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.
To date, more than 3,700 employees and family members from Mitsui & Co. and its group companies have participated in this year-round program. Participants carry out rice planting, weeding, and harvesting by hand, and the agrochemical-free rice harvested through the project is used to brew sake, which is later bottled and released. In addition to rice cultivation, participants take part in local biodiversity surveys and environmental monitoring. As a result of these efforts, the yatsuda ecosystem—including fireflies and other native species—has been restored, providing participants with a tangible understanding of the recovery and conservation of natural capital.
These long-standing efforts to restore satoyama^* landscapes and conserve biodiversity were recognized through the designation of the project area as "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" by Japan's Ministry of the Environment in the first half of FY2024. The certification was awarded to the collaborative project between the Asaza Fund and Mitsui & Co. focused on the satoyama area surrounding the water source in Ushiku.
Beginning in FY2025, biodiversity monitoring activities were incorporated into the program as part of the "Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Site" initiative. These activities provide participants with opportunities to observe changes in biodiversity and the recovery of the satoyama environment firsthand, helping them visualize the progress of ecological restoration efforts.
Through these activities, Mitsui aims to deepen employees' understanding of environmental issues while contributing to the development 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.