It is depressing to see a tree being chopped down and its home getting splattered with charcoal and asphalt; to witness the shade it endowed getting eaten up by shady structures. Instead of forcing nature to bend down against their desires, Japanese people hold it close to their hearts, believing that both preservation and progress can be attained together. As Reddit user u/AristonD shared in a picture, Japanese people follow the practice of relocating trees instead of cutting them down. They call this ritual “Nemawashi,” a word that translates to “back to the roots.”
According to a definition shared by the Indian entrepreneur Jai Raj Singh Shekhawat, nemawashi is the process of nurturing and protecting the tree’s roots before it is moved to a new location. The technique is typically employed when a parent tree is blocking an important route or hampering a pathway. But instead of killing the tree by ripping its roots, they loosen it slowly, gradually from the soil bed, and relocate it to another place. The technique allows the tree to survive the migration process without getting hurt. In place of aggressive chainsaws, axes, or creepy-looking machines, the Japanese approach the tree with wisdom, love, and an understanding that stems from the country’s Shinto religion.
According to Japanese folklore rooted in Shinto religion, people believe that trees are not stationary entities. A tree is held in reverence as an ancient spirit named “kami.” As Harvard’s Arboretum explains, every tree here is believed to be tied by a sacred thread called “shimenawa.” Chopping down a tree to bulldoze the land with a shiny new landscaping design will only make the spirit unleash its anger and wrath on the tree-cutters. The goal is not destruction; it’s preservation and love. The ritual starts with tenderly loosening the tree’s roots from the ground. This isn’t a vigorous process. It is done in stages, over months and years, so the tree doesn’t get a shock.
Once the tree allows itself to be moved to a new spot, the landscapers lay it down on festival floaties, which are mostly wooden beams, inflatable platforms, and comfortable cradling cranes. The tree then goes on a voyage towards its new home. “The world should be more like this,” said u/buterskotchhnootaz in a Reddit comment. “This is ultimate respect,” said u/bubbleburgz. Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson commented on the tradition in a Facebook post, saying, “In a world where rapid urban development often comes at the cost of nature, Japan sets a powerful and inspiring example: preserve, don’t destroy.”
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