Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.

Trading Sumitomo Forestry Head Office, Asia, Japan 26,741 employees Since 1948 Capital 55,000 Million Revenue 2,053,600 Million

★Comment from JPort Student Support Team

What kind of company is Sumitomo Forestry? Is it a great place for international students to work? Sumitomo Forestry has over 330 years of history and is a leading company in Japan’s forestry and housing industries, as part of the Sumitomo Group. It ranks among the top in Japan’s timber and construction sectors, with a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. For international students, Sumitomo Forestry offers a global and inclusive workplace where diverse talents thrive!

About the Company

Sumitomo Forestry is a global enterprise driven by a deep commitment to wood and natural timber. Founded in 1691, we boast a history of over 300 years spent nurturing forests and growing alongside nature. Today, we operate a diverse range of businesses centered on wood on a global scale, from housing, building materials, environmental services, to international operations.

What truly sets us apart is our fully integrated business model that elevates the value of wood, from forest management to housing and architectural design. We cultivate timber in company-owned forests in Japan and abroad, build high-quality homes and structures using those resources, and actively absorb carbon to support the planet. Very few companies in the world take such a holistic approach to wood, managing its entire lifecycle from seedling to structure.

In our Japanese housing division, we craft custom-built wooden homes tailored to each client's unique vision. Our sales team helps clients uncover their ideal lifestyles, our architects design spaces that bring out the natural beauty and warmth of timber, and our technical specialists bring those designs to life through meticulous construction management. Working together as a unified team to build a one-of-a-kind home is deeply rewarding. Furthermore, because wood offers natural humidity control and thermal insulation, is gentle on residents, and carries a low environmental footprint, the value of wooden housing is set to grow even higher in the years to come.

We are also expanding our presence overseas, with a primary focus on housing and building materials. By providing homes tailored to local lifestyles across North America, Australia, Asia, and beyond, we are sharing the value of wood with the world. Overseas revenue accounts for a significant portion of our overall Group sales, making it vital for Sumitomo Forestry’s global growth.

At Sumitomo Forestry, we also care about environmental management. Forests are essential natural resources for absorbing CO₂, and because wooden structures carry a low carbon footprint, working with wood directly advances global sustainability. We are actively creating businesses that contribute to a decarbonized society—taking on new challenges like sustainable timber cycling and the development of next-generation engineered wood materials.

To support our team, we offer a flexible working environment with options like flextime and telework. We also provide professional development initiatives, including comprehensive training and support for professional certifications, ensuring our sales and technical staff can thrive. Young team members also get the opportunity to contribute to custom home builds and large-scale projects early on in their careers, making it an ideal setting to experience professional growth!

To sum up Sumitomo Forestry's appeal in a single phrase: "Work that contributes to people and society through the power of wood."

Nurturing nature’s gifts, putting them to meaningful use, and passing them on to future generations—we offer a unique career where you can experience both grand global scale and immediate, rewarding impact on everyday lives.

For Those Considering Joining Us

Planting Trees, Nurturing Forests, and Maximizing the Value of Wood: Our Unique Wood-Centric Business and Value Chain

At Sumitomo Forestry, we believe social contribution and core business are inseparable. We actively integrate our corporate operations with our commitment to creating a positive impact on society.

In fact, we have been practicing these principles as a natural part of who we are for over 150 years—long before the term "ESG" even existed.

As sustainability becomes increasingly vital today, we continue to unite our business strategy with ESG initiatives to drive corporate value, while striving to contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A prime example of our efforts to solve global challenges is our commitment to achieving a decarbonized society.

Society's expectations are higher than ever regarding forest carbon absorption and storage, carbon fixation and emission reductions through timber products and wooden architecture, and the use of wood resources for biomass power generation.

Across our Group, we manage every stage of the lifecycle—from upstream forest management, to midstream manufacturing and distribution of timber and building materials, to downstream wooden architecture and renewable energy projects. By effectively leveraging forest resources as sustainable natural capital, we deliver real value to the public and actively contribute to a sustainable, decarbonized future.

Key Figures

Year of Establishment

1948

Capital (Million Yen)

55,000

Current # of Employees

26,741

Revenue (Million Yen)

2,053,600

Key stats

Average Age of Employees

44.3

Women v Men ratio

Male: 60%, Female: 40%

Locations

Office locations

0 offices

Location details are not available yet

A Google Map will appear here when an office address is available.

Office Pictures 3

Sumitomo Forestry Head Office
Sumitomo Forestry Head Office
Sumitomo Forestry Head Office

About Our Business

1

Resource and Environmental Business

Under the philosophy of "sustainable forestry"—planting trees, cultivating forests, utilizing them as resources, and replanting what is used—we contribute to global decarbonization through various initiatives. These include the management of company-owned forests in Japan, afforestation projects overseas, forest asset management, and power generation in the field of renewable energy. Furthermore, by leveraging innovative forest management technologies, we actively address global environmental challenges.

https://sfc.jp/information/company/jigyou/sanrin/
2

Timber and Building Materials Business

We operate a distribution business that sources high-quality timber and building materials from Japan and overseas for sale to customers, and we manufacture building materials and other products. This segment also focuses on overseas sales of Group company products.
https://sfc.jp/english/business/timber/
3

Global Construction and Real Estate Business

We are actively entering promising growth markets and currently operate housing, construction, and real estate businesses in regions such as the United States, Australia, Europe, and Asia. In addition, we are promoting medium- and large-scale wooden construction both in Japan and overseas.

By expanding our business across a wide range of fields, we are working to diversify and stabilize our earnings foundation. Through the global promotion of wooden construction, we aim to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.
https://sfc.jp/english/business/overseashousing/
4

Real Estate Business

This division handles a comprehensive range of operations—from land and property development all the way through to distribution—covering single-family homes for sale, condominiums, rental housing, and brokerage services. Beyond driving development and land utilization projects both in Japan and internationally, we are also actively expanding our stock-based business model, including pre-owned home brokerage and rental property management.

5

Housing Business

With our design capabilities and proprietary technology—the Big Frame (BF) construction method, a wooden beam-dominant rigid frame structure developed in-house—we provide comfortable homes that embody both the natural warmth and unique functionality of wood, offering residences that people want to live in for many years.

In addition, we promote the widespread adoption of environmentally conscious homes, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions during occupancy. At the same time, by advancing wooden construction, we help lower CO₂ emissions during the building process. Through the standardization of decarbonized design, we strive to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
https://sfc.jp/english/business/housing/
6

Lifestyle Services Business

Leveraging the construction technologies and residential expertise cultivated through our housing and building businesses, we provide a wide range of services that support people's daily lives, with a particular focus on the nursing care sector.

We are also engaged in regional revitalization efforts, such as participating in the development of commercial resort facilities launched through industry-government-academia collaboration. Through these initiatives, we strive to address social issues and deliver safe, fulfilling lifestyles for people at every stage of life.