Kodama Gomu Corporation, a Hiroshima-based rubber processing company established 64 years ago, is challenging the upcycling revolution 　Event to Create New Value from Scrap Materials to be Held on September 6(Sat.) and 7(Sun.) 　～Peace and the Environment with the "No Throwing Away Spirit" - A New Revolution in Upcycling

Kodama Gomu Corp. (Managing Director: Ken Kodama), a rubber processing company with a 64-year history in Hiroshima Prefecture, will hold the "LIFE CYCLE MARKET: Power of Margins: Protecting Life and the Earth through Upcycling" event on September 6 and 7, 2025, at MUJI Hiroshima Alpark, a venue that considers peace and a sustainable future through upcycling of scrap wood. The event will be held at MUJI Hiroshima Alpark on September 6 and 7, 2025. Crowdfunding is now underway on READYFOR with a goal of 1,000,000 yen.

LIFE CYCLE MARKET main visual

20 tons of scrap lumber a year speaks to us about "mottainai" (what a waste)

In a corner of a factory, scrap wood is piled up as if it has finished its role. But are they really worthless?" The "Mottainai" story is based on a story of a young man who was born in Japan. Kodama, who studied life science at Nagoya University's graduate school and was engaged in research and development at a pharmaceutical company, joined the family business and realized that even a small town factory generates more than 20 tons of scrap wood annually.

What a waste!

I want to give materials that would otherwise be thrown away a chance to see the light of day.

Materials made with our technology can be useful to someone somewhere.

Together with our friends who share these thoughts, we launched the Upcycle Project in 2024 to give new value to scrap wood and reuse it.

Various scrap materials

■The origins of upcycling learned from the barracks after the atomic bombing

The turning point of the project was an encounter with Rekiseisha, a 120-year-old foil-stamped paper manufacturer. At a time when many people were living in barracks in Hiroshima after the atomic bombing, there were many suicides due to depression caused by leaking rain. What saved them from this dire situation was waterproof paper made by Rekiyo-Sha by coating paper with coal tar.

Kodama focused on two common themes: the reconstruction and development of Hiroshima, which had lost nothing after the atomic bombing, and upcycling, which gives new value to scrap materials that were destined to be thrown away. Focusing on these two commonalities, Kodama says, "I want to connect the creativity born from the difficulties of the past to the sustainability of the future.

When you think about it, building barracks out of rubble is also upcycling. It was a desperate measure due to unavoidable circumstances, but there are many lessons for modern society to be learned from the efforts of people to protect lives by focusing on their wisdom.

Barracks built with rubble after the atomic bombing Photographed by: Shunkichi Kikuchi, copyright inherited by: Harumi Tago

■Reality of upcycling awareness of only 7.5%.

According to a 2021 survey by Orange Page Inc., the awareness of upcycling is 30.9%, and only 7.5% of the respondents even know its meaning. Awareness of the town's end-of-life issues is even lower.

I suspect that few people, even those from Hiroshima, associate the word "upcycling" with the atomic bombing. I didn't even realize it until I heard Rekiyo-sha's story," said Kodama. By reconsidering the A-bomb from the perspective of upcycling, we can see a rich expanse of creativity and awareness of life-saving technology, sustainability learned from circulation and regeneration, and the passing on of memories and connection to the future.

■Experiencing the "spirit of not discarding" through four projects

This event will convey the value of upcycling through the following four projects:

(1) Panel display: Introducing examples of Hibakusha and upcycling, and the importance of a resource-recycling economy

(2) Display and sale of scrap wood and upcycled products: Pouches made from used Hiroshima Thunder's volleyballs and other products exclusive to the event

Upcycled products to be exhibited and sold

Event-exclusive products made from used Hiroshima Thunder's volleyballs

(3) Workshops: Coin case making with used MUJI banners, design thinking class for elementary and junior high school students

Making coin cases using used MUJI banners

Design thinking experience class for elementary and junior high school students

(4) Live painting: Participatory art by Hi-zai, a painter from Hiroshima. Visitors are also invited to pick up a brush and paint peace and a sustainable future together.

Live painting with visitor participation

The Serious Reality of Incineration of 45% of Industrial Waste

Currently, about 45% of industrial waste is incinerated without being recycled, leading to CO2 emissions. Many fossil fuels are used in the manufacture of new materials, and given the supply constraints caused by the Corona disaster and the Ukraine crisis, domestic resource recycling is becoming more important in the resource-poor island nation of Japan.

The Japanese government has also adopted a "growth-oriented resource-autonomous economy strategy," aiming to achieve a sustainable resource-recycling economy, and the efforts of Kodama and his colleagues are in line with the needs of the times.

■A unique career path from biotechnology to a fascination with the world of rubber

Kodama recalls, "I have been fascinated by living creatures since I was a child, and I have studied in the biotech world without paying attention to the family business. After working for more than 10 years in research and development at in vitro diagnostic drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, he joined the family business in 2021. I am now fascinated by the fascinating and profound world of rubber," he says, "and I am taking on the challenge of creating new products by utilizing my experience in different fields.

■Prospects for a Sustainable Future

With this project, the company aims to promote upcycling education in collaboration with local educational institutions, build an end-of-life network with other machineries, and promote archival activities that link upcycling with the memory of the atomic bombing.

This project is a bridge to connect the lessons of the past to the future. In a country with limited resources, we will raise our voices from the frontlines of manufacturing in order to build a sustainable society.

Outline of the event

Name: LIFE CYCLE MARKET - Power of Margins: Protecting Lives and the Earth through Upcycling

Date: September 6 (Sat.) and 7 (Sun.), 2025, 10:00-16:00

Venue: MUJI Hiroshima Alpark OpenMUJI

　　　(Alpark West Wing 2F, 1-16-1 Iguchi Myojin, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture)

Outline of Crowdfunding

Platform: READYFOR

URL ： https://readyfor.jp/projects/life-cycle-market

Target amount: 1,000,000 yen (All-or-Nothing method)

Application period: Tuesday, September 30, until 11:00 p.m.

Company Profile

Company name: Kodama Gomu Corporation

Location: 3-3 Kawaramachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Representative: Yoko Kodama

Establishment : March 1961

Capital ： 10 million yen

Business : Processing, sales and wholesale of industrial rubber products

URL : https://kodama-gomu.com/