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Kinki & Chugoku Area

Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga, Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Tottori, Okayama, Shimane, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi

9.16Wed 2026

Forest Women’s Action Conference—Women Shaping Forests and Communities
Rebuild Your Life in Harmony with Nature Through Relocation, Career Changes, or Starting a Business
Friday, October 16, 2026, 12:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m. | Online

"Forest Circular Economy" sheds light on the ongoing efforts—including the doubts and struggles—of women exploring new ways of life in forests and local communities […]

9.4Fri 2026

Establishing “One-Year Larch Seedling Cultivation”—the Key to Reforestation: Wood Company Nichinan’s “Second Founding” [Nichinan Town: On the Front Lines of Forest Circular Economy, Part 3]

*Click here for the previous article: How Did the Lumber Mill, Funded by 470 Residents, Turn a Profit? Orochi LVL Mill: 20 Steps Toward Management Reform […]

8.14Fri 2026

Practicing “Supportive Childcare” Amid the Great Outdoors of Chizu, Where Children and Parents Grow Together [The Appeal of Forest Kindergartens: Part 1]

Before I talk about the appeal of forest kindergartens, I’d like to say a few words about the challenges of raising children today—or rather, about the sense of unease I personally feel. […]

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 […]

8.3Mon 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 […]

7.14Tuesday, 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 […]

6.24Wed 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 […]

6.10Wed 2026

Okayama Model Leading the Way to a Circular Forest Economy - The Seriousness of Industry, Government, Academia and Money Will Change Japan into a Resource Self-Sufficient Nation

*Previous column hereRegional National Universities Become Hubs for Social Implementation - Facing Local Challenges with Data and Practice Industry-Government-Academia-Gold in Okayama [...].

6.8Mon 2026

Forestry Agency Releases Simplified Assessment Method to Show "Numerical Value" of Forest Water Resources Recharge [Forest x Nature Positive Trends 2026].

The movement to realize "Nature Positive" (nature revitalization) is developing from multiple angles, transcending the boundaries of the national government, local governments, and private companies [...].

6.2Tuesday, 2026

Trends in the Utilization of Large-Diameter Timber 2026] Expanding Uses in Public Spaces and Furniture: Value-Added Applications in Hardwoods and Traditional Architecture

As Japan's planted forests enter the period of full-scale utilization, the effective use of thickly grown "large-diameter lumber" has become an urgent issue. Until now, [...]...

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