Previous research on domestic timber distribution shows a significant increase in shares of laminated timber, lumber precutting by machinery, and direct sawlog procurement by large sawmills since the mid-1990s. The aim of this study was to reveal changes in the timber distribution structure since 1990s in the Nishikawa Forestry Region in Saitama Prefecture, which has characteristics of the traditional timber distribution of sawlogs consisting of transactions on the log auction organization and with small businesses operators. Methods include a statistical data survey and interviews with regional business operators regarding the sawlog volume handled, changes in the number of sellers and buyers and in sawlog prices. The main results are as follows: at the beginning of the 1990s, there were more than 100 sawmills and 7 log auction organizations; these have recently decreased to 16 sawmills and 2 log auction organizations. Sawlog prices also declined during this period. It was found that the decrease in the number of businesses operators was affected by the decrease in demand for accessory wood products and the decrease in the number of buyers from western Japan. It was also revealed that the sawmills, which are still in operation, deals directly with builder, and the lumber precut mill produces and sells furniture and joinery in addition to lumber precutting, which is different from the traditional timber distribution.

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