This thoughtful book will make you look at the wonders of trees anew
Aya Koda's Tree is an account of the late writer's visits to Japan's most famous, and ancient, trees. Featured in Wim Wenders's film Perfect Days, it is original and thought-provoking, says Rowan Hoop
Aya Koda's Tree is an account of the late writer's visits to Japan's most famous, and ancient, trees. Featured in Wim Wenders's film Perfect Days, it
Read Full Story at New Scientist โWhy This Matters
The rediscovery of Aya Koda's *Tree* arrives at a pivotal moment when ecological consciousness is reshaping literary and artistic engagement with nature. Beyond nostalgia, Koda's reflections on ancient trees challenge modern perceptions of time, permanence, and humanity's place in the natural world. In an era of rapid deforestation and climate anxiety, such works recontextualize cultural heritage as a living dialogue rather than a relic.
Background Context
Aya Koda, daughter of celebrated Japanese writer Natsume Sลseki, composed her essays in the early 20th century, yet their resonance persists as Japan grappled with Westernization and environmental transformation. The trees she documentedโmany over a thousand years oldโstand as silent witnesses to imperial history, natural disasters, and shifting societal values. Wim Wenders' inclusion of her work in *Perfect Days* signals a global reevaluation of Japan's quiet yet profound literary traditions.
What Happens Next
As climate activism and ecocriticism gain traction, Koda's work may inspire new generations of writers and filmmakers to explore forgotten texts that bridge art and ecology. Publishers might revisit overlooked literary figures like Koda, whose perspectives offer alternatives to the Western-centric canon of nature writing. Meanwhile, Japan's own environmental policiesโparticularly around forest conservationโcould see renewed cultural justification through such narratives.
Bigger Picture
Koda's *Tree* reflects a broader literary turn toward "slow ecology," where attention to individual organisms becomes a form of resistance against the acceleration of modern life. This trend aligns with global movements like rewilding and the resurgence of indigenous knowledge systems, suggesting that the most urgent ecological insights may reside in the past. In an age of algorithmic curation, rediscovered works like hers remind us that wisdom often lies in the overlooked margins of history.
