Many of my students have expressed concern over my treks through the forest. They tell me that it’s too dangerous because of the bears or they warn me about poisonous snakes. I am very aware of these dangers and I take many precautions to keep myself safe. Unfortunately for me, nobody warned me about monster plants.

In Canada, I am very well aware of poisonous plants like Poison Ivy and Poison Oak. I know what to avoid in the forest to stay safe. But no one in Japan has ever warned me about dangerous trees in the forests of Japan. Unfortunately for me, I learned this lesson the hard way. There I was, minding my own business, looking out for the bears and snakes, when I was savagely attacked by a lacquer tree. It happened so quickly I wasn’t even aware that it happened until I returned home a few days later when my skin began blistering and itching like crazy. Why didn’t anybody tell me about those things! So a warning to any other "tree huggers" out there, the most dangerous things in forest are those which we are unaware of.