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Tokyo-NbS Action Award: Celebrating Nature in Inagi City

In a remarkable achievement, the Pal System Tokyo, headquartered in Shinjuku, has been awarded the Tokyo-NbS Action Award for its excellence in promoting community and nature conservation initiatives in the Inagi City area. Centered around the Inagi Megumi no Satoyama project, this recognition highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in maintaining and utilizing natural environments for the benefit of the community.

The Tokyo-NbS Action Award, introduced by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2024, aims to acknowledge initiatives that leverage natural solutions to address various societal challenges. Following the updated Tokyo Biodiversity Regional Strategy introduced in April 2023, the award celebrates businesses and organizations implementing sustainable practices that benefit nature and society alike. This year, 52 groups applied for the award, with only four selected as winners, making Pal System's achievement significant in the context of environmental conservation efforts.

The Inagi Megumi no Satoyama spans about 2.5 hectares and serves as a hub for nature experience activities and conservation efforts involving local residents, employees, and partner organizations. The continuous dedication to community-building and maintaining the Satoyama area led Pal System to achieve the distinction in the small to medium-sized organization category.

An award ceremony will be held on January 27, 2026, at the Park Tower Hall in Shinjuku, where Pal System staff will not only receive the award but also share reports on activities conducted at the Inagi Megumi no Satoyama.

Event Details

• - Date: January 27, 2026
• - Time: 15:00 to 17:00
• - Venue: Park Tower Hall, 3rd Floor, 3-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
• - Registration: https://www.kankyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/nature/nbs/award2025
• - Deadline: January 26, 2026
• - Capacity: 200 participants

The Inagi Megumi no Satoyama site was established in 2004, rescuing a long-neglected area in Inagi City that had become overgrown with bamboo grasses. It was transformed into a community space offering agricultural experiences and bamboo grove maintenance. In 2017, Pal System acquired the land, and the following year, it was designated as a natural environment conservation area by Inagi City.

In the fiscal year 2024, the project hosted 68 events, engaging 2,476 participants in activities such as wildlife surveys, bamboo crafting, and harvesting produce. An on-site pizza oven even allows community members to prepare meals with their harvested goods, promoting culinary engagement within the local population.

With collaboration from nuucoto Ltd., headed by Kanako Ohta, events are designed to enrich the connection between people and nature. In partnership with the JUON NETWORK, a certified NPO based in Suginami, along with researchers, the project continues to enhance conservation efforts and ecological monitoring.

Local volunteers, including staff, residents, and children, contribute towards the maintenance of the bamboo groves, actively participating in forest management initiatives to rejuvenate areas that had become overrun with bamboo, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Satoyama environment.

By engaging diverse stakeholders, Pal System's persistent management of the Satoyama ecosystem over the past 20 years has ultimately culminated in this prestigious award. As 2025 marks the International Year of Cooperatives declared by the United Nations, Pal System Tokyo aims to continue leveraging the power of community collaboration to tackle pressing societal issues through nature-based solutions.

About Pal System Tokyo

• - Location: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• - Chairperson: Yoko Nishimura
• - Capital: ¥22.57 billion
• - Membership: 539,000
• - Total Business Value: ¥88.32 billion (as of March 2025)
• - Website: https://www.palsystem-tokyo.coop/

This award reaffirms the organization's commitment to harnessing natural resources for sustainable community development and engagement with local ecosystems.