As I was walking through the forest of the Institute for Nature Study in Meguro, Tokyo this autumn, I came across lots of these seeds on the ground … a fellow hiker told me that if you dropped the seeds into a pet bottle of water, you’d have a foamy soap solution. This is because the endocarps contain saponin so it was used as substitute for soap in olden days in Japan and apparently, by other cultures such as the Native Americans as well as in India where they are a  popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soap nuts have gentle insecticidal and antimicrobial properties and are traditionally also used for removing lice from the scalp. – A.K.

See original page Soapnut tree (mukuroji) for more details and photos on the soapnut tree.

Embark on a journey to explore the many facets of wildlife and nature in Japan. The Japanese archipelago is rich in wildlife and nature. This website is a gateway to exploring the many facets of NATURE IN JAPAN. Find out about the varied and interesting BIOMES and HABITATS found in Japan. You can also learn about the WILD & WACKY WEATHER of Japan.

In our explorations, we’ll make FOREST FORAYS into the Japanese forest and countryside to examine the native PLANTS OF JAPAN or TREES OF JAPAN, their foliage and fruit and of course, see what’s in bloom in GARDENS around us … all this in the plant paradise that is Japan. BUG BOY will be your guide to the creepy crawlies of Japan and he’ll let you take a peek at what’s in his BUG BOX and you can find out more about animal wildlife in the COOL CRITTERS segment or about beguiling birds in the BIRDING BOX.

If the sea is your kind of thing, you might be more interested in the SECRETS OF SEASHORES & SEALIFE that Japanese coasts will yield up.

Begin your adventure now!

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We all need the wildness of the non-human planet to restore our spirits, not parks and beaches where the human element is still the central focus and regulation runs rampant. Instead we collect evidence of our domination by mapping it, scheduling it, and controlling it. And all that gives us is a green imitation of city life and square tomatoes.– What Really Matters.