L'Occitane's tree-planting activities. A total of 6,874 trees donated to Yamato, Kumamoto. Actress Nicole Ishida experiences tree planting for the first time.
L'Occitane donated 1,688 saplings to Yamato, Kumamoto for its 6th annual tree-planting event. Actress Nicole Ishida participated alongside local officials, bringing the total number of trees planted to 6,874.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 03:12
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L'Occitane has donated 1,688 saplings this year to Yamato, Kumamoto Prefecture, marking the sixth year of its tree-planting activities in the area. On Sunday, April 19, 2026, actress Nicole Ishida joined the Vice Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, the Mayor of Yamato, general participants, and L'Occitane employees to plant the saplings. To date, L'Occitane has planted a total of 6,874 saplings covering a planting area of approximately 2.75 hectares, contributing to forest creation that nurtures the rich ecosystem of Yamato, located on the Shiraito Plateau. Furthermore, in this 50th anniversary year of the Maison's founding, a plaque was erected at the planting site as proof of their continued activities.
L'Occitane official online store: https://jp.loccitane.com/more-than-a-brand
Nicole Ishida also participated for the first time. Contributing to the creation of forests that nurture Yamato's rich ecosystem.
Born in 1976 in Haute-Provence, Southern France, a region rich in global biodiversity, L'Occitane.
Since its founding, even before the word "sustainability" existed, the brand has infused the power of nature into its products and has long engaged in CSR activities to protect nature and the people living there.
Currently, as a measure against climate change, L'Occitane is promoting tree-planting projects worldwide. In Japan, resonating with the "Present Tree® in Kumamoto Yamato" initiative developed by the certified NPO Environmental Relations Research Institute, which aims to regenerate forests in Yamato, Kumamoto, the brand has been engaging in tree-planting activities in Yamato since 2021.
Yamato, Kumamoto is said to be the birthplace of organic farming and ranks first nationwide in the number of registered organic farmers. It was certified as an "SDGs Future City" in 2021 and a "Nature Coexistence Site" designated by the government in 2023. It is a land rich in flora and fauna diversity, confirmed to be a habitat for the Japanese serow, a special natural monument, and other endangered species. However, a portion of the forest was lost due to the Kumamoto earthquakes. L'Occitane resonated with Yamato, a town rich in biodiversity just like Haute-Provence, and its initiatives, and has continued to support them.
For its 6th year, L'Occitane donated 1,688 saplings. At the tree-planting event held on April 19, in addition to Kumamoto Vice Governor Takeuchi, Yamato Mayor Sakamoto, general participants, local residents, high school students, and seven employees including L'Occitane Japon President Yamamoto, actress Nicole Ishida, who resonated with this activity, also participated in the event for the first time. Under the blessing rain, about 80 people planted 500 saplings of 29 species suitable for this land, which were part of the donated saplings.
Nicole Ishida, who visited Haute-Provence last year and saw L'Occitane's nature conservation activities, experienced tree planting for the first time.
"I am happy to be given this opportunity. I have been looking forward to planting trees today. I hope to be of some help to the people of Yamato and the nature of Yamato. It's unfortunately raining today, but I will do my best while having fun and returning to my childhood," she said enthusiastically.
After actually visiting Yamato and experiencing the tree planting, Nicole Ishida shared her thoughts: "The people of Provence and the people of Yamato share the same feelings of cherishing this beautiful nature. And I was deeply impressed that both L'Occitane and Yamato are engaging in activities with a long-term perspective that looks ahead not only to their own generation but also to the next generation. I learned anew that forest creation takes decades or even centuries."
A total of 6,874 saplings have been planted, with a planting area of approximately 2.75 hectares.
On the mountain slope of the planting site facing the terraced rice fields and tea plantations, participants carefully planted the saplings one by one while envisioning the future satoyama (managed woodlands). By planting broadleaf saplings of various tree species suitable for local vegetation, such as wild cherry and konara oak, the satoyama is maintained, protecting the landscape of the terraced rice fields of the Shiraito Plateau in Yamato and the precious and diverse living creatures that inhabit it.
The saplings donated this year were purchased with funds from the "Race for sustainability," where distances moved translate into donations, conducted by L'Occitane during last year's sustainability month.
Through L'Occitane's continuous activities over 6 years, the total number of saplings planted in Yamato has reached 6,874, with a planting area of approximately 2.75 hectares. The saplings planted in 2021, when the tree-planting activities began, have now grown to over 2 meters in height, transforming the mountain slope into an unrecognizably lush and overgrown land.
(Left) Saplings planted this year (Right) Trees planted in 2021
Furthermore, in this memorable year marking the 50th anniversary of the Maison's founding, a plaque was erected at the planting site. This encapsulates the proof of continuous collaborative efforts by three parties: the local government of Yamato, the certified NPO Environmental Relations Research Institute operating "Present Tree® in Kumamoto Yamato," and L'Occitane, as well as their determination for future forest regeneration.
(From left: L'Occitane Japon President Yamamoto, Actress Nicole Ishida, Certified NPO Environmental Relations Research Institute Chairman Suzuki, Yamato Mayor Sakamoto)
About Yamato, Kumamoto Prefecture
Yamato, Kumamoto Prefecture was selected in 2021 as an SDG...
L'Occitane official online store: https://jp.loccitane.com/more-than-a-brand
Nicole Ishida also participated for the first time. Contributing to the creation of forests that nurture Yamato's rich ecosystem.
Born in 1976 in Haute-Provence, Southern France, a region rich in global biodiversity, L'Occitane.
Since its founding, even before the word "sustainability" existed, the brand has infused the power of nature into its products and has long engaged in CSR activities to protect nature and the people living there.
Currently, as a measure against climate change, L'Occitane is promoting tree-planting projects worldwide. In Japan, resonating with the "Present Tree® in Kumamoto Yamato" initiative developed by the certified NPO Environmental Relations Research Institute, which aims to regenerate forests in Yamato, Kumamoto, the brand has been engaging in tree-planting activities in Yamato since 2021.
Yamato, Kumamoto is said to be the birthplace of organic farming and ranks first nationwide in the number of registered organic farmers. It was certified as an "SDGs Future City" in 2021 and a "Nature Coexistence Site" designated by the government in 2023. It is a land rich in flora and fauna diversity, confirmed to be a habitat for the Japanese serow, a special natural monument, and other endangered species. However, a portion of the forest was lost due to the Kumamoto earthquakes. L'Occitane resonated with Yamato, a town rich in biodiversity just like Haute-Provence, and its initiatives, and has continued to support them.
For its 6th year, L'Occitane donated 1,688 saplings. At the tree-planting event held on April 19, in addition to Kumamoto Vice Governor Takeuchi, Yamato Mayor Sakamoto, general participants, local residents, high school students, and seven employees including L'Occitane Japon President Yamamoto, actress Nicole Ishida, who resonated with this activity, also participated in the event for the first time. Under the blessing rain, about 80 people planted 500 saplings of 29 species suitable for this land, which were part of the donated saplings.
Nicole Ishida, who visited Haute-Provence last year and saw L'Occitane's nature conservation activities, experienced tree planting for the first time.
"I am happy to be given this opportunity. I have been looking forward to planting trees today. I hope to be of some help to the people of Yamato and the nature of Yamato. It's unfortunately raining today, but I will do my best while having fun and returning to my childhood," she said enthusiastically.
After actually visiting Yamato and experiencing the tree planting, Nicole Ishida shared her thoughts: "The people of Provence and the people of Yamato share the same feelings of cherishing this beautiful nature. And I was deeply impressed that both L'Occitane and Yamato are engaging in activities with a long-term perspective that looks ahead not only to their own generation but also to the next generation. I learned anew that forest creation takes decades or even centuries."
A total of 6,874 saplings have been planted, with a planting area of approximately 2.75 hectares.
On the mountain slope of the planting site facing the terraced rice fields and tea plantations, participants carefully planted the saplings one by one while envisioning the future satoyama (managed woodlands). By planting broadleaf saplings of various tree species suitable for local vegetation, such as wild cherry and konara oak, the satoyama is maintained, protecting the landscape of the terraced rice fields of the Shiraito Plateau in Yamato and the precious and diverse living creatures that inhabit it.
The saplings donated this year were purchased with funds from the "Race for sustainability," where distances moved translate into donations, conducted by L'Occitane during last year's sustainability month.
Through L'Occitane's continuous activities over 6 years, the total number of saplings planted in Yamato has reached 6,874, with a planting area of approximately 2.75 hectares. The saplings planted in 2021, when the tree-planting activities began, have now grown to over 2 meters in height, transforming the mountain slope into an unrecognizably lush and overgrown land.
(Left) Saplings planted this year (Right) Trees planted in 2021
Furthermore, in this memorable year marking the 50th anniversary of the Maison's founding, a plaque was erected at the planting site. This encapsulates the proof of continuous collaborative efforts by three parties: the local government of Yamato, the certified NPO Environmental Relations Research Institute operating "Present Tree® in Kumamoto Yamato," and L'Occitane, as well as their determination for future forest regeneration.
(From left: L'Occitane Japon President Yamamoto, Actress Nicole Ishida, Certified NPO Environmental Relations Research Institute Chairman Suzuki, Yamato Mayor Sakamoto)
About Yamato, Kumamoto Prefecture
Yamato, Kumamoto Prefecture was selected in 2021 as an SDG...