Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on March 06, 2026, 10:52 AM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
Against the backdrop of the declining population and stagnant regional economies that Japan is facing, attention is focusing on the social implementation of a "circular forest economy" that links forest resources to the creation of local value. Governor Ryuta Ibaraki, President Yasutomo Nasu of Okayama University, and top executives from regional financial institutions and the housing industry will speak at the forum. They will discuss a new model for circulating forest resources to the city and local economy, centered on wooden town planning.
In the promotion of wood construction, issues such as durability and maintenance costs have always been pointed out. This forum will focus on technologies and business models to overcome these bottlenecks and make the circulation of forest resources a sustainable business.
Wooden community development is not just an initiative in the field of architecture. It is a regional economic theme that involves not only the forestry, lumber, and construction industries, but also local government policy and regional finance. This forum, which brings together leaders from local governments, universities, regional financial institutions, and the housing and construction sectors, will discuss the utilization of forest resources from the perspective of "policy," "finance," and "business.
The industry-government-academia-gold collaboration underway in Okayama is attracting attention as a new regional economic model that utilizes forest resources for urban construction and returns the added value generated from this to the mountains and forests. How can we build a mechanism to circulate forest resources within the region? This is likely to be a discussion that will explore new possibilities for regional development. For businesses involved in the forest industry, local government officials, researchers, and regional financial institutions, this will be an opportunity to confirm the current state of discussions on the social implementation of a circular forest economy.
Outline of the event
Name: Nikkei Regional Development Forum "Creating Wooden Town Development and Realizing Forest Circular Economy
Date: Monday, March 30, 2026, 13:00-16:10
Venue: Okayama Convention Center (14-1 Ekimoto-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City)
Organized by: Nikkei Inc.
Cooperation: Platinum Initiative Network
Details and application:Nikkei Event Official Website(Free of charge, capacity of 100 people)
List of Speakers
Mr. Hiroshi Komiyama (Chairman, Platinum Initiative Network; Honorary Editor-in-Chief, "Forest Circular Economy")
Mr. Sadao Hishiki (Representative Director, Dye Q Technology)
Mr. Ryuta Ibaraki (Governor of Okayama Prefecture)
Dr. Yasutomo Nasu (President, Okayama University)
Mr. Yasunori Saimyoji (Managing Executive Officer, Chugoku Bank, Director and Managing Executive Officer, Chugoku Financial Group)
Mr. Kentaro Kubota (President, Life Design Kabaya)
Ms. Fukuda Fukiko (freelance announcer)
