Hello, this is the editorial department of "Domingo", a Hokkaido news & events app! This is the editorial department of Domingo, a Hokkaido news and events app. We would like to introduce you to "Hokkaido Wind," a series of articles that will bring you the charm of life in various parts of Hokkaido based on the concept of "bringing the wind of Hokkaido to you now. In this memorable first installment, we are joined by Yohei Ueno, an outdoor producer with the Community Development Cooperation Team of Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido, who is currently working on a "hands-on treehouse project" at the Sounkyo Auto Camping Ground. In this article, Vol. 2 of " Treehouse Project " which will be divided into Vol. 1 and Vol. 3, we will explore Mr. Ueno's commitment to creating "hands-on" activities, which is incorporated in the "Treehouse Project. In this article, vol. 2, we will explore Mr. Ueno's commitment to creating "hands-on" activities that are embedded in the Tree House Project. -

Date: July 5, 2020 Method: Online event via zoom -Previously: [vol.1] What is the "Tree House Project"? We had a virtual tour of the site and heard the full story of the "Tree House Project", including its background and current status.

Commitment to creating "hands-on" activities

Ryota Hattori, Domingo Editor (hereafter "Hattori" ) I heard that the treehouses are completely custom-made or handmade!

Yohei Ueno, a member of the Kamikawa Town Community Development Cooperation Team (hereinafter referred to as "Ueno" ): It was handmade! There were no blueprints at all, and I built it on the spot while thinking about it with the carpenter, and thought about it as I built it. I had my two cousins and my uncle, who are carpenters in the Kansai region, come over and make most of the parts. My order was "I want it so that anyone can assemble it if they have the parts" (lol). In two days, they made parts for both the big and small houses and left....

Hattori: Did you consult with the two of them when you were in the conception stage of building the tree house? Ueno: Well, they were my cousins, so at first I just asked them casually, "Would you make a treehouse for me? It was something like that. Then, as we proceeded to discuss specifics, I told them about the terrace and that the most important thing was to make it easy to assemble and disassemble. As a result, we decided to use a structure that can be assembled without using screws as much as possible, and to fit in the mounting plates. Hattori: So it was important that anyone could assemble it. Ueno: It is not "very easy," but we have succeeded in creating a product that can be assembled without knowledge or experience. I am planning to have my staff with me during the assembly process this year. Hattori: I hear that you plan to increase the variety of parts and make the experience easier to understand. Ueno: Starting next year, we would like to make it possible for visitors to assemble the parts by themselves by preparing instruction manuals and other materials. Also, we would like to increase the number of types of items that can be assembled. Right now we have two types of houses, large and small, but we would like to be able to make many more, even in the form of building blocks instead of houses. The terrace is quite spacious, so I think there is a lot of freedom in what we can do. Hattori: I am not familiar with treehouses, but I had an image of treehouses being fixed to the top of a tree. Isn't it unusual to have an assembly type? Ueno Yes, I don't know of any others. I was not particular about "tree houses," but I wanted to create something that I could "experience" with my family, children, and friends in the forest here in Kamikawa-cho. Hattori: So you are particular about "assembling"? Ueno Yes, I am more particular about that. Rather than wanting to make a large, sturdy, and comfortable house, I thought it would be better if anyone could assemble it. I hope that visitors will experience assembling the house on the tree terrace and spend their time in their own way. I hope that families and friends will all come together. Hattori: Do you have any ideas of how you think people would enjoy using the house in this way? Ueno How about hanging a hammock between the two trees supporting the terrace? Hattori That sounds great! The weather is nice, so I can imagine it vividly! Ueno There are maple trees, so I think it would be beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn red! For adults, I think it would be great to put chairs on the terrace and have a relaxing drink there! Also, I would like it to be used as a nature study place. I think it would be comfortable to bring chairs and blackboards on the terrace for studying.

Passion for the project and people who are willing to cooperate

Hattori: Since last year, there have been a lot of people working in Kamikawa Town who are part of the Japan External Trade Organization for Regional Development (JETRO), haven't there? What do you think about the " Taisetsu Kamikawa Nukumo " and the image you have of young people actively working in Kamikawa? Ueno: Yes, they are. In Kamikawa, there are about 10 people in their 2~30's working as cooperative members, each pursuing what they find interesting while thinking about how they can contribute to the town on a daily basis. Hattori: I heard that everyone worked together to build the tree terrace. Ueno That's right. We worked out everyone's schedules ahead of time and had them help build the tree terrace, cook meals, and cooperate with each other a great deal. Hattori How long did it take you to complete the terrace? Ueno: One week! We worked every day with nine people: two carpenters from the neighborhood, three forestry workers, and four members of the cooperative team! Hattori: By the way, did any of the cooperative members have experience? Ueno: Only one of us had experience in field work. The others were all amateurs. Hattori: With enthusiasm for building and a carpenter who was willing to teach us, you were able to realize such a wonderful and sturdy tree terrace...! Ueno That's right. If only there was a carpenter who could teach us how to do it...! Hattori: By the way, who drew that wonderful picture of the tree house you used on the crowdfunding page? Ueno I asked an illustrator who is an acquaintance of a friend of mine. She goes by the name "Hajimete-chan. She came to Kamikawa once and drew the picture for me. Hattori: So this project is being created with the help of various people who live in Kamikawa, have visited Kamikawa, or are friends with Kamikawa...!

Using reliable materials and playing with harsh nature

Hattori: Where do you use the materials for the tree house and terrace? Ueno: The materials used for the fitted panels of the house are all from Shimokawa Town. The decking materials used for the terrace are from Aibetsu Town and Shimokawa Town, which are neighboring towns of Kamikawa Town. Unfortunately, there is currently no sawmill in Kamikawa, so we try to buy lumber from nearby towns as much as possible. The large logs are from Kamikawa Town. Hattori: Are these tree terraces made by tying the terraces to the trees? Ueno Let's go and take a look! The tree is fixed to the tree with bolts through it. They are drilled through with a big drill, and this method seems to be the mainstream in the treehouse world today. Drilling several small holes damages the tree, so it is said that drilling a single hole is the safest and gentlest way to do it. Hattori I see! So you are making these houses in order to coexist with trees and forests. Is that also the reason why the overall shape is triangular? Ueno: We chose this shape because a triangle shape is the most stable. When deciding on the shape, we worked with knowledgeable forestry experts. Hattori This tree terrace, which can maintain its strength even with multiple people on it, is the fruit of various kinds of wisdom. And the height is surprisingly high. Ueno It is 2 meters high. Be careful not to fall off! lol Hattori By the way, are you building a deck there? Ueno We are building a deck or more like a sidewalk. It is very muddy here, so we are building a path to the tree terrace using decking materials. There was really nothing here, so we need to improve the ground. We need to pull sleepers and so on. Hattori: Do you have any plans to build something more for the campground as a whole? Ueno: Right now we are building new cottages, preparing new tent saunas, and adding new activities. I would like to build a wooden sauna!

Conclusion

In vol. 2, we will discuss the theme of " What is the Tree House Project? we explored Mr. Ueno's commitment to creating "hands-on" activities that are embedded in the "Tree House Project. In vol. 3, he will talk about his passion for the town of Kamikawa and the"Tree House Project. Please look forward to vol. 3, which will be released next week!

Profile

Yohei Ueno was born in 1993. Outdoor producer for the Hokkaido Kamikawa Town Community Development Cooperation Team. Moved to Kamikawa-cho, a progressive and proactive town planning town. Currently working on a "hands-on treehouse project" to create a new tourism resource in Kamikawa Town. He is currently developing outdoor contents with the mission of creating a place to work in Kamikawa Town. facebook / twitter

このシリーズの他の記事

北海道上川町の「遊び」のこれからをもっと楽しくする「ツリーハウスプロジェクト」vol.1

北海道上川町の「遊び」のこれからをもっと楽しくする「ツリーハウスプロジェクト」vol.3

関連リンク

子供の頃夢見た秘密 A base. Tree house project in Kamikawa-cho, Hokkaido!Crowdfunding READYFOR Sounkyo Auto Campsite