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 â ‘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. âThe Japanese Craze Set to Takeover British Woodlandâ, BBC (BBC) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/b2c35c4f-5f8d-47f2-90d7-b27411d3c2ba> [accessed 20 November 2023]2Ephrat Livni. 2016. âThe Japanese Practice of âForest Bathingâ Is Scientifically Proven to Improve Your Healthâ, 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 âcaptures the joy of dappled sunlight through small leaves and the presence of small glimmers of light or hopeâ. 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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- 1Hitchings, Chris. 2017. âThe Japanese Craze Set to Takeover British Woodlandâ, BBC (BBC) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/b2c35c4f-5f8d-47f2-90d7-b27411d3c2ba> [accessed 20 November 2023]
- 2Ephrat Livni. 2016. âThe Japanese Practice of âForest Bathingâ Is Scientifically Proven to Improve Your Healthâ, Quartz (Quartz) <https://qz.com/804022/health-benefits-japanese-forest-bathing> [accessed 20 November 2023]
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