Yokohama Rubber plants more trees to help earthquake remediation

ERJ staff report (BC)

Tokyo – The Yokohama Rubber Co. planted about 5 000 trees on 18 May to help support recovery of the town of Otsuchi-cho, one of the areas severely affected by the 2011 Tohoku (Great East Japan) earthquake.

553 participants, including 160 Otsuchi-cho residents, planted broad-leaved evergreen seedlings indigenous to the local area. Guests included the Mayor of Otsuchi, representatives of supporting companies, Dr. Akira Miyawaki (plant ecologist) and former F1 driver Ukyo Katayama.

245 people from Yokohama Rubber attended the event, including chairman and CEO Tadanobu Nagumo, President Hikomitsu Noji and 54 employee volunteers.

The event marked the second phase of tree planting on a mound created from disaster debris – woody debris (only natural wood, not construction materials), earth and sand, and non-combustible earthy debris such as concrete pieces. Use of disaster debris in such mounds not only helps reduce the cost of its disposal and obviates carbon dioxide emissions from incineration, but will actually facilitate the growth of the seedlings, Yokohama says.

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Press release from Yokohama Rubber