Keio Plaza Hotel Introduces "MODRINAE" for 55th Anniversary: Cultivating a Future Forest from Shinjuku

SomanoBase, a company dedicated to urban-forest connection aiming for "zero human damage from landslides," announces that Keio Plaza Hotel has introduced "MODRINAE," an experiential product that involves growing saplings from acorns to be later planted in mountains, as part of its 55th-anniversary commemorative project. This marks the first time in the hotel industry that multiple sapling-growing racks (ladder and log types) have been introduced for a company-wide initiative. ■ Background: Why is a Shinjuku hotel cultivating a "forest"? Since opening in 1971, Keio Plaza Hotel has welcomed many people as a "plaza" in the Shinjuku new city center. Following the establishment of its SDGs Promotion Committee in May 2024, the hotel initiated this project out of a desire to "return benefits to the forest with our own hands," in recognition of the forest resources that support hotel operations. This initiative aligns with one of the hotel's action guidelines, "We cultivate the plaza," and is positioned as a practical example. The guideline defines that for the plaza to persist, various interactions and communications with society are essential. As a member of society, the hotel aims to remain trusted by society through "continuing social contributions" and "striving for eco-friendly management." The process where staff become "parents" to the saplings and "nurture" new life in Shinjuku embodies this guideline. By fostering "human connections" across departments through cultivation, the hotel aspires to become an entity even more trusted by society. This project is expected to enhance staff connections and awareness beyond mere environmental conservation. ■ Implementation at Keio Plaza Hotel To commemorate the 55th anniversary, a total of 6 racks (5 log type, 1 ladder shelf) have been installed, mainly in front of the staff cafeteria, where many staff members pass by daily. Many staff members are taking the lead in this initiative. "We return what we have used to the forest with our own hands." Expressing gratitude for the rich blessings of the forest, the hotel aims to connect staff participation to future forest building under the spirit of "Gratitude in heart, together towards the future" at this 55th-anniversary milestone. Intuitive Tapestry Display Three-part tapestries are displayed at the installation sites, visually conveying the story from the realization that "everything we use comes from the forest" to the journey of the saplings "leaving for their hometown forests in two years." ■ About Keio Plaza Hotel Keio Plaza Hotel, opened in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 1971, is Japan's first high-rise hotel. As an urban hotel welcoming guests from home and abroad, it provides a wide range of services including accommodation, dining, banquets, and weddings. It emphasizes environmental consideration and coexistence with the local community, promoting various initiatives for a sustainable society. ■ About "MODRINAE" MODRINAE is a decorative plant that allows direct engagement in forest conservation. Saplings are grown from acorns raised in Wakayama Prefecture for about two years and then tended by individual/corporate customers as indoor plants. Once grown, SomanoBase collects the saplings and plants them in reforestation-abandoned areas in Wakayama and other regions to contribute to forest building.