FIL Minamioguni

In the shadow of Aso-san, one of Japan's largest and most active volcanoes grow some the world's finest cedar forests. We were invited by FIL, a local family-owned lifestyle brand to tour the region and capture the raw beauty of this remarkable place.

Production: Ransom Ltd.
Photography: Parker Fitzgerald
Assistant: Tomohiro Mazawa

Nestled in the hills near Aso-san lies the tiny village of Minamioguni. Here, the Anai family has owned and operated a cedar mill for nearly four generations. In its heyday, the village boasted over 40 such mills.

Today, there are two.

As the world's relationship to nature changes, Shunske Anai and his wife Rina work to find innovative ways to carry the family business into the future. FIL was born out of this endeavor, merging their woodworking expertise with product design.

The Anai's philosophy with FIL is to explore what makes for a fulfilling life. We spent a week with the family in the places where they live and work—creating a portrait of their coexistence with nature.

Visit FIL.