Showroom Opens to Promote the Appeal of 'Tokyo Wood'
A new Tokyo Metropolitan Government facility is showcasing wood products made from trees in Tokyo's Tama area, promoting local production and consumption.
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In an effort to expand the use of timber from the Tama area, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) opened the TOKYO MOKUNAVI showroom on September 15. Located in Shinjuku Park Tower, the facility exhibits wood products and disseminates information on wood from Tokyo.
Timber from Tama has often been used for building materials. Encouraging everyday consumers to make use of local wood is the showroom's aim.
Certifying Tama Timber
The TMG launched a certification system for Tama timber in 2006. This system set the conditions for Tama-certified timber. These include the requirement that distribution processes from production to sales must be handled by businesses registered with the system.
With the advent of this system, the use of Tama timber has grown rapidly. The Tama Lumber Center Union operates the only raw wood market within the Tokyo metropolitan prefectural limits. In 2006, only about 30% of the timber it handled was from Tama. By 2021, this figure had reached 90%.
Increasing utilization of trees known to cause pollen allergies, like the Japanese cedar, is a nationwide issue. Along these lines, the TMG implements a system of local production for local consumption. Tama timber from trees cut down for pollen control is put to use at Tokyo's public facilities. "With this system, we do not end up with leftover timber," a representative of the union noted.
Showroom for the General Public
In an effort to bring Tama timber to the general public, the TMG began branding Tama timber as "Tokyo Wood" in 2022. Certified suppliers are now able to use the Tokyo Wood logo on their products.
Interactive displays at the TOKYO MOKUNAVI showroom include furniture like desks and chairs, clocks, and even essential oils made from cypress wood. Retailers where the items can be purchased are also introduced.
The showroom will host workshops and other events to promote the appeal of Tama timber.
"Tama lumber serves the 'lungs' of Tokyo and plays an important role in water retention," Governor Yuriko Koike remarked during her tour of the facility. "By making everyone aware of this, we can secure a market for the wood, making it economically viable," she added.
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