【Crossing the Amazon River Pert3】To learn the wisdom of those who coexist with the forest and live on together for generations, they embark on a journey to gather the elusive sap known as COPAIBA Mari Mari.

2026 1/12

2026-01-12 2026-01-12

Amazon River Series, Part 3.

At last, they set off into the Amazonian wilderness to harvest the elusive sap known as COPAIBA Mari Mari.

COPAIBA Mari Mari is known as the “miracle beauty serum”, a tree sap renowned for regulating the condition of human skin and mucous membranes.

First, we head into the Amazonian wilderness by boat. Weaving through the trees, the boat carrying them presses on.

Though the journey is arduous and harsh, JOE aboard the boat and the boy seem to be enjoying themselves in their own way.

Upon reaching land, they walked relentlessly onward, solely to find copaiba tree.

JOE: ‘To us, they all look like the same tree. I think it’s amazing how the indigenous people can distinguish medicinal plants. It made me realise we’re walking upon the history built by our ancestors.’

And finally, they find the copaiba tree.

JOE is collecting sap from the copaiba tree.

After that, they make a cover to prevent the tree from dying.
Then, six months later, they return to this tree once more to collect sap little by little.

The number of such trees they know is both their property and their pride.

JOE: ‘I think it’s good not to take too much sap. I really admire their way of life – borrowing from nature, living in harmony with the forest.’

【Piggy’s Point】
Previously, “nata de coco” became popular in Japan, leading to large-scale imports from the Philippines.
However, as soon as the nata de coco craze ended, many Japanese companies promptly terminated their contracts with the Philippines.
I found this attitude – not being driven by such a money-worshipping mentality, but rather “sustaining the economy while maintaining a relationship with nature” – to be truly admirable.