Pus, they cut down large trees (or trim them to a stump) en masse... because of an invasive beetle or fungus? No. Because the leaves are annoying to clean up in the fall. Because the branches are "unsightly." Because it's make-work. Who knows? I see more and more shade-giving trees get stumpified every year.

And Japan's history of planting trees is... mediocre at best. They planted a lot, but pure (now not only useless {no lumber value} but harmful due to pollen fever) monoculture.