Japan's 'ogre town' pins hopes on cedar-based material as naphtha supplies waver
KIHOKU, Ehime -- This western Japan town is moving to mass-produce "modified lignin" at the world's first plant of its kind, as uncertainty continues
Kihoku, a small town in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, is aiming to revolutionize its future by mass-producing a novel material derived from its abundant cedar trees. As the town grapples with dwindling naphtha supplies and the challenges of depopulation, it sees modified lignin as a potential solution.
Located roughly 90 minutes from Matsuyama, the prefectural capital, Kihoku boasts mountain forests covering 85% of its land. The town promotes its unique name, containing the kanji character for "ogre," and hosts events centered around the mythical creature. Recently, heavy machinery has been seen on approximately 30,000 square meters of farmland, indicating the construction of a massive plant for modified lignin production.
The project, expected to cost about 4.26 billion yen (roughly $27 million), represents more than 40% of the town's fiscal 2026 general account budget. National subsidies and other funding are anticipated to alleviate the financial burden, but the undertaking is significant and pivotal for the town's future.
Modified lignin, a material made from cedar trees, shows promise as an alternative to petroleum-derived plastics due to its superior strength and heat resistance. Tatsuhiko Yamada, a specialized research professor from Tokyo University of Technology, developed the material after researching over 1,000 tree species. Its uniform structure and cedar-specific properties make it particularly suitable for use as a plastic substitute, including in automotive parts and aircraft components.
Kihoku's mayor, Seiki Hyodo, expresses optimism about the project, emphasizing the town's responsibility to protect its forests for future generations. The town, which once thrived on forestry, has faced challenges in maintaining healthy forests due to low timber prices and sluggish demand. Yamada's innovation, supported by a prefecture-based company and a startup, aims to mass-produce modified lignin, with the first plant slated for completion by fall 2027. If successful, this could mark a major step towards regional revitalization.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
