Rain-soaked grounds did little to dampen spirits at the 75th National Tree-Planting Festival, held this year in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture on May 25. Thousands gathered to celebrate Japan’s dedication to forest preservation, joined by organizations nationwide, including the World Wood Day 2025 Japan Organizing Committee.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito attended the opening ceremony and offered remarks that underscored the importance of environmental stewardship in an era of climate change.

“I am pleased that such magnificent nature has been preserved through the efforts of many people,” Emperor Naruhito said.

Emperor Naruhito noted that forests are essential to daily life, not only as a source of wood and forest products, but also for protecting water sources, providing habitats for wildlife, and supporting biodiversity.

“It is our mission to ensure that healthy forests are passed on to future generations,” he said.

As part of the official ceremony, the World Wood Day exhibition booth was organized in collaboration with the Saitama Wood Education Forum (木育フォーラム)

The aim was to promote awareness of World Wood Day 2025, which is being hosted in Japan this year under the theme “Eco-living with Wood.”

Visitors of all ages took part in hands-on workshops that used wood to encourage creativity and promote forest awareness. These sessions emphasized wood education through direct, tactile learning for the younger generation.

“Even though the weather was a challenge, the enthusiasm hasn’t faded,” Professor Masataka Matsuo said. “People are still excited to learn, build, and connect through wood.”

The exhibition booth also showcased ironwood carvings made by the Seri indigenous people of the Mexican state of Sonora, which drew interest for their aesthetic forms and culture.

In a fitting example of local craftsmanship and sustainability, outdoor furniture at the festival was made by regional high school students.

The furniture provided seating areas where attendees could eat lunch and rest, demonstrating practical applications of eco-living with wood.

The National Tree-Planting Festival continues to highlight Japan’s commitment to forest conservation. For World Wood Day, it was an invaluable opportunity to share its message of sustainable living and wood culture as part of a national environmental effort.