Recently, an interesting set of data has attracted attention. Japan's timber exports have grown dramatically to China, which has made the timber into coffins and sold it back to the Japanese. This ironic phenomenon has caused many questions and discussions. Today we will uncover the story behind this peculiar phenomenon and the various causes and factors involved.
According to Japan**, Japan's timber exports to China have been on the rise recently. In particular, 90% of the export of round wood goes to the Chinese market. In October alone, Japan exported 129,621 cubic meters of timber to China, an increase of 41 percent compared to the same period last year. This growth data shows the strong demand for Japanese timber in the Chinese market.
However, China**, who is watching from the sidelines, has uncovered the hidden truth behind this. According to reports, about 90% of Japanese coffins came from Cao County, Shandong. This small county exports 1,000 coffins a day, with an output value of 1800 million. So why are we able to be sure that the wood used in these coffins is from Japan?In fact, all this was disclosed by the Japanese ** itself. Back in 2019, the Japanese Keizai Chinese website confirmed the news, saying that the wood exported to China was mainly used to make coffins. Not only coffins, crematoriums, funeral homes, and even details such as urns and tombstones are monopolized by China. China can be said to have provided a one-stop service, sending the Japanese away directly.
This scene made some Japanese netizens sigh: At the last moment of their lives, they still had to rely on Chinese. Just like what Cao County in Shandong said, it's really a hellish joke. This makes one wonder if the Japanese can't make their own coffins
In fact, Cao County was concerned by Japan as early as 2017 because of the export of coffins. At that time, a Japanese variety show team visited Cao County, and according to local on-site personnel, 90% of the coffins bought by Japan came from this small county. This surprised the Japanese audience, who did not expect that their funeral affairs would be contracted by China. That is, the Japanese are still lying in coffins made by the Chinese after death.
Why is Cao County able to monopolize the coffin market in Japan?In the early years, Japan was also able to manufacture coffins on its own. However, Japan has encountered successive difficulties, with the bursting of the economic bubble and the aging of the population. On the one hand, the demand for coffins has increased, and on the other hand, the labor cost of manufacturing coffins has risen, resulting in the high number of coffins made. In the past, the price of Japanese coffins ranged from 3,000-4,000 yuan to 7,000-8,000 yuan.
In order to reduce the cost of coffin making, Japan began to look for countries around the world that were good at carving. After some research, they found that the carving technology in Cao County, Shandong Province, China, was excellent. Cao County's unique technique has been inherited for hundreds of years, and it has been handed down during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Moreover, Cao County is not only good at carving, but also very rich in paulownia resources.
In addition, the Japanese are also very strict about coffins. For example, when cremating, they usually burn the coffin along with the body, so they need to use flammable and lightweight materials, and paulownia wood is exactly what meets this need. As a result, Japanese coffin factories quickly imported wood from Cao County and outsourced the carving work to Cao County.
And Cao County also saw a business opportunity, they have plenty of raw materials and carving technology, why not make the business bigger?Therefore, they were willing to make coffins instead of the Japanese. And the quality of the coffins made by Cao County is indeed outstanding. They can guarantee that the dimensional error of the finished coffin does not exceed 2 mm, and it is even praised by Japanese customers as "no need to check". Coupled with exquisite carving techniques, Caoxian's coffins have won a reputation among Japanese customers. Even Japan's native master carvers were overshadowed in front of Cao County.
Cao County can customize various styles of coffins according to the needs of customers, such as cherry blossom coffins, gold-plated coffins, and even pink Internet celebrity coffins. No matter how peculiar the customer's taste, Cao County is able to satisfy it. As a result, Cao became the hegemon of the Japanese coffin market.
Some people may wonder why Japan doesn't make its own coffinsAfter all, they have strong technology and manufacturing capabilities. This is actually a question of Japanese culture and traditional attitudes.
First of all, the Japanese treat the dead differently than the Chinese. In Japan, people believe in the existence of the souls of the deceased in the world, so they take the dead very seriously. They believe that the coffin is a form of respect and etiquette for the deceased, so there are strict requirements for the quality and style of the coffin. This is one of the reasons why they would rather import coffins from China than make them themselves.
In addition, the Japanese have many traditional funeral customs, such as "boneless law" and "311 mother wood self-timber" and so on. These customs also have certain requirements for the production and use of coffins, and Cao County can meet these special needs.
Finally, manufacturing coffins requires a lot of labor and time, and labor costs in Japan are very high. In contrast, labor costs in China are much lower, so Japan has chosen to outsource manufacturing to China because of cost considerations.
The coffin industry in Cao County has not only brought huge economic benefits to the local area, but also has a positive impact on the local culture and tourism industry.
First of all, the coffin manufacturing industry has become one of the pillar industries in Cao County, bringing a lot of jobs and tax revenue to the local area. According to statistics, Cao County's coffin business has involved more than 200 enterprises and tens of thousands of employees.
In addition, Cao County's coffin industry has also brought vitality to the local culture and traditions. Many events and exhibitions about coffin culture are held in the local area, attracting a large number of tourists. Cao County has also set up a coffin cultural center and an intangible cultural heritage poverty alleviation base to inherit and protect this traditional skill.
Finally, the coffin industry in Cao County has also injected new vitality into the local tourism industry. More and more tourists are choosing to visit Cao County to learn about this unique culture and tradition. This has a positive impact on the economic development and brand building of Cao County.
There are many factors and reasons behind the sharp increase in Japanese timber exports to China, and the fact that China is making these timber into coffins and selling them back to the Japanese. The increase in demand in the Japanese coffin market, the manufacturing cost**, and the requirements for the quality and style of the coffin have made Cao County the hegemon of the Japanese coffin market. The coffin industry in Cao County has not only brought economic benefits to the local area, but also has a positive impact on the local culture and tourism industry. It is also a new export model and economic opportunity for China.