Since 2007, Mitsui & Co. has been working together with the Asaza Fund (NPO) on the "Yatsuda Regeneration Project," a project for regenerating deteriorated yatsuda paddies (a rice paddy in the valley of a low, hilly area) in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture, by growing agrochemical-free rice, and through other activities. Employees from Mitsui and its group companies, together with their families, more than a total of 3,500 individuals to date participate in this year-long program, in which rice planting, weeding, and harvesting are done by hand, and the collected agrochemical-free rice is used to brew sake. At the same time as growing rice, Mitsui also conducts biological studies of the area. The program is designed to help revive the ecosystem of the yatsuda, including insects like fireflies, and give participants the chance to experience the cycle of nature, firsthand.
Through years of dedicated efforts to restore satoyama landscapes^* and conserve biodiversity, our initiatives were officially recognized as "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites" by Japan's Ministry of the Environment for the first half of fiscal year 2024.
This recognition was awarded to the collaborative project between the Asaza Fund and Mitsui & Co., focused on the satoyama area surrounding the water source in Ushiku. Starting in 2025, as part of the activities under "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites"
designation, we plan to incorporate biodiversity monitoring experiences into our employee participation programs. These programs will enable participants to observe and record changes in biodiversity and the recovery of the natural environment, thereby visualizing the progress of ecological restoration efforts. Through these activities, we aim to deepen employees' understanding of environmental issues and further contribute to the creation of sustainable local communities.

* Satoyama refers to areas located between untouched natural environments and urban spaces, where human interaction has shaped unique ecosystems. These areas typically consist of secondary forests, managed woodlands, agricultural fields, ponds, and grasslands surrounding rural settlements.

Yatsuda Regeneration Project

Mitsui Australia participates in a National Tree Day event promoted by Planet Ark as part of its initiatives to contribute to environmental protection. Mitsui Australia's branch and Group company employees have participated in this event together with their families every year since 2015. As many as 300,000 volunteers participate in tree-planting on National Tree Day, and approximately 27 million trees have been planted since the launch of the campaign in 1996. Australia is highly advanced with its ESG initiatives, and Mitsui Australia places a high level of importance in employee contribution initiatives, including in the area of environmental protection, and will continue to proactively contribute to a bright future for its host country Australia.