1. A Nature School in Numata's Horoshin Forest?!

Numata is a town where you can feel the grandeur of nature, with fireflies lighting up the summer nights and heavy snowfall in winter, reaching a maximum depth of 170cm. It's also a town that has actively utilized its resources, sharing the history of its three former coal mines, holding the Yotaka Andon Festival passed down from Toyama Prefecture, and practicing "risetsu"—the use of its endless winter snow for cooling public facilities and for the long-term storage of rice and vegetables.

Combining Numata's rich charms with new ideas, the creation of a "nature school" where both children and adults can play in the forest all year round is steadily progressing.

Just a year ago, Domingo also featured the development of Numata's nature school.

This exciting illustration captures all the things we want to do at the nature school. The concept is steadily moving forward, and it seems some very interesting guests have visited Horoshin Forest!

The guest we're introducing from Horoshin Forest is Yusuke Murakami, a Polar Architect who held a workshop to build and use a 'DAN DAN DOME.' What is a 'DAN DAN DOME,' and who is Mr. Murakami, this unconventional architect with the unusual title of 'Polar Architect'?

Even on Numata's Snow! The DAN DAN DOME, a Cardboard House Assembled by Everyone

Polar Architect Yusuke Murakami, who has surveyed human activities in numerous extreme environments like Antarctica and the Himalayas, conducted a workshop in Horoshin Forest to build a DAN DAN DOME.

The DAN DAN DOME is a collapsible cardboard dome tent designed by Mr. Murakami and developed in collaboration with a packaging container company. Despite being made of paper cardboard, it's an excellent product that can be used outdoors thanks to its water-resistant treatment.

This dome tent is designed to be assembled by a group of 6 to 8 adults and children working together. It's useful for outdoor recreation like festivals and camping, and also serves a purpose in emergencies, such as securing private space in evacuation shelters.

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Because its materials and shape are designed with disposability in mind, another key feature is that it can be used freely—you can draw on it, cut holes in it, or decorate it however you like.

Photo: Keiichi Baba

In Horoshin Forest, experimental workshops to build and use the DAN DAN DOME were held twice, in October and February.

The second time was in the middle of winter, in February. Numata, a heavy snow area with harsh cold, is a 'polar region' in its own right. We conducted experiments to see how much snow weight it could withstand, how it would freeze, and in what ways it could be used.

Polar Architect Yusuke Murakami

So, what kind of person is Mr. Murakami, who held the DAN DAN DOME workshop in Horoshin Forest?

Mr. Murakami has spent a total of over 1,000 days in harsh environments known as 'polar regions,' including Antarctica, the summit of Mt. Fuji, the Himalayas, and even participating in the 'Mars160' experiment, which simulated living conditions on Mars. He has thoroughly engaged with the lives and lifestyles of people in these extreme environments.

Showa Station, where he went as a wintering member of the 50th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Outdoor activities during the 50th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

We had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Murakami about his unusual career.

I wanted to understand the fundamentals of how humans live and survive.

With a title like 'Polar Architect,' one might assume he was an adventurous child who dreamed of space. However, he says he was actually a timid child who was so scared of the snow festival slide that he would cry and walk down the stairs instead.

He didn't have a strong longing for space either. Mr. Murakami, who had been interested in people's lifestyles since he was young, encountered the concepts of 'polar regions' and 'space' in college.

"When I was studying architecture in college, I happened to open a magazine and learned about an experimental project called 'Biosphere 2,' where eight researchers lived completely sealed off in Arizona for two years. The experiment was to see if humans could survive in a giant, closed artificial ecosystem and to study the relationship between human life and the global environment.

What I wanted to do in my architectural studies wasn't to create cool buildings, but to explore the fundamental aspects of how humans live and survive. This encounter with the magazine made me want to think about 'space,' where humans might one day live, from the perspective of architecture and the fundamentals of human life."

Life inside the base during the 'Mars160' Mars simulation. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Identifying and resolving potential 'forgotten items' for Mars while still on Earth.

'Thinking about life in space from an architectural perspective'—there were no such initiatives in Japan, and very few in the world. It was not an easy path, and despite many setbacks, he continued to act on his strong desire to know the fundamentals of human life, and was selected as a member of the Antarctic research expedition. He experienced life in the polar region of Antarctica firsthand while observing human life there.

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

After that, he continued to accumulate experience living in polar regions, such as accompanying a climbing expedition at a Himalayan base camp and staying at a former weather station on the summit of Mt. Fuji.

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Amidst this, Mr. Murakami became interested in 'whether the same things that happen in domestic projects also happen in international projects, and whether differences in country lead to differences in lifestyle and thinking.' He applied for a project called the 'Mars simulation,' was selected at the top, and participated as vice commander. The experiment was organized by a group with mock bases in two locations, the Arctic and Utah, USA, and the project involved staying for 80 days in Utah and 80 days in the Arctic, for a total of 160 days.

The crew of the 'Mars160' Mars simulation. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

"What I found interesting about the 'Mars simulation' was the perspective of identifying potential problems for Mars while still on Earth. If you realize you 'forgot the soy sauce!' over there, you can't just go buy more. In the sense that you can eliminate forgotten items now, I thought it was practical and interesting."

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

'Mars160' Mars simulation on Devon Island in the Arctic Circle. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

However, once he participated, he says it felt more like an appeal—'we are pioneering space initiatives'—than an effort to 'identify forgotten items.' Both the organizers and participants focused only on 'what went well' and paid little attention to improving 'what didn't go well.' Thinking that this approach wouldn't improve future life in space, Mr. Murakami took action.

"I decided to create an opportunity to truly identify forgotten items myself. First, I booked a two-week slot at the mock base in Utah and conducted a simulation with me as the organizer. Then, since I couldn't go to the US every time, I thought about creating a platform in Japan and rented a section of the retired former Antarctic research vessel 'SHIRASE 5002' to conduct a simulation."

Former Antarctic research vessel 'SHIRASE 5002'. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Simulation on the 'SHIRASE 5002'. Crew members performing an emergency escape mission. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Caring not only for the crew, but also for their relationships with those around them.

The crew, who volunteer for the experiment and are mentally prepared, have a mindset that allows them to enjoy even the hardships and inconveniences. However, Mr. Murakami noticed that their families are not prepared.

"In space missions, you can communicate with the outside world, but it's a double-edged sword. So, even if the crew members themselves are standing firm, if their families waver, it can throw the crew off balance through their communications. I saw the same dynamic in relationships with ground control and mission support staff.
I think many people can understand this now, but it's the ultimate version of 'things you can't do remotely.' A small misunderstanding can persist without any chance for follow-up. I tried to focus as much as possible on how to coordinate with people who are far away in order to maintain a functioning life."

Simulation on 'SHIRASE 5002'. Regular communication with ground control. Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Designing the process of architecture and communication.

Such small miscommunications don't just happen in special missions; they occur wherever people gather. For example, they can happen in evacuation shelters.

The DAN DAN DOME was designed to incorporate the process of communication within the act of building.

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

"When I conduct interviews at evacuation shelters, they generally fall into two patterns: those where people proactively say, 'Let's do the cleaning duty like this,' or 'Let's take turns with the trash,' and those where, when administrative staff arrive, they say, 'The toilets were dirty,' and leave it to the administration. Most fall into the latter category.
But people in evacuation shelters are supposed to be a random gathering, so there shouldn't be a difference at the start. What divides them is the initial action. Everyone is gathered in a state of physical and mental tension, so things tend to stagnate. But if just one person says, 'Let's start with what we can do,' everyone starts to move. On the other hand, if someone quietly does it for everyone at the beginning, the others start to take it for granted and rely on others."
The DAN DAN DOME is designed to create that initial action, which fosters smooth communication later on, through the act of assembling the dome tent.

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

The assembly guide, the 'DAN DAN GUIDE,' is intentionally a bit confusing, and the dome is large enough to require multiple people to assemble. The DAN DAN DOME is engineered to necessitate conversation and cooperation with others to complete it.

Photo: Yusuke Murakami

Some companies are even considering using the DAN DAN DOME for new employee training. It's said to reveal who plays what role within a group. Why not give the DAN DAN DOME a try?

Join the 'Numata Town Whole Nature Experience Project'!

In addition to the DAN DAN DOME, Horoshin Forest is full of exciting people and events!
Perhaps many of you are now thinking, 'I want to go to Numata Town,' or 'I want to get involved in the project.'

Please become a Forest Play Supporter and join the Numata Town Whole Nature Experience Project!

When you become a Forest Play Supporter (commonly known as "Mori-Sapo"), you will receive information about workshops and events related to the nature school by email, so you can participate in the events that interest you.

There will also be online streaming events that you can join from afar, so no matter where you live, if you're even a little bit interested, please join us as a Mori-Sapo!

Images provided by: Yusuke Murakami, Numata Town