AGEMATSU LIVING Laboratory

▲AGEMATSU LIVING Laboratory is experimenting with and putting into practice sustainable living in the local community in Agematsu Town, Kiso, Shinshu. ▲Graduates of the Agematsu Technical College—often referred to as the “University of Tokyo of Woodworking”—gather here to select, sell, and promote unique wooden products created as they build lives centered on woodworking as their livelihood. They also develop and produce goods using local materials, such as aromatherapy products and room fragrances made from Kiso hinoki cypress, a abundant forest resource. ▲Furthermore, we operate as a “Living Laboratory” that encompasses not only craftsmanship but all aspects of life in the community—including shared housing projects utilizing vacant homes, educational and learning initiatives, and forest management. ▲Through initiatives such as “Open Factory Tourism”—which offers tours of Kamimatsu Town’s historic woodworking industry—we are also working to create entry points that allow people from outside the region to engage with Kamimatsu Town.