The Takahashi River, a Class A river that flows through Kurashiki City.
Rising in Hanamiyama (elevation: 1,188 m; Niimi City), the river is supported by forests in Niimi City. The city carries out forest management to further enhance the forests’ ability to conserve water sources and prevent soil runoff, helping sustain the Takahashi River’s rich water environment.
Since 2016, Niimi City and Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) have also worked together on “JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi,” holding an annual forest conservation activity attended by employees and others. In 2025, it was held on Saturday, October 18.
Here is a look at the “JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi 2025 Autumn Forest Conservation Activity.”
The information presented was current when this article was published in November 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is “JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi”?
JT, whose business activities focus on tobacco, pharmaceuticals, and processed foods, uses natural raw materials—primarily plants such as tobacco leaves, paper, and vegetables—in its business.
As part of its efforts to conserve the natural environment, it therefore conducts forest conservation activities under the name “JT Forest.” As of November 2025, activities are underway at nine locations nationwide.
In Okayama Prefecture, “JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi” carries out forest conservation activities centered on Koigakubo Wetland.
Koigakubo Wetland
A region where more than 300 plant species, including the Japanese pink, grow naturally. It was designated a Natural Monument of Japan on March 6, 1980, as the “Koigakubo Wetland Plant Community.”
Following its first phase, which began in 2016, and its second phase, which began in 2022 with a change to the designated forest area, “JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi” entered its third phase in 2025.
The third phase includes felling trees around the wetland to ensure sunlight and restore inflowing water, with the aim of maintaining the wetland’s original environment and conserving biodiversity.
Activities at the 2025 Autumn Forest Conservation Event
As in the previous year (2024), the 2025 autumn forest conservation activity focused on clearing undergrowth around the “low-pollen cedar” trees planted in 2024, and proceeded as follows.
- Opening ceremony (organizers’ remarks / commemorative photo)
- Forest conservation activity (clearing undergrowth in the low-pollen cedar model forest)
- Lunch
- Forest field trip (exploring Okayama Prefecture-designated Natural Monument Ikurado Cave)
Activities 1 and 2 took place in the morning, and activities 3 and 4 in the afternoon.
A total of 82 people took part, including employees of the JT Group and its business partners, mainly from Okayama, Hiroshima, and Shimane prefectures, as well as their family members and other related parties. They were divided into five groups.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony began with remarks from the organizers and guests of honor.
After introductions of the participating organizations and staff, the forest conservation activity finally got underway.
Forest Conservation Activity (clearing undergrowth in the low-pollen cedar model forest)
We walked about five minutes from the opening ceremony venue to the site.
Having taken part in the forest conservation activity for the first time in two years, the writer saw how much the “low-pollen cedar” trees planted two years earlier (2023) had grown.
Even after two years, they’re still only about this big (around 50 cm tall).
That was my honest reaction, and it made me realize that the “lumber” we use every day without a second thought takes a long time to grow.
First, we were shown how to use the sickles and told what precautions to take, as well as which plants should not be touched with bare hands.
Then we picked up our sickles and began clearing the undergrowth.
You could say it’s “just cutting grass with a sickle,” but even though it feels easy at first, after just ten minutes sweat starts running and your arms begin to tire.
Gradually, conversation dwindled, and everyone worked in silence.
After about 40 minutes of clearing undergrowth, the site looked like this.
Lunch
After the work was finished, we moved to Roadside Station Koigakubo for lunch.
Bento lunches and freshly baked rice-flour pizza were prepared.
The children also seemed to enjoy making pizza.
Forest Field Trip (Exploring Ikurado Cave, an Okayama Prefecture-designated Natural Monument)
After lunch, we headed to Ikurado Cave, an Okayama Prefecture-designated Natural Monument about 30 minutes away by bus.
After arriving, everyone was basically free to explore Ikurado Cave.
Although it was my first visit to Ikurado Cave since elementary school, I enjoyed the fantastical space created by nature.
After the activity, a closing ceremony was held, and an employee of JT's Okayama Branch, who had also worked behind the scenes, gave a speech, bringing the “Fall 2025 Forest Conservation Activities” to a close.
From the Writer
I had felt that the scenery did not change much, but through this activity, I realized that “conservation work to keep things unchanged” is carried out day after day.
Seeing how the “low-pollen cedar” planted two years ago had grown also helped me understand that forests, as a resource, are created over many years through the involvement of many people.
I usually live in Kurashiki City, so I don’t often get the chance to see forests in my daily life.
However, this activity made me realize once again that there are many things you can only notice by visiting in person and getting hands-on.
“JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi” Fall 2025 Forest Conservation Activity Information
| Name | “JT Forest Koigakubo Niimi” Fall 2025 Forest Conservation Activity |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 18, 2025 |
| Location | Yada, Tessei-cho, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | *Whether the event will be open to the general public and the format of the next event have not yet been decided. |
| Website | JT Forest |
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