COFI Tokyo Celebrates Milestone 50th Anniversary in Japan
On November 12th COFI / Canada Wood Tokyo celebrated our 50th anniversary in Japan. To commemorate this milestone a Wood Forum and Reception were held at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo. Timed to coincide with the Alberta Forestry Mission to Japan, the wood forum consisted of 5 presentations focused on forest sustainability, innovation and partnership. In the presentation highlighting our history in Japan, we traced the instrumental role COFI played in leading to the adoption of the 2×4 building code, the Caravan Campaign and the successful push to broaden awareness of 2×4 homes in Japan, the extensive research and development of structural assembly and fire testing which paved the way to the expanding market opportunities in multi-family, midrise and non-residential construction.
This unwavering focus on innovation and collaboration with local industry, code officials and researchers has resulted in a cumulative total of over 3.3 million 2×4 housing starts, 4,500 2×4 fireproof structures, 156 midrise structures and 53 MLIT Ministerial Approvals. Looking forward, we touched upon how new opportunities continue to open up to expanded wood use in Japanese midrise construction and briefed participants on current initiatives to such as R&D on high performance sheer walls and 90 minute fireproof approvals. A total of 190 Japanese stakeholders and key customers participated in the wood forum and reception.
