As a country that has been using wood in housing construction and other applications for many years, Japan has procured timber from all over the globe. North America has long been a steady supply source for quality timber in Japan, and continues to be a key source to this day.

Sumitomo Forestry began importing North American timber from an early stage, establishing representative offices in both Seattle in the United States and Vancouver in Canada in the 1960's.

We procure logs and timber produced in North America and export them to Japan.

The United States is the world's largest market for wooden housing. Sumitomo Forestry was the first major Japanese housing builder to enter the U.S. market. In Seattle, where we have our timber and building materials distribution base, we established Bennett-SFS L.L.C. as a joint venture with a local housing construction company in 2002. In 2003, we began sales of spec homes.

Through Bennett-SFS, we offer safe and comfortable housing and also learn about the U.S. housing industry. In our quest for knowledge, we test and verify U.S. housing customs, culture, construction methods and market environment. Using this information, we try to offer new housing that incorporates the best of Japanese homes, including designs that make more efficient use of land and space.

Going forward, we hope to provide much-loved housing to communities far and wide, well beyond the Seattle area.