#Japan #Tochigi #Hajime Construction #Koyama North Sakura High School #Architecture Tour

Insight Into Hajime Construction's Educational Initiative

On July 9, 2026, Hajime Construction Co., a key player within the Iida Group Holdings, organized a significant educational site visit tailored for 31 second-year students from the Construction System Department of Tochigi Prefecture's Koyama North Sakura High School. This visit focused on wooden house construction and is part of an effort to promote awareness and understanding of the construction industry among future builders and architects.

Importance of the Site Tour

The construction industry faces pressing challenges, including a dramatic decrease in the workforce, which has fallen to 4.78 million by 2025 compared to a peak of 6.85 million in 1997. Coupled with significant retirements among the baby boomer generation and the implementation of work-hour regulations in April 2024, the necessity for improved productivity and talent retention has become critical. Furthermore, with a job availability ratio of 4.10 for high school graduates and an astonishing 31.90 for those completing vocational programs, attracting talent to construction is more vital than ever.

Hajime Construction aims to address these challenges by providing high school students with firsthand experience in construction environments. This initiative not only promotes the trade but also highlights the diverse career paths available within the industry.

Details of the Site Visit

The event opened with a welcoming address from Fujikawa, an executive officer at Hajime Construction, who discussed vital topics such as heat stroke prevention strategies and gave an overview of the residences being toured. The students visited two residential construction sites — one under foundation work and another, a single-story wooden house still in progress.

During the foundation phase, students learned about the essential groundwork supporting the structures. At the ongoing single-story unit site, they were introduced to various components critical to building wooden houses, including layouts, lumber types, hardware, roofing systems, and plumbing and electrical setups. The use of the construction management app