In a time where there is demand for consideration towards nature even with making offices, DOUMA manufactures office furniture using thinned cedars by tying up with Shokunin no Mori. This time we spoke to Mr. Sasaki who is the CEO of Shokunin no Mori.
(Ozawa) The other day we displayed the office desk made by thinned cedar at the venue of the seminar. With your help it was very popular among the participants, with some of them saying, “It would be so relaxing to work on such a desk”.
(Sasaki) Thank you. Our company has been creating products using thinned cedar for wooden home furniture. However, Japanese workers spend much more time at their workplaces than at home, so we would like people to enjoy the quality of furniture using natural cedar at their offices as well.
(Ozawa) How did you come to start your company, Shokunin no Mori?
(Sasaki) When thinking about the future of Japanese forestry and eco-friendly wooden products, I thought we could kill two birds with one stone with more efficient use of thinned cedar. As you know thinned wood is a by-product of thinning out the trees in the mountains in order to protect the forest. From the perspective of efficiently using resources it is a waste to dispose of them. If more people can realize to use this resource it will lead to work for manufacturers of forestry and also protect the mountains as well as the industry. I founded Shokunin no Mori beginning with such thoughts.
(Ozawa) Cedar is a material that has been used in Japan from old times. I heard that it possesses various characteristics.
(Sasaki) The grain of cedar looks beautiful and even warmth can be felt. It has good texture and helps to adjust the temperature within room. Its scent is said to have relaxation effects that makes one feel calm. Thus in Japan cedar has been used in various parts of Japanese houses such as the pillars, ceilings, walls, the shingles of roofs, stairs, and doors. Also, cedar is light and flexible, has viscosity and is easy to process. The bark is soft and lustrous, making the grain a beautiful design.
(Ozawa) Regarding the office furniture series MORINO made using thinned cedar, which we are working on the product planning with your company, there is something particular about the surface coating.
(Sasaki) That is correct. In order to have people enjoy the texture of natural wood we do not finish the surface layer using separate artificial materials that can be seen with other office furniture using thinned wood. Instead we finished with water repellent materials and paint that are natural. The hardness of the surface becomes lower compared to those such as melamine that is used for standard office furniture. However, the surface can become just as new by planing again once it becomes old to a certain extent. I would like to propose such new ways of renewing.
(Ozawa) I certainly think that by choosing not to cover the surface layer with another material, the wonderful and original scent of cedar can be enjoyed, making the atmosphere of the entire office as if it were in a forest. We would definitely like to create offices using the furniture of the MORINO series. Thank you for your time today.