The insufficient number of young thatchers in Japan limits the focus of the thatching industry in preservation works rather than development. No other developmental future topics are discussed.

　 Every year, our company makes sure that overseas study tours are conducted to countries that exhibits par excellence thatch roof works. There are many thatched roofs in Western Europe such as Germany, Holland, and Denmark credited to European’s strong influence towards environmental protection. In Holland alone, about 3,000 thatched houses are built every year where it became status symbol for the rich and famous. Europeans chose to invest in these thatched roof houses because of its reasonable prices. The reasonable prices are brought about by the following: (1) the Thatcher’s companies are able to buy cheap but high quality roofing materials and (2) shorten thatching period through application of improved thatching techniques. In addition to the use of fire-retardant roof boards has drastically reduces fire-occurrences that more entice Europeans to invest in it.

　 How about the thatching industry in Japan? The Japanese people particularly the younger generation have forgotten the use of traditional natural materials that paved way for the decrease in thatch roof works in traditional old houses, shrines and temples.

Now, it is virtually difficult to find thatched roof houses. Thatch roof works’ decline is the result of the constant decline of thatchers and non-availability of natural roofing materials brought about by the lack of young thatchers and conversion of reed beds to dike, respectively. Moreover, the cost of thatching works has become too expensive. As the saying goes “It’s hard to please everyone”. Traditional technique critics have come up with justification that living in traditional houses are difficult because of its open-style design that makes it cool during winter plus the unsuitability of thatched roof to modern style houses in reference to the revised building code. However, our company believes that integrating traditional techniques and modern construction creates a harmonious relationship since the current thatch roof works are more focused on construction rather than preservation.

　 Our company is exerting all efforts to allow the thatching industry to get back on its feet again. We have reduced the material costs and shorten the thatching period, as what Europeans are doing. We recognized that our thatchers are the “main actors” in the thatching industry. Since it would require many years for a student to learn their teacher’s skills, we adopted a system that can hasten it.

At present, the company has seven (7) young thatchers. We believe that the young thatchers can integrate all the important aspects of thatching not only in terms of technical but environment as well to ensure the continued existence of the industry in the years to come.