Company

URCYL proposes a new model for a circular society

Our decades of research have developed technology that transforms forest resources into URCYL, materials designed to be cherished and used for the long term.

Durable and repairable, URCYL instills values in future generations: the importance of attachment, the practice of repair, and the awareness that we can choose a sustainable future.

As a next-generation material, URCYL contributes to environmental stewardship, industrial innovation, and cultural continuity, leaving a lasting legacy for generations 100 years from now.

“Harmony between the environment and industry” lies at the very core of ELEMUS’s corporate philosophy

Operating in the satoyama landscapes of Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, we view these semi-natural regions as rich reservoirs of natural materials, full of untapped potential for sustainable use. Through the URCYL initiative, we seek to build a social model in which biodiversity-rich nature and human activity coexist and circulate in balance. At the same time, we transform Japan’s traditional materials and craftsmanship into practical solutions that can be meaningfully integrated into contemporary society.

About Earth Worker Energy, and the forest of angles

Founded in 1990, EARTH WORKER ENERGY is a non-profit organization committed to realizing the vision of ‘harmony between industry and the natural environment.’ Our mission focuses on two critical challenges: maintaining ecological balance in biodiversity and combating global warming. Over the years, we have hosted numerous seminars to promote awareness and dialogue around these pressing issues. In 2008, we expanded our efforts with a hands-on initiative called the ‘Angel’s Forest Project,’ in the heart of the Mikawa region. The project uses the summit area of Ameyama Mountain in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, as a model site, offering an ideal setting for implementing and showcasing our vision.

This area offers a breathtaking view of Mikawa Bay in the distance. The stream flowing from the mountains to the sea symbolizes the global circulation of life. The surrounding area, rich in archaeological sites from the Jomon and Yayoi periods, provides an ideal setting to explore the relationship between nature and humanity across time, from ancient history to the present.

This project focuses on exploring how humanity can coexist with nature while living and thriving in areas that connect biodiverse mountain forests, rural landscapes, and marine environments. It is dedicated to the restoration of forests through practical conservation activities. Approximately 40% of Japan’s forests are artificial, most of which have been abandoned due to the decline of the forestry industry and the aging workforce, putting them at risk of collapse. Effective restoration requires more than just replanting trees—it involves reviving these forests while maintaining ecological balance.

To achieve this vision, we actively collaborate with experts from diverse fields, including ecologists, plant taxonomists, local historians, and artists, fostering the exchange of knowledge and insights to inform and guide our initiatives. Furthermore, we involve a wide spectrum of stakeholders—ranging from local residents and children to businesses and community organizations—creating a collective effort to amplify our impact and drive meaningful change.

As Earth’s life forms have evolved over hundreds of millions of years, we now face the disruption of this balance due to rapid economic development over the past few hundred years. EARTH WORKER ENERGY is dedicated to passing on this knowledge to future generations, always focusing on projects with a 100-year vision.


Atsushi Obara

CEO, ELEMUS LLC

Chairman, EARTH WORKER ENERGY Non-Profit Organization

Webiste: EARTH WORKER ENERGY