Shimokawa-cho in Hokkaido is a town rich in nature. Forest accounts for about 90% of the town. People in the town launched new projects using resources of the town for sustainability, while the population declined after the 1960s.
The usage of forest biomass energy is the one of the projects. This project turns unused scraps of forest wood into chips, which are then turned into heat energy, creating new industries leading to regional activation. Shiitake mushrooms are one product produced by the heat of biomass energy in the town. As a result, younger generations have started to move to the town for these industries. The town was selected as a “Future City” by the government in 2011. People in the town are taking the initiative to lead projects for continuing sustainability in the region into the future.