Introduction
At a gathering in Tsunan Town, Niigata, I happened to sit next to a rugged, bearded man who looked like he had just stepped out of the wilderness.
Curious, I struck up a conversation. He told me he was a lumberjack.
It was the first time I had ever met a real lumberjack.
He is Shigekatsu Oshima, founder of Kikoriyahachijuhachi, a forestry business based in Niigata.
His journey began with a simple desire to speak English, but it led him across the world and ultimately into the forests of Japan.
What followed was a bold and unconventional path shaped by encounters, instinct, and a deep connection to nature.
Early Life: A Childhood Full of Movement
Shigekatsu Oshima was born in 1982 in Tokamachi, Niigata, and grew up as the eldest of two brothers.
He loved being active. While his friends rode bicycles, he preferred to run wherever he went. In winter, he spent his days snowboarding and playing in the snow at a nearby ski resort.
From elementary school through middle school, he devoted himself to basketball. In high school, he continued his athletic life with judo and volleyball, fully immersed in sports.
Finding His Calling: A Life-Changing Encounter
After graduating, he began working at a company that processed and sold jewelry. However, at the age of 19, seeing a friend speak English sparked something in him.
“I want to speak English too.”
With that simple thought, he changed jobs to physically demanding work in construction and railway maintenance to save money for traveling abroad.
At 23, he went to Canada on a working holiday visa. While working as a gardener, he witnessed something that changed his life.
A large truck arrived, and a towering man climbed a tree to work.
“I want to do that.”
That moment became the starting point of his career as a lumberjack.
Learning Through Experience: From Japan to New Zealand
After returning to Japan, Oshima joined a forestry cooperative to learn chainsaw techniques.
Although recruitment had already closed, he passionately presented his skills and determination and secured a position.
Over the next five years, he gained hands-on experience in forest work, including thinning, clearing, and planting.
In his early 30s, a series of coincidences led him to New Zealand. Encouraged by others and inspired by what he read, he once again traveled abroad on a working holiday visa.
He hoped to learn advanced tree-felling techniques, but he was also drawn to woodworking, permaculture, and organic living.
Although he was not able to work in specialized tree felling, he gained valuable experience in forestry, working alongside Māori colleagues cutting pulpwood.
These experiences broadened his perspective on forestry around the world.
Starting His Own Path: Kikoriyahachijuhachi
After returning to Japan, Oshima took time away from forestry to reconsider his path.
He explored other interests, including food-related work, working in a wholesale market and a craft beer shop.
Two years later, he had the opportunity to learn high-altitude tree felling techniques in Nagano, gaining experience across various worksites.
In 2017, he finally established his own business, Kikoriyahachijuhachi.
The name reflects Niigata’s deep connection to rice farming, where it is said that rice cultivation requires 88 steps. Inspired by this idea, he chose the name to express his commitment to careful and thoughtful craftsmanship.
Rather than relying heavily on machinery, he prefers to use hand tools. Although it takes more time and effort, he believes the process itself is essential.
By working closely with trees and immersing himself in the forest, he continues to grow both as a craftsman and as a person.
Today, in addition to forestry work, he creates wooden pallets using local timber and plans to sell them for DIY use and disaster preparedness.
He also organizes hands-on workshops for children, sharing the value of working with wood and nature.
Experience Highlights
• Meet a modern Japanese lumberjack working in the mountains
• Discover traditional forestry and hands-on craftsmanship
• Learn how nature shapes both work and lifestyle
• Hear a personal story of global experience and bold decisions
• Experience a different way of living rooted in the forest
