2020: We bought a mountain!
In 2020, we bought 200,000 sqm of land in the mountain forest area in Shimane. Our vision is to create a village where everyone becomes a craftsman. The reason why we want to create the village for craftsmen in the mountain forest is simple: We believe that living alongside nature is the key to sustaining craftsmanship.
Craftsmen have the skills and knowledge to make things from nature. Forests cover 80% of the land in Japan; Nature has always been an essential part of Japanese people’s livelihood. Traditionally, production meant something that could emerge from lifestyle, and was an essence of culture. Everyone was creating. In a sense, everyone was a craftsman. We need to rethink and redesign our lifestyle in order to keep our craftsmanship alive. It is not just about the design, distribution, craftsmen’s mindset, and training even though all of these things that we have been working on are still very important. Unless we create a truly sustainable ecosystem, we cannot actually sustain craftsmanship.
2021: Now, we call it the Mujun Planet
The Mujun Planet is a village that we are building for the true craftsmen in Shimane where we bought the mountain. We believe that the true craftsmen are the ones who can make the most of nature while truly appreciating it. In this village, we aim to rebuild a satoyama lifestyle. Satoyama is a Japanese term that literally means a village (sato) and a mountain (yama). We define this lifestyle as a way of living where craftsmen live and work happily and sustainably alongside the nature – near the ecosystem of the mountain, in particular.
In Japan, the satoyama lifestyle was very common until the end of the World War II when Japan began to industrialize at a massive speed. In fact, we lost such lifestyle very quickly. As the younger generation moved to the cities for new economic opportunities, we have lost the satoyama lifestyle, and the traditional architectures and agricultural lands were abandoned. In many of these places, we can no longer see the traces of how people lived before the industrialization.
The Mujun Planet is about the revitalization of the satoyama lifestyle: We are rebuilding the rice fields, agricultural lands, and architectures. At the same time, we are also innovating by applying new methodologies and techniques. We are also constantly observing and learning from nature. We believe that the true craftsmanship is not about advanced techniques and skills, but it is about living and creating alongside nature.
2021: Now, we call it the Mujun Planet
The Mujun Planet is a village that we are building for the true craftsmen in Shimane where we bought the mountain. We believe that the true craftsmen are the ones who can make the most of nature while truly appreciating it. In this village, we aim to rebuild a satoyama lifestyle. Satoyama is a Japanese term that literally means a village (sato) and a mountain (yama). We define this lifestyle as a way of living where craftsmen live and work happily and sustainably alongside the nature – near the ecosystem of the mountain, in particular.
In Japan, the satoyama lifestyle was very common until the end of the World War II when Japan began to industrialize at a massive speed. In fact, we lost such lifestyle very quickly. As the younger generation moved to the cities for new economic opportunities, we have lost the satoyama lifestyle, and the traditional architectures and agricultural lands were abandoned. In many of these places, we can no longer see the traces of how people lived before the industrialization.
The Mujun Planet is about the revitalization of the satoyama lifestyle: We are rebuilding the rice fields, agricultural lands, and architectures. At the same time, we are also innovating by applying new methodologies and techniques. We are also constantly observing and learning from nature. We believe that the true craftsmanship is not about advanced techniques and skills, but it is about living and creating alongside nature.
“ Humans… we’re one part of the Whole Earth.
Feel the mountain, the field, and the soil. It’s the earth. And it’s us.
― Shinya Kobayashi, Founder of the Mujun Planet”
“ 人類は『ホールアース』の一部だ。山や土、田畑の生命を感じている。それは地球であり、自分自身だ。
― 小林新也（ムジュンプラネット発起人）”
