Kagoshima Prefecture Wins 14th Green Purchasing Award

The Green Purchasing Network, a Japanese environmental network, announced the 14th Green Purchasing Awards on September 24, 2012, and the Environment Minister's Award went to Kagoshima Prefecture for "Promoting vitalization of forestry industries including campaigns of local consumption on local products by developing and spreading office furniture made with lumber produced in Kagoshima Prefecture."

Kagoshima Prefecture, in collaboration with Okamura Corp., a major office furniture manufacturer in Japan, developed the office furniture using Japanese cypress and cedar lumber from Kagoshima, and prepared brochures for merchandising the furniture in order to promote the greater utilization of local lumber. Kagoshima Prefecture was evaluated for voluntarily developing products and brochures and for taking various measures, while involving furniture manufacturers as well as forest cooperatives.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Award was given to the Okinawa EV Promotion Council's "Brighter Future of EV tourism in Okinawa" for introducing electric vehicles (EVs) as rental cars for tourists.