How log-grown shiitake mushrooms are made
It takes about a year and a half from cutting down the trees in the mountains to growing the mushrooms on the logs.
Log-grown shiitake mushrooms are produced one by one by human hands within the long cycle of nature.
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Logging
Trees that produce acorns, such as oak, mizunara, and sawtooth oak, are suitable for logs.
Trees are cut down from late autumn when the leaves have fallen to the end of winter.
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Cutting into balls
The felled trees are cut into logs approximately 1m long.
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Inoculation
The seed fungus is planted on the logs.
The screw is driven into a log that has been drilled to a depth of about 25 mm.
More than 30 plants are planted on one log.
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temporary cover
The mushroom spores are allowed to take root on the logs. This is an important step as the mushroom spores, which are inoculated during the cold season, are allowed to extend their hyphae into the logs. Immediately after inoculation, the logs are placed in a warm location where sunlight filters through the trees.
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Book cover
This stimulates metabolism within the bed logs, spreading the fungus throughout the logs. Once the part of the bed logs where the mushrooms were hammered turns white, the logs are finally ready to be laid out in the bed area. The trees in the mountains provide just the right amount of protection from direct sunlight and rain, and the soil absorbs water and maintains humidity. Once you hear the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, the environment is perfect. It takes a year to lay out approximately 20,000 bed logs.
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Emergence and harvesting
Shiitake mushrooms are made up of about 90% water. Rainy years result in a bumper harvest. The peak harvest season is in spring and autumn, and shiitake mushrooms harvested during these times are called "haruko" or "akiko." It can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the sudden appearance of shiitake mushrooms. Harvesting is carried out while always keeping in mind the weather conditions.
*Shiitake mushrooms can grow naturally, but you can also stimulate them by soaking them in water to grow them in a planned manner.
Satoyama Cycle
New shoots emerge from the stumps of felled trees. This process is called "coppice," and the new shoots grow vigorously while actively absorbing CO2 again, keeping the trees young. By repeating this cycle, healthy forests are maintained, soil erosion is prevented, and satoyama forests, which store an abundance of clean water, continue to this day.
