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.