at FOREST Inc wins Wood Design Award for natural forest burials

at FOREST Inc., a Japanese company offering a burial service that transforms neglected woodlands into natural resting places, has received a prestigious design award. Its service, Junsō ‘RETURN TO NATURE’, won the Chairman’s Award in the Lifestyle Design Category of the Wood Design Awards 2025. The service provides an alternative to conventional burials by linking the end of life with the revitalisation of forests.

The company collaborates with temples and shrines to manage and restore their neglected forest lands. These revitalised areas then serve as natural burial grounds. Under the supervision of soil science experts, remains are interred in a manner that facilitates their return to the earth. In a significant departure from tradition, no grave markers or headstones are erected, preserving the natural scenery of the forest.

This approach transforms how families engage with memorial sites. Instead of visiting a traditional cemetery, relatives can visit the forest for quiet reflection or forest bathing, fostering an ongoing connection with nature. The service is currently available at Nose Myokenzan in Osaka and Manoji Temple in Chiba.

The Wood Design Award committee praised the initiative for its concept of “returning to nature while protecting the forest.” The judges also highlighted its success in gaining the understanding of local residents, recognising it as an important example of end-of-life community design.