Cultivating Forests

How we cultivate forests

The Mizkan Group has been working on cultivating the forest owned by group companies for the last 40 years, in and around the Motoyama area in Kochi. Today, we maintain and manage a forested area of about 850 ha (about 8.5 million ㎡) covered mainly in cedars and cypresses. Back in the 19th century, wood was essential to our business. We needed wooden barrels to make vinegar, and wooden ships to transport them to Edo.
“Through our business activities, fulfill our responsibilities sustainably,
taking care of nature, the source of life, and especially, water.” With this as our goal, Mizkan manages, grows, harvests, and plants trees, and keeps on cultivating forests.

Why we cultivate forests

The Mizkan Group cultivates trees in a 40-year cycle. This cycle maintains the forests’ stable function as a water source. Forests not only provide timber, but also prevent landslides and mitigate floods in the lower reaches of rivers. Trees also help to preserve biodiversity and absorb CO₂. We cultivate forests to contribute to the well-being of the earth and people’s lives.

Cultivating forests for the well-being of the earth, society, and all that dwell on it. That is what drives us.