Canada wood is focused on diversifying markets for Canadian wood products. To deliver results Canada Wood Group actively promotes and supports the innovation in manufacturing and increased uses of wood in building design and construction…. more
The next time you, or someone you know is in Tokyo, head for “The Farm Tokyo” to relax and unwind in a unique natural outdoor space in the heart of this big metropolis. This newly constructed open-air terrace cleverly uses Canadian… more
As reported in this blog in August 2018, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) amended the Building Standard Law to streamline fire-related regulations for wooden buildings. One of the streamlined requirements… more
On May 26th, the City of Natori, Miyagi invited Canada Wood, the Canadian Embassy and Governments of Alberta and British Columbia to participate in celebrations of reconstruction after the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 2011. This… more
Canada Wood has been working on gathering manufacturing partners of Midply panels and making a list of Midply dealer network. We had seminars and held workshops about Midply last fiscal year and understood what kinds of support or… more
Recently Kevin Bews (COFI, SPF Group) and I visited a large-scale platform-frame construction job site on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, a tropical island similar to Hawaii. Due to an increase in tourism, from both overseas and… more
Nursing Home Himawari is in Yokohama city, about an hour drive south of Tokyo. Construction for this project began in February 2018 and is on schedule to be completed and open in May 2019. It is a large 180 room senior multi-care complex… more
Demand for non-residential wooden buildings has shown significant growth in Japan over the past several years. This trend is apparent with educational facilities. For example, in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, a new wooden school building… more
At the start of the fiscal new year in April, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary proclaimed the name of a new era. The current “Heisei” era under the Japanese calendar will end on April 30th when the Emperor abdicates the throne. On… more
Total non-residential construction for 2018 declined 3.5% by number of buildings to 55,220 units or by floor area by 2.1% to 39,772,196m2. The number of wooden units fell by 2.9% and floor area declined 3.5% to 3,768,354m2. Overall market… more
In 2018 total housing starts declined 2.2% to 942,370 units. Wooden housing fell 1.1% to 539,394 units. As a percentage of overall housing, wooden homes increased to 57.2%, the strongest showing in over three decades. Of all housing, post… more
January housing starts peaked out a 1.1% increase to finish at 67,087 units, but for wooden construction cheery news was in short supply. Owner occupied housing increased 3.3% for the 4th consecutive monthly gain, but rental housing… more
On a recent trip to Japan, B.C. Minister of State for Trade, the Honourable George Chow visited a wooden elderly care facility in Tokyo with COFI and Canada Wood staff on March 18th. While touring the site, the minister was introduced to… more
COFI conducted its second Wood Midrise Design Competition this fiscal year, which began October 17, 2018 and applications from architects and construction firms were received until January 18nd, 2019. Judging for the competition was done… more
On February 18th, Canada Wood’s Shawn Lawlor participated in a round table discussion hosted by the Japan Forestry Agency Director General Kouji Makimoto and members of the Osaka Prefectural Lumber Federation. The round table was a… more
Xyence Co., Ltd, a leading pressure treating company in Japan, recently obtained a pressure treating certificate allowing for the first time for SPF to be treated with Azole-pyrethroid. Anti-termite and anti-decay treatments are… more
While still registering positive growth, the Japanese economy is facing headwinds of sluggish consumer demand and slowing exports. In 2018 Japan achieved record number of inbound tourists at 31.19 million; with tourism spending also… more
October total housing starts declined 0.6% to 84,213 units. The recent trend of resilience in owner occupied starts and sluggishness in rentals continued. Owner occupied housing starts increased 2.5%, whereas rental housing fell 6.9%…. more
COFI Tokyo launched its second YouTube and Facebook advertising social media promotion campaign last month to create awareness and positively brand 2×4 to prospective home buyers in Japan. This year’s campaign runs for three… more
Following an extensive testing program, in 2013 COFI obtained a voluntary evaluation certificate from the Japan Housing and Wood Technology Centre (HOWTEC) which eliminated technical barriers in using Canadian 2×4, 2×6 and… more
