All the countries of the world, including Japan, have been facing significant challenges in using wood for high-rise buildings and large-scale buildings in recent years. In light of that, we held WOODRISE 2021　KYOTO on the theme of "Wooden Buildings for Sustainable Development: from the Traditional to the Future" at the Kyoto International Conference Center in Kyoto, Japan from October 15 to 17, 2021.
The plenary sessions were held on October 16 through the morning of October 17. In the afternoon of October 16, Mr. Kengo Kuma, a world-renowned Japanese architect, delivered a commemorative speech.
In addition, in the afternoon of October 17, there were technical workshops and special sessions on promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the housing and building industry and on the housing market of Asia and Oceania. We showed the vitality of the industry involved in mid-rise and high-rise wooden buildings to the world.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, speakers and moderators from overseas participated online and approximately 800 people from 18 countries including Japan participated online or onsite. Highly meaningful exchanges of information and opinions took place.
It was our great pleasure to organize such a significant event.
On the other hand, we had no choice but to give up B to B meetings, socials, and technical tours during this WOODRISE 2021　KYOTO event. To offer those events that were missed in the conference and additionally provide a forum for corporations and organizations involved in mid-and high-rise wooden buildings in and out of Japan to network and build ties, we are going to hold the WOODRISE 2021 BUSINESS SESSION from May 22 to 27, 2022 in Tokyo.

Up to today, we have established an organizing committee consisting of building and housing organizations related to wooden buildings, etc., and have prepared for and organized the event with the support and cooperation of those related organizations. Starting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the various governmental and other organizations for their support. We will continue to work on the preparations, aiming to make it a worthwhile endeavor in support of the industry and by extension the community as a whole. In this way, we aim to contribute to the next stage of WOODRISE as a major international event.
We hope that the accomplishments of WOODRISE 2021　KYOTO lead to further development of mid-rise and high-rise wooden buildings all over the world and look forward to seeing many people involved in the industry at the WOODRISE 2021 BUSINESS SESSION in May 2022.