From Shinrin-Yoku to Komorebi

For those of us who’ve practically become one with nature by running through every type of forest imaginable, here’s a revelation: the Japanese have a term for it – ‘shinrin-yoku.’ In layman’s terms, it’s ‘forest bathing.’ Californians, ever the trend setters, are all over it. So, have I been a forest-bather all this time?¹Hitchings, Chris. 2017. ‘The Japanese Craze Set to Takeover British Woodland’, BBC (BBC) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/b2c35c4f-5f8d-47f2-90d7-b27411d3c2ba> [accessed 20 November 2023]²Ephrat Livni. 2016. ‘The Japanese Practice of “Forest Bathing” Is Scientifically Proven to Improve Your Health’, Quartz (Quartz) <https://qz.com/804022/health-benefits-japanese-forest-bathing> [accessed 20 November 2023]

Now, Forestry England, in their boundless linguistic exploration, bring us another Japanese gem: ‘komorebi.’ Apparently, it “captures the joy of dappled sunlight through small leaves and the presence of small glimmers of light or hope”. A nuanced difference if I say so.

But here’s the real question: Is there a word for those intrusive signs they put up, telling us how to enjoy our countryside, as if we’re clueless? It’s like Forestry England are playing eco-nanny. Just another box to tick for them to flaunt their public engagement, I think.

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  Hitchings, Chris. 2017. ‘The Japanese Craze Set to Takeover British Woodland’, BBC (BBC) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/b2c35c4f-5f8d-47f2-90d7-b27411d3c2ba> [accessed 20 November 2023]
• 2
  Ephrat Livni. 2016. ‘The Japanese Practice of “Forest Bathing” Is Scientifically Proven to Improve Your Health’, Quartz (Quartz) <https://qz.com/804022/health-benefits-japanese-forest-bathing> [accessed 20 November 2023]