“cypress bark roof” has supported traditional Japanese architecture for more than a thousand years. A profession that carefully collects the cypress bark (hiwada), which is the roofing material, without damaging the tree, is called “Motokawashi”.
In this lecture, one of the few active primers will be invited to talk about Harvesting of Japanese cypress bark’s technology, how to interact with the mountains, and the wisdom of working with nature.
Hinoki skin is a material that is carefully treated so that trees can continue to survive even after collection, and requires consideration for nature. Please take this opportunity to feel the wisdom of living with the forest and the importance of inheriting the skills that can be seen through the work of the primer.

Satoyama is not just untouched nature—it is a landscape shaped by people, where diverse ecosystems have been sustained through centuries of use and care. Plants like thatch and reeds supported daily life as roofing and farming materials, forming a cycle that enabled sustainable living.
In this lecture, a master thatching craftsman will share stories and skills that reveal the deep ties between satoyama and people, offering perspectives on resource cycles, conservation today, and living in harmony with nature.

For the opening event, we will reveal the third day of the making of the exhibits “Model of the Structure of a Thatched Roof,” crafted by a thatcher from Yusuhara!

“Model of the Structure of a Thatched Roof”
A traditional thatched house in Yusuhara, Takaoka, Kōchi Prefecture. A roof is thatched starting at the eaves, with the thatch layered up to the ridge. After this, the surface and the eaves are trimmed even and the surface pounded into shape. This model shows three layers of hirabuki (thatching on the flat part of the roof). The ridge is made by stitching bundles of bent mino-gaya (mune-gaya) to the inner roofing material (oshiboko) with rice-straw rope, then covering it with more bundles of kaya to prevent rain from seeping into the stitching, a technique called harime-ōi, which is found only in southwestern Japan. For the ridge structure, only basic natural materials—kaya, bamboo, and rice-straw rope—are used.

Under the guidance of skilled craftsmen, participants will experience the process of hinoki bark roofing by carefully layering pieces of cypress bark onto a roof model and fastening them one by one with bamboo nails using a traditional mallet.
You will also have the rare opportunity to watch master craftsmen prepare the bark for use, as well as split thin wooden boards used for kokera-buki (wood shingle roofing).
Don’t miss this chance to witness traditional techniques up close—skills that are rarely seen in everyday life.

Craftsmen demonstrate handmade tatami mats that are rarely seen in front of them. You can experience traditional techniques up close, including how to use materials and tools, and finishing techniques. At the experience corner, you can also experience actually laying tatami mats using tatami puzzles. You can enjoy learning the wisdom and ingenuity of craftsmen put in the way of laying tatami mats. Anyone, from children to adults, can feel free to participate.

This is a participatory event where you can actually experience the traditional thatched roof technology. The Japanese pampas grass is carefully placed on the base of the roof one by one, and at the end, you will experience the basic process of thatched, until the surface is adjusted using scissors. Under the guidance of craftsmen, this is a valuable opportunity to learn how to handle kaya and how to shape the roof while moving hands. Why don’t you feel the wisdom of traditional living and the depth of technology while facing natural materials?