Nemawashi Japan’s Ancient Art of Saving Trees

Apr 08, 2025 Kriti Keshari

In Japan, trees are seen not as obstacles but as respected living beings

[{"selector":"#anim-bf6b0169-42fb-499d-8422-a30c7ace43a0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, -0.0001941747609315314%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f59a7b5d-c1c3-456b-89c6-a44084470eca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-93e05ddb-ddf4-4c23-8354-6879e99ac2e6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.82654%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32d5db3c-a93b-4501-b513-1cb5419c4227","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a56c374e-de77-46eb-bfeb-753ee5b6ac4c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.55718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

When roads are built, trees are moved with care rather than cut down

[{"selector":"#anim-c0bea5d3-ab17-4e1d-9cd7-ce6c3ac28df3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54545eeb-b773-4b88-a56f-b01f699ce42e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a9c84cc6-7533-4f3c-93c4-90b86da63ffa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.82654%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e73a0217-3ed3-4d9b-a88c-d48dfcefd6e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0be31c3e-d01a-4758-a34f-de50aa0d9a4e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.55718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This thoughtful process is known as Nemawashi, a traditional Japanese technique

[{"selector":"#anim-df91d587-a012-4cf4-b46a-992d253170e5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13db9107-69fa-4d63-88fa-17a4d48966c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86c41d9b-3fe2-4b98-9376-33ba5e278515","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.16954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-693e95a4-324e-4bfc-9500-a19e3d52101d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c959e80c-3543-431b-bbdb-bd1da01efb58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.55718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Nemawashi involves preparing and nurturing a tree’s roots before relocating it

[{"selector":"#anim-c4ca0d62-947c-449a-b107-bd8acab4f7b3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9adcbff-b0bc-461b-b0ba-b0e73d2a0418","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35417029-42d4-45ae-884a-d0cadddd9ae3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.16954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6fa1e64-cb07-40d5-9956-17dcd93c5f1e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89d686c0-107b-4c41-a8e7-5f15fea6499e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.55718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

It reflects a deep cultural respect for nature and all its life forms

[{"selector":"#anim-b2e73b03-4f99-466e-9fc6-39db9d28bd7b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84f98289-d28e-49e4-8c60-ac06d57d1563","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b100d17-eacb-4223-baa8-c5a8a464b194","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.16954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-436bbc7b-bb37-4085-ba3e-eb6bedaf8d4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29330c59-732d-443e-95d5-308e0c98c467","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.55718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Read More “Rawal’s Urine Therapy: Controversial Recovery Method or Miracle Cure?” “The Seahorse Morning Ritual: A Dance of Love and Reproduction” “Jin Jiji Wins Gold at 2025 London Spirits, World’s Highest-Rated Gin” UAE Becomes First Nation to Use AI for Lawmaking