Awareness Growing of Midrise Wooden Buildings in Japan

Shawn Lawlor

By: Shawn Lawlor

Managing Director, Canada Wood Japan/COFI Japan

Japan’s nationwide newspaper the Nikkei reported April 25th about the growth of midrise wooden building construction in Japan.  It indicated a 7-storey wooden building was completed in late March in Sendai City (photo). In the autumn of this year another 12-storey building will be completed in Ginza, the fanciest shopping area in Tokyo.  The article highlights the midrise wooden buildings in the context of global decarbonization efforts .  The Sendai building was designed and built by Shelter, an innovative wooden builder in Yamagata City.  The company holds the 3-hour fire-resistive ministerial approval for its wooden structural elements.

The article also features an interview with Shuzo Kuma, an advisor for Tokyo Marine Nichido, a fire insurance company.  He emphasizes how midrise wooden buildings contribute to absorbing greenhouse emissions and the necessity of harvesting matured trees and raising younger trees.

As Nikkei is a highly reputable media provider, this article can be expected to trigger additional major media coverage promoting wooden midrise to the general public.