Kenji Hashimoto
Profile
Kenji Hashimoto / 橋本 健二
- March 1982
- Graduated from Fukushima Prefectural Koriyama Kita Industrial High School, Information Technology Department.
- April 1982
- Joined Clarion Corporation.
- April 1988
- Joined father's electronic equipment manufacturing company.
- June 1992
- Established a general cargo transportation business, becoming the CEO.
- September 1997
- Became CEO of Atami Electronic Industry Co., Ltd on its 25th anniversary.
- October 1999
- Founded PMC TechnoStaff Co., Ltd (temporary staffing business) and became its CEO.
- October 2002
- Established MIC Corporation, initiating system development operations.
- November 2003
- Increased capital of PMC TechnoStaff to 30 million yen, renamed it PMC Technica.
- October 2005
- Founded Kenshinkai Corporation (nursery business, operation of Kids Room Pao).
- November 2007
- Resigned as CEO of five PMC group companies, appointed as representative director of each company.
- August 2008
- Became the Chief Director of Limited Liability Business Association Cool Earth (headquarters in Chuo-ku, Tokyo), initiated experimental planting of early-maturing Paulownia in Fukushima, focusing on building a circular society and reducing CO2.
- June 2009
- Exported 4,000 early-maturing Paulownia saplings to Kedah State, Malaysia, and started experimental planting.
- March 2011
- Suspended nationwide reforestation projects due to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
- May 2012
- Planned large-scale reforestation in collaboration with the Malaysian Forestry Department, withdrew due to budget constraints.
- October 2012
- Transferred business of PMCMMCC Co., Ltd (cargo transportation) to another company.
- June 2013
- Launched planting of 3,000 early-maturing Paulownia saplings in Fukushima and Iinumadai Town, created a mass production manual for cultivation management for efficiency.
- February 2017
- Acquired rights to early-maturing Paulownia seeds, started seed germination, and commenced sapling cultivation and sales.
- March 2017
- Established the Cool Earth Association as an incorporated association, appointed as the Chief Advisor (headquarters in Chuo-ku, Tokyo).
- May 2017
- Started planting 5,000 early-maturing Paulownia saplings in Hainan Island, China.
- March 2018
- Started planting 10,000 early-maturing Paulownia saplings in Nam Lanoi, Thailand.
- July 2018
- Signed a joint research agreement with Seikei University Faculty of Science and Technology, measuring CO2 absorption.
- August 2018
- Supported the development of a prototype small-scale woody biomass power generation facility with a venture company.
- September 2018
- Implemented additional planting of 10,000 early-maturing Paulownia saplings in Nam Lanoi, Thailand.
- June 2019
- Implemented additional planting of 10,000 early-maturing Paulownia saplings in Nam Lanoi, Thailand.
- July 2019
- Appointed as a director of the Japan Mycorrhizal Foundation (headquarters in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka), aiming to promote pesticide-free and global agriculture, constructing a society that is safe for food and environmentally friendly./dd>
- August 2019
- Signed a business alliance with Norimura Takuya Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Shiga Prefecture) for the drying method (thermochemical treatment) of Paulownia lumber.
- July 2020
- Relocated headquarters to Taito-ku, Tokyo.
- April 2021
- Signed a business consignment contract for the cultivation of early-maturing Paulownia saplings with a nursery company in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka.
- September 2021
- Started trial production of early-maturing Paulownia plywood with a plywood company in Niigata City.
- November 2021
- Resumed early-maturing Paulownia planting (biomass fuel test planting in Tazawako Town, Akita Prefecture).
- January 2022
- Applied for the registration of early-maturing Paulownia varieties, registered name "Japalownia."
- April-November 2022
- Launched full-scale early-maturing Paulownia planting nationwide, approximately 15,000 saplings.
- November 2022
- Conducted a measurement survey of CO2 absorption for early-maturing Paulownia in collaboration with Takasaki Health and Welfare University.
- March 2023 - Present
- Implemented planting of early-maturing Paulownia in Mie, Fukui, Saitama, Fukuoka, and Niigata prefectures after mature tree harvesting, initiated various product prototypes as an exit strategy, continuing development of furniture, early-maturing Paulownia biochar, pellets, plywood, CLT, and more.