Abstract
This study examines the history of Japan’s sawmilling industry, particularly focusing on sawlog use. Based on statistics, business publications, interview results, and other materials, the following results are obtained. First, as the import of sawlogs began increasing around 1960, sawmills chose log species they could secure enough quantities of in better conditions, and concentrated on specific products suitable for the respective log species chosen. This created lumber-producing centers specialized in log species and respective produced items. Thereafter, because of inter-regional competition, only up to three producing center（s）for each log species increased their market share, leading to inter-regional specialization or habitat segregation. Second, the replacement of log species is an issue for sawmills, because there is a strong relationship between log species, produced items, and mill location. However, imported-log sawmilling attempts to continue producing the same products, even by substituting log species. Finally, after 2000, domestic sawlog use by imported-log sawmills spread, reducing their competitive strength, due to the suitability of log species, produced items, and mill location. On the other hand, the decrease in imported-log sawmilling and growth of domestic forest resources expanded produced items and mill locations in domestic-log sawmilling. These changes further caused industry restructuring.
