Canada Wood – Exhibiting Canadian Innovative Wood Construction Solutions at the Nikkei Show in Tokyo
Canada Wood participated in the Nikkei Architecture and Construction Materials Show in Tokyo from March 3–6, a major exhibition that brings together architects, engineers and developers from across Japan. The event provided an opportunity to engage industry professionals at a time when Japan is gradually expanding the use of timber in mid-rise and non-residential buildings.
Japan has long been one of Canada’s most important forest product markets. Canadian lumber is well established in the country’s 2×4 housing sector, but market development efforts are increasingly shifting beyond residential construction. While wood accounts for roughly 60% of Japanese housing, it represents only about 10% of non-residential construction—highlighting a substantial opportunity for growth.
Canada Wood’s booth, located within the BC Wood “Canada Pavilion,” focused on structural systems designed to support this transition.
Among the technologies featured was the Midply Wall System, a high-performance shear wall developed through Canadian research. By placing structural sheathing between two rows of framing members, the system delivers enhanced lateral strength and ductility—an important advantage in Japan’s seismic design environment.
The exhibit also introduced Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT), a mass timber system made by fastening dimensional lumber into structural panels. Unlike cross-laminated timber (CLT), which requires specialized production, NLT can be fabricated with conventional lumber and relatively simple equipment—making it a practical option for builders exploring larger wood buildings.
Visitors were able to view an NLT table produced from Canadian SPF lumber by a Japanese 2×4 panel manufacturer, along with project images including the International Exchange Centre at Tokyo University of the Arts, a five-storey hybrid structure incorporating NLT floor panels.
In addition to structural systems, Canada Wood presented several products entering the Japanese market, including laminated strand lumber (LSL), structural and appearance-grade OSB panels, and Douglas-fir glulam beams manufactured from Canadian lamina.
For Canada’s forest sector, Japan remains both a mature and evolving market. As the country explores greater use of wood in commercial and institutional buildings, Canada Wood’s efforts increasingly focus on expanding applications for Canadian lumber, diversifying demand within one of Canada’s most established export destinations.
