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Paper short abstract

We propose that by walking and talking within nature, we transcend the boundaries between natural science and folk wisdom to recreate new narratives. Through case studies of dialogue within nature, we explore the transformative potential of narratives.

Paper long abstract

This study aims for natural scientists, humanities scholars, artisans, environmental activists, and artists to co-create while walking through nature. Our team member Hiroki Kurita (natural scientist), with the cooperation of Hideo Tsukahara (Japanese paper artisan), developed a new material with low environmental impact and published it in a natural science journal. Kurita's achievements as a natural scientist and Tsukahara's craftsmanship in producing plant-based paper, though integrated at the material level, remain narratively divided, because wisdom in natural science and folklore is narrated in different terms. Therefore, Komatsubara Orika (humanities scholar) implemented a walking project, incorporating Soichiro Mihara (artist), Tutai Kobushizawa (writer), and Noriko Konno (environmental activist) as members, employing an art-based research methodology. We wandered around Tsukahara's workshop, visiting fields where kozo [paper mulberry], the raw material for washi paper, is grown, and the headwaters of the water used for papermaking. As we walked, we talked about the history of the local community, its myths, and tales of yoka [Japanese supernatural creature]i. As we walked, we discovered nature from different perspectives and shared our stories, gaining mutual understanding of each other's values and feelings toward nature. The result was that we collaboratively created a story: the wisdom of small local communities in Japan holds the potential to transform plants into wonderful paper materials and to transform even the most advanced modern science and technology into eco-friendly solutions. We propose that walking and talking in nature allows us to recreate new stories about plants.