~Jointly promoting a ‘Regional Value Co-Creation Model’ that connects Japan’s forest, agricultural, and cultural resources to the future~
Green Carbon Inc. (CEO: Jun Okita, hereinafter “Green Carbon”), which develops a nature-based carbon credit generation and sales business, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a capital and business alliance with HAPPO-EN Holdings Co., Ltd. (Chairman and CEO: Haruyoshi Hase, hereinafter ‘Happo-en Holdings’).
This investment aims to further advance the regional collaboration initiatives that both companies have pursued to date and to establish a ‘Regional Value Co-Creation Model’ that connects the value of Japan’s forest, agricultural, and cultural resources to future generations.
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◆ Background of This Alliance
Green Carbon is engaged in creating carbon credits and supporting regional Green Transformation (GX) through diverse natural capital, including agriculture (paddy field mid-season drying and AWD), forestry (forest management and conservation), livestock farming, and biochar. We have promoted mechanisms nationwide that scientifically visualise nature’s inherent power and return its value to local communities.
Meanwhile, Happo-en Holdings was established to manage and operate the assets of Happo-en, a vast Japanese garden with over 400 years of history located in Shirokanedai, Tokyo, and its group companies. It has been responsible for land ownership and facility management since 1943. The company has maintained a particularly deep connection with Tottori Prefecture for many years, as its founder, Mr Toshiji Hase, hailed from the prefecture. It has undertaken activities closely aligned with the region’s natural resources, including long-term forest conservation efforts in collaboration with the local Yazu Central Forestry Cooperative. These efforts centre on approximately 340 hectares of company-owned forest primarily located in Saji Town and Chizu Town, Tottori City.
This investment aims to further develop the foundation for forestry and regional collaboration that both companies have built in Tottori Prefecture to date, jointly advancing the resolution of regional challenges and the creation of future value utilising natural capital. This represents not merely financial support, but an important step towards strengthening a co-creation partnership that integrates environmental, cultural and regional value, thereby jointly shaping the region’s future.
◆Past Initiatives of Both Companies
Both companies are already jointly advancing a forest management project covering approximately 340 hectares of company-owned forest long managed by Happo-en Holdings. Green Carbon provided support for calculating absorption volumes and registering and certifying J-Credits for the relevant forest. The forest has now been formally registered under the J-Credit scheme, and the issuance of credits for the first year’s efforts has been completed.
- Project Name: Forest Management Project in Tottori Prefecture’s Company-Owned Forests
- Target Area: 339.77 hectares
- Certification Period: 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2039
This collaboration is highly regarded as a model for “visualising the value of forest conservation and returning it to the community”. This investment marks the first step in expanding this initiative nationwide.
◆Future Outlook
Moving forward, we shall fully implement a ‘Regional Value Co-creation Model’ that connects the societal value inherent in forests, agriculture and culture, with the following initiatives as its pillars. Building upon the collaborative foundation established in Tottori Prefecture, we will expand nationwide a framework enabling environmental conservation of natural resources, the transmission of culture to future generations, and the participation of businesses and local stakeholders in its economic cycle.
1. Joint development of corporate collaborative conservation schemes utilising forest credits
By utilizing the forests owned by Happo-en Holdings, we will jointly build and promote a corporate collaboration–based forest conservation model. Within the forestry domain, which holds a key position in the group’s sustainability strategy, this initiative will enable multifaceted collaboration in the future.
2. Co-creation of forest-based corporate, educational and community partnership programmes
We will jointly develop value-building programmes such as ESG training, community engagement and nature experiences, enabling corporate and local stakeholders to participate.
3. Joint development of products and brands centred on carbon neutrality
We shall advance the development of products and experiences that combine the business domains of the Happo-en Group—including weddings, events, gifts, and hometown tax contributions—with forest value, in collaboration with Green Carbon. Furthermore, we shall broaden our horizons to encompass the food and ingredients sector in the future. While deepening our collaboration with the natural resources Green Carbon develops nationwide, we shall communicate value to a wide audience through events and initiatives.
Both companies will continue to accelerate our efforts towards realising a sustainable society as partners supporting the future of nature and local communities.
◆ Green Carbon ,Inc.
Representative: Jun Okita, CEO
Head Office: PREX North 9F, 2-3-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established: December 2019
Business Activities: Development and sales of carbon credits, agriculture-related projects, environmental projects, other related businesses, and ESG consulting
Website: https://green-carbon.co.jp/en/
◆HAPPO-EN Holdings Co., Ltd.
Representative：Haruyoshi Hase, Chairman and CEO
Head Office：1-1-6 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Established：1943
Business Activities：Land Management and Operations · Asset Management
◆ About Green Carbon
Guided by the vision of “Harnessing the power of life to save the Earth,” Green Carbon develops and supports projects that generate, register, and sell nature-based carbon credits both in Japan and abroad. The company is also engaged in agriculture-related businesses, R&D initiatives, and ESG consulting.
Its business activities span Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America, creating credits from rice paddies, biochar, forest conservation, carbon farming, mangrove planting, and cattle methane reduction. In Japan, Green Carbon obtained certification in FY2023 for the country’s first and one of the largest-scale rice paddy J-Credit projects (approx. 6,220 t). In FY2024, the company plans to expand this initiative to around 40,000 ha (approx. 80,000 t).
Green Carbon also provides “Agreen,” a one-stop platform service that streamlines the entire process of credit registration, application, and sales. By simplifying procedures and documentation, the service reduces the administrative burden on credit creators.
◆Green Carbon’s social media
Youtube ：https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYO4WnGOHDaVB1ikxheZasA
note ：https://note.com/green_carbon/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557429326458
X ：https://mobile.x.com/GreenCarbon2019
Linkedin ：https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-carbon-inc/
Wantedly：https://www.wantedly.com/companies/greencarbon2019