I’m a Californian. We have what’s called a Mediterranean climate, with barely enough rain to sustain life. Thus, our hillsides are mostly barren of trees. When I first came to Kumamoto and saw the grass-covered face of Mt. Aso, I didn’t get it - given the high rainfall, why isn’t it a forest? The cause is noyaki (野焼き), a controlled burn conducted each spring which kills off the saplings but allows the perennial grassroots to survive. This creates a good place for cows. Our friend Yoshiko-san has a superb photo of it. - William