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.
8.20Thu 2026
[Trends in Medium- to Large-Scale Wooden Buildings 2026] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Selects 13 Promotion Projects; Progress Also Made in Design AI and Use of Domestically Produced Lumber
With a view to realizing a decarbonized society, and drawing on the carbon sequestration benefits of cities functioning as “second forests” and the utilization of local resources, medium- to large-scale wooden buildings […]
8.17Mon 2026
[September 16–18] “FORESTRISE 2026” to Showcase the Cutting Edge of the Forest Circular Economy; Experts to Discuss Wooden Cities, Biomass Chemistry, and Profitable Forestry
"FORESTRISE 2026" brings together the latest technologies in "Wood Change"—including smart forestry, forest DX, and decarbonization—[…]
8.12Wed 2026
Experiencing the Value of the Forest Through the Five Senses — Five Women Share Their Stories of “Dialogue with Nature and a Lifestyle That Challenges Conventional Values” [Report from the Forest Women’s Practice Conference]
We held the online event “Forest Women’s Action Conference—Women Shaping Forests and Communities” on July 17. The theme for this summer was “Self […]
8.7Fri 2026
AI-Driven Automated Generation of Forest Management Plans: On-Site Reforms Expanding to Forestry Digital Transformation, Public-Private Partnerships, and Environmental Value Creation [Forest Management Trends 2026]
In Japan’s forestry sector, which faces challenges such as labor shortages and declining profitability, efforts toward sustainable forest management are advancing rapidly […]
8.3Mon 2026
How Did the Lumber Mill, Funded by 470 Local Residents, Turn a Profit? The Orochi LVL Mill: 20 Years of Management Reform [Nichinan Town: The Front Lines of Forest Resource Circulation, Part 2]
*Click here for the previous article: A town with a population of 3,700 receives 120,000 cubic meters of logs annually—the timber complex that transformed the profitability of the forestry industry and the policy of purchasing the entire volume […]
7.28Tuesday, 2026
Sumitomo Forestry Converts CO2 Reductions from Homes into J-Credits; Progress in the Formation of a New Market for Environmental Value [Trends in Natural Capital and Forest Credits 2026]
There is growing attention on the environmental value (credits) of natural capital, particularly forests. Unlike in the past, when the focus was simply on CO2 emissions […]
7.23Thu 2026
[Trends in Fire-Resistant Wooden Construction 2026] Ministerial Certification for Fire-Resistant Structures Expanded; Use of Wood Expands from Wooden Apartment Buildings to Retail Spaces and Interiors
Against the backdrop of efforts to achieve a decarbonized society and promote the use of wood in mid- to high-rise buildings, interest in “fire-resistant wooden buildings” in urban areas has been growing […]
7.15Wed 2026
Why Focus on “Wood Utilization” Now? — Satoshi Tachibana, Chair of the Forestry Policy Council, Discusses the Goals of “A ‘Forest Nation and City of Wood’ That Will Last a Century”
In the new Basic Plan for Forests and Forestry, which was approved by the Cabinet on June 5, the subtitle “Toward a ‘Forest Nation and Wooden City’ That Will Last a Hundred Years” was included for the first time […]
7.14Tuesday, 2026
A Town of 3,700 People Receives 120,000 Cubic Meters of Logs Annually: The Timber Complex and Full-Volume Purchase That Transformed the Profitability of Forestry [Nichinan Town: On the Front Lines of Forest Resource Circulation, Part 1]
Nichinan Town, Tottori Prefecture, is a town with a population of about 3,700, facing declining birthrates, an aging population, and depopulation. Its annual timber production, which once stood at about 30,000 cubic meters, now stands at […]
7.13Mon 2026
Enhancing Spatial Value Through the Use of Locally Sourced Wood: Diverse Proposals Ranging from Interior Design to Mobile Solutions [Trends in Wooden Spaces 2026]
Driven by the growing interest in achieving a decarbonized society and promoting well-being, as well as strengthened public-private partnerships spurred by the “Act on the Promotion of Wooden Construction in Cities,” […]
7.6Mon 2026
Wooden Toys Make Their Way into the Lexus Collection: The Intersection of Forests and Society, Expanding into Branding, Tourism, and CSR [Trends in Wood Education 2026]
In recent years, the importance of “Mokuiku”—a program that involves interacting with trees to learn about how forests work—has been gaining renewed attention in various fields. Traditional programs for children […]
6.29Mon 2026
[Case Studies of Wooden Offices and Commercial Facilities] Understanding Wooden Architecture in the Era of Decarbonization and Well-being Through Leading Examples and Policies
In recent years, against the backdrop of efforts to achieve a decarbonized society, the expansion of ESG investing, and growing interest in well-being, wooden office buildings and commercial facilities […]
6.24Wed 2026
[Reforestation Trends 2026] The Direction Set by the New “Basic Plan for Forests and Forestry”: Laying the Groundwork for a Forest Cycle Driven by Public-Private Partnerships
"Reforestation," which is essential for harnessing the multifaceted functions of forests and establishing sustainable forestry, faces challenges such as rising afforestation costs and a shortage of workers […]
6.22Mon 2026
Forest Women’s Action Conference—Women Shaping Forests and Communities
A Dialogue with Nature, a Way of Life That Challenges Our Values
Friday, July 17, 2026, 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. | Online
“Forest Circular Economy” takes a multifaceted approach to understanding the relationship between forests and society and the economy, and is engaged in "a dialogue of knowledge that bridges the field and society" […]
6.17Wed 2026
There are no young trees. If things continue this way, the timber industry will disappear in 20 years—Togawa Lumber’s Challenge: A Circular Forestry Business Model [This Was the Turning Point]
"Right now, more than 80 percent of the trees are 50 years old or older, and there are no young trees. If things continue this way, in 20 years, all jobs related to timber will disappear […]
6.15Mon 2026
How to Link Wood Use and Reforestation: New Developments Shown in the Forest and Forestry White Paper and Company Case Studies [Trends in Forest Resource Recycling 2026].
As Japan's planted forests and satoyama forests are entering a period of full-scale use and renewal, we must sustainably "cut, use, plant, and nurture" forest resources [...].
