Collaboration with Universities
To create a sustainable society, we work on researching and creating Satoyama for local communities in collaboration with five universities: Waseda University, the University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, Kyoto University, and Chiba University.
Waseda University
In September 2020, we established AEON TOWA Research Center to address environmental issues. Its initiatives include forest creation, sustainable community development, and developing future global environmental leaders.
*TO in TOWA stands for Takuya Okada, the honorary chairman of AEON who proposed the establishment of the research center; WA stands for Waseda University; and TOWA in Japanese stands for “eternity,” which is the Latin meaning of the word AEON.
Main collaboration activities
Creation of forests | Activities of planting, nurturing trees and making use of forest resources that consider the environment, traditions and culture of local areas. |
---|---|
Development of regions | Developing sustainable regions with integrated environment, economy and society, through forest creation. |
Development of human resources | Developing globally active environmental leaders of the next generation. |

In 2022, we started endowed courses to conduct research in major Satoyama-fields based on the theory of sustainable community development.
The University of Tokyo
From 2017 to 2021, we collaborated with the Institute for Future Initiatives of The University of Tokyo to hold AEON-Future Earth Forum.

In March 2022, we co-founded AEON-Todai Satoyama Lab to enhance local economies and promote harmony with nature. Our research in Hadano City explores Satoyama's role in frailty prevention and healthy aging.
Tohoku University
With the aim of building a safe and secure resilient community amid various risks such as natural disasters, global climate change, and large-scale infectious diseases, we are planning activities that will include participation of local residents, focusing on disaster prevention and mitigation, forest design, and countermeasures for infectious diseases.
Main activities
~ Toward building resilient community ~
Disaster prevention and mitigation (continuity) |
・New initiatives such as building a BCP system and smart community based on a carbon-free society. ・Actions to support local residents and guests in the case of a disaster. ・Workshops with Tohoku University students, etc. |
---|---|
Forest design (creation) |
・Greening programs to grow and make use of local tree species that are most suitable for the local natural environment. ・Workshops with Tohoku University students, etc. |
Countermeasures for infectious diseases (health care) |
・Measures to prevent the spread of infection in facilities ・Initiatives for software measures such as disseminating information on infection prevention using IT. |

In June 2021, we partnered with Tohoku University International Research Institute of Disaster Science and AEON Mall Co., Ltd. to launch joint research lab. focusing on creating resilient communities. With elementary students, we nurture native seedlings to create a disaster-resistant urban landscape.
Kyoto University

In July 2022, we launched the New Satoyama-Satoumi Cocreation Project with the Kyoto University Field Science Education and Research Center to promote education and collaboration for Satoyama and Satoumi preservation.
Chiba University

In 2021, we began research on creating Satoyama considering landscape, biodiversity and utilization at the Graduate School of Horticulture. We conduct research from tree planting to nurturing, biomass accumulation, biodiversity, and compile the results of the practicum.