By mid-May the Coronavirus outbreak is showing signs of receding in Japan. The number of new cases nationwide peaked at the 650 level in mid-April. By mid-May, Tokyo has consistently reported less than 10 new cases daily. The state of… more
Manten Social Welfare Corporation builds another senior home using platform frame construction. This is the third 2×4 elderly care project the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Yamada, have built in Japan since participating in COFI/Canada Wood… more
This past year COFI/Canada Wood Japan worked with the Japan 2×4 Home Builders Association to facilitate the spread of large-scale wooden buildings using Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) in horizontal diaphragms such as roof and floor… more
January’s total housing starts dropped 10.1% to finish at 60,341 units for the seventh consecutive monthly decline. Owner-occupied housing declined 13.8%, and rental housing fell 2.5%. Wooden housing fell 11.2% to 33,849 units. Post… more
Recently Scott Anderson (APA Canadian Program Representative) and I had the opportunity to visit a customer working on an agricultural project in Hitachi-Omiya City, Ibaraki Prefecture. As reported in previous blog articles, the Canada… more
Canada Wood is delighted to report the first commercial adoption of a newly developed Midply wall system for post and beam applications in the Makado Kagamimochi Nursery School in Tochigi Prefecture. This innovative building is a 750… more
In an encouraging trend, we have seen an increase in nail plate truss use in post and beam non-residential construction in Japan. On a recent trip to Hokkaido, Tokyo based staff had the opportunity to visit two post beam buildings with a… more
Dated March 2nd, 2020, Canada Wood/COFI(Council of Forest Industries) Japan renewed our status as a Registered Overseas Certifying Body (ROCB) under the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) accreditation system supervised by the Ministry… more
As of late March, Japan had a total of 1,905 cases of the Corona Virus – including 712 cases from the Diamond Princess cruise liner. The nation recorded 53 related deaths thus far. Currently, there are 15 clusters of patients nationwide:… more
According to a Japanese Government Cabinet Office survey conducted in October 2019, the popularity of 2×4 housing continues to gain traction among younger generations in Japan. The survey first reconfirms that the popularity… more
COFI has been working with the Japan 2×4 Home Builder’s Association to facilitate the spread of large-scale wooden buildings using Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT) in horizontal diaphragms such as roof and floor structures. This is… more
COFI conducted a 2×4 Energy Efficiency and Site Visit Seminar in Obihiro, Hokkaido on February 13th and 14th (18 participants) with the cooperation of the support of the Tokachi 2×4 Home Builders Association. Participants, mainly… more
December & Year End 2019 Japan Housing Starts Summary
December total housing starts dropped 7.9% to finish at 72,174 units for the sixth consecutive monthly decline. Owner occupied housing declined 8.7% and rental housing… more
As written in previous blog posts, we are seeing positive increase in the number of agricultural buildings being constructed in Japan, and our joint promotion efforts with the Japan Wood Truss Council (JWTC) is really paying off in… more
November wooden non-residential starts totaled 1,748 buildings for a floor area of 352,723m2. Non-residential wood use for the month is estimated roughly at 61,732m3. Wood held a market share of 38% by number of buildings and 12.1% by… more
November total housing starts dropped 12.7% to finish at 73,523 units for the fifth consecutive monthly decline. Owner occupied housing declined 7.3% and rental housing plunged 17.5% for the 15th consecutive monthly decline. If there was a… more
As part of working group activities of the Japan Wood Research Society, COFI recently visited Honzanji Temple in Kagawa Prefecture, where we witnessed the traditional wooden structure of 5-storey pagoda. The Honzanji Temple in Mitoyo… more
Canada Wood is delighted to report the first commercial application of the Hem Fir (N) & OSB based infill Midply wall for post and beam applications. As part of his technical promotions and outreach activities, Canada Wood’s Yusuke… more
Japan Housing Starts Summary for September 2019
September total housing starts fell 4.9% to finish at 77,915 units. Owner occupied housing declined 3.5% compared to a 16.8% fall in rental housing. The condominium (mansion) market… more
On November 15th, a B.C. forestry delegation of nine persons including Canada Wood staff visited two 2×4 building sites in Chiba, prefecture, a one-hour drive outside of Tokyo. Both sites were three-storey 2×4 apartments, one… more
