which are a part of the animal world, are in fact always communicating with each other in some way. Not just the forest, but the entire Earth...
Female in her 40s (cultural anthropologist)

She has been conducting research in Rwanda for many years, and has come up with the idea that forest bathing could be used to help people recover from the scars of war. I am thrilled to think that forest bathing can be applied in various ways around the world. Above all, I am overwhelmed with emotion at the thought that it may once again connect with Africa in this way.

Coming from Haneda Airport on a packed train that morning felt like a story from another dimension, and my sense of time and space became distorted in a good way...

Rather than feeling a connection with the city, I felt a stronger connection with the afterlife, and I felt close to my sister, who had said she wanted to go to Yakushima with me while she was alive.

Makiko’s lyre playing was such a heavenly sound.

After opening our five senses, I felt as if my body had melted into the forest, leaving only my consciousness. A mini near-death experience?! The scent of the forest was fragrant, and it was my first time to really consciously savour the pleasant aroma and clean air.

After my senses were sharpened, the Namacha tea and sweets were absolutely delicious, and all the work filled me with energy throughout my entire body.

I was amazed at how many things Makiko has up her sleeve. This time it was a family-oriented program, so next time I'd like to experience an even more in-depth program!

Woman in her 50s (musician)

When I was little, I drew a sun like this, and my teacher asked me, "Do you think this is the sun?" I was shocked at the time, thinking that my drawing was rejected, and I stopped drawing suns like that after that.
But for some reason, I suddenly remembered that today... Now, decades later, I wanted to draw that sun again, and that is the sun I drew.Woman in her 60s (Abacus school owner)

As I slept in the forest, I felt like I could die at any moment.
It was good to experience the feeling that if I die now, I will surely become a resource for other microorganisms and living things, and that I will be recycled. Accepting death allows me to try various things more boldly and to challenge myself to express myself, so I'm glad I was able to understand this very important feeling.

Even if everyone had the same experience, the parts that left an impression on them were completely different, so hearing their stories really gave the experience a more three-dimensional feel.

It was great to encounter a deer, or to have the experience of seeing something for the first time when I happened to be sitting in a certain place and lowered my gaze. It was a once in a lifetime experience—the feeling of being in the here and now—and I was able to feel the miracle of each moment.

Male in his 30s (entrepreneur)

I think the beauty of nature is the beauty and emotion that I have seen through my five senses.

We humans tend to live in a convenient position at the top of the food chain, but I feel like in reality that's not actually the case.

All life is connected, and we truly owe our existence to the Earth. This is what coexistence is. It may seem like a given, but it's something we tend to forget about in our daily lives.

Woman in her 50s