Swinging a Konbou (club) to make the satoyama even richer!

In 2022, they held an exhibition called “The Great Konbou Exhibition,” featuring only clubs. Attracting over 1,000 visitors, the event captured many hearts by blowing away the stagnation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with the fun and exhilaration of clubs.

However, their goal is not simply to spread the appeal of konbou (clubs). Beyond that, they aim to address the challenges facing satoyama (community-managed forests and countryside).

In many satoyama areas across Japan, post-war reforestation created artificial forests that have since been neglected. This abandonment has led to the disruption of diverse ecosystems, transforming the satoyama into more uniform, monoculture-like woods.

Across the country, numerous satoyama conservation efforts are underway. However, it is believed that without being “enjoyable activities,” such efforts cannot be sustained.

Using “konbou” as a starting point creates a cycle that leads to solving this issue through enjoyable engagement. It enables the passionate involvement of many people, allowing them to share joy together while continuously protecting the satoyama environment.

The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will gather people from around the world to discuss the future of society. The “Konbou” method and related activities will be presented there, with the aim of widely promoting and spreading them.

Project Inauguration

Satoyama conservation activities require a certain number of participants to carry out the work. Thinning the forests progresses only gradually. Although many conservation efforts are underway nationwide, a common challenge is difficulty in attracting people. This is likely because such activities often appear “not very enjoyable.”

“Solely relying on ‘seriousness’ attracts only a limited number of people. In fact, I regularly organized ‘open workdays’ for anyone to join satoyama conservation activities, but the turnout was not very high.”

When struggling with how to proceed, they encountered “konbou” (clubs) made from harvested wood. After starting regular practice sessions of club throwing, more people began to gather for satoyama conservation activities, and new connections among people were formed.

One might think there are countless other methods besides using konbou. However, they are convinced that konbou—the activity that generates enthusiasm and brings joy—is the optimal solution. It is precisely because of this approach that people can be genuinely engaged.

If it’s not enjoyable, it won’t last, and neither people nor funding will gather.

Using clubs as a starting point, they aim to solve satoyama’s challenges while enjoying the process, creating a rich satoyama that produces various types of clubs again. They strive to accelerate and sustain this cycle.

Project Activities

All Japan Club Association centers its activities around clubs, mainly operating as a satoyama (traditional rural landscape) restoration group led by its representative.

Through the 2022 “Great Club Exhibition,” they realized that making clubs creates a positive cycle that helps solve satoyama’s challenges.

Revenue from the exhibition enabled more active forest thinning and satoyama restoration. Moreover, “club throwing” raised awareness of the forest, helping secure physically capable younger participants.

Their approach is intentionally unconventional—but they firmly believe that’s exactly why they can engage people. They don’t expect club activities to be officially featured at the Expo. It’s better to do it “under the radar,” boldly eccentric yet seriously committed.

Through their club-centered activities, they aim to sustainably preserve satoyama environments while enjoying and sharing the joy of satoyama, ultimately achieving a biodiverse forest ecosystem.

Future Prospects for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

During the Osaka Expo, the “Great Konbou Exhibition 2025” is planned. Konbou (clubs) will be used as a stepping stone to take this primal human tool global. The raw, nonverbal energy of the club resonates deeply with the power of the Tower of the Sun, which broke through modern architecture—so works connected to that lineage will be showcased discreetly.

Tentatively titled the “Dream Great Konbou Exhibition,” it might sound grandiose, but following the spirit of the 1970 Osaka Expo, the goal is to blow away the faint sense of stagnation in today’s world with overwhelmingly unknown and exciting Konbou.

These may not be times when one can easily envision a bright future, whether in satoyama or the city. Yet precisely for that reason, the absurdity, impact, raw reality, and self-explanatory nature of Konbou—clubs that are nothing but clubs—are essential.

To secure funding for the exhibition, a crowdfunding campaign is being launched. Since it is happening anyway, they want to spin those clubs vigorously and energetically, put on a great show, sell Konbou to raise money, and reinvest it into satoyama restoration.

What is asked from supporters is the foundation: their support. They invite people to join in protecting satoyama through the joyful spirit of Konbou.