Challenges in High-rise Wooden Structures and the Seismic Design in Japan

Challenges in High-rise Wooden Structures and the Seismic Design in Japan

Research and development on high-rise or large-scale wooden buildings have been actively conducted both domestically and internationally. The trend of high-rise wooden buildings is driven by increasing awareness of environmental issues. To utilize wooden materials in buildings is believed to lead to the reduction of the environmental impact. On the other hand, Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, and many wooden detached houses have been damaged in past major earthquakes. This paper summarizes the issues that arise in the realization of medium- and high-rise wooden buildings in Japan, and introduces the initiatives that have been seen so far.