Keio Plaza Hotel Launches 'MODRINAE' Seedling Return Project for 55th Anniversary

Key facts

  • Keio Plaza Hotel Launches 'MODRINAE' Seedling Return Project for 55th Anniversary
  • Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo is introducing the MODRINAE forest conservation project by Somanobase Co. as part of its 55th anniversary, having staff grow acorn seedlings for 2 years before replanting them in Japanese forests.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: June 4, 2026

Direct answer

Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo is introducing the MODRINAE forest conservation project by Somanobase Co. as part of its 55th anniversary, having staff grow acorn seedlings for 2 years before replanting them in Japanese forests.

Citation
Keio Plaza Hotel Launches 'MODRINAE' Seedling Return Project for 55th Anniversary (June 4, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
June 4, 2026
Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo is introducing the MODRINAE forest conservation project by Somanobase Co. as part of its 55th anniversary, having staff grow acorn seedlings for 2 years before replanting them in Japanese forests.
sustainabilityNQ 79/100出典:PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 22:00
  • 🔍 Collected: June 4, 2026 at 13:21
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 22:21 (56h 59m after Collected)
Keio Plaza Hotel (Shinjuku, Tokyo; President: Katsumasa Wakabayashi) is launching a staff-led forest conservation initiative called 'MODRINAE' (Modori-nae / Seedling Return), developed by Somanobase Co. (Tanabe City, Wakayama; CEO: Tokika Okugawa), as part of its 55th anniversary commemorative programs in 2026.

The initiative reflects the hotel's philosophy of 'returning what we use back to the forest with our own hands.' Staff will grow seedlings from acorns over approximately two years, then return them to mountain forests, creating a new cycle connecting urban life with nature. Six seedling-nurturing units — five log-type and one ladder-shelf-type — will be installed at staff-accessible locations including in front of the employee cafeteria.

The project embodies the hotel's action guideline 'We nurture the Plaza (public space),' which emphasizes social contribution and environmentally conscious management. Beyond environmental conservation, it aims to foster cross-departmental staff connections and build community trust. Grown seedlings are collected by Somanobase and replanted in abandoned plantation sites in Wakayama Prefecture and elsewhere.

Somanobase, founded May 25, 2021, in Tanabe City, Wakayama, aims for 'zero human casualties from landslide disasters' by nurturing the relationship between forests and society through forestry expertise combined with disaster prevention, social business, finance, and creative knowledge.

Project detail: https://modrinae.somanobase.com/

FAQ

What is the Keio Plaza Hotel's MODRINAE (Modori-nae) project?

A participatory forest conservation project launched as part of the hotel's 55th anniversary commemoration. Hotel staff grow seedlings from acorns for approximately two years before transplanting them to abandoned plantation sites in Wakayama Prefecture through partner company Somanobase.

How many seedling cultivation units has Keio Plaza Hotel installed?

Six units in total: five log-type and one ladder shelf-type, placed in staff-frequented areas such as the employee cafeteria.

Who is Keio Plaza Hotel's partner for this forest project?

Somanobase Co., Ltd. (founded May 25, 2021), headquartered in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, representative director Tokika Okugawa. The company specializes in forestry, disaster prevention, and social business.

Why did Keio Plaza Hotel start this sustainability initiative?

Following the establishment of an SDGs Promotion Committee in May 2024, the hotel sought to give back to the forest resources it relies on daily, embodying its guiding principle 'We nurture the Plaza' through staff-led environmental action.

Where can I learn more about the MODRINAE project?

Detailed information is available at https://modrinae.somanobase.com/ and Somanobase's corporate site at https://somanobase.com/