Japan Greenery Research and Development Center

The Japan Greenery Research and Development Center (一般財団法人日本緑化センター, Nihon Ryokuka Center) is a Japanese general incorporated foundation based in Tokyo that works to advance greenery and urban greening in Japan. Its activities span research and development, technical support, and the administration of professional qualifications related to trees and landscaping. The organization is best known as the body that operates the 'Tree Doctor' (樹木医, jumokui) certification, a private Japanese qualification for the conservation, diagnosis, and treatment of street trees, natural monuments, and other cultural-property trees. The 'Tree Doctor' name is trademark-registered by the center, making it a de facto name-exclusive qualification that only those who pass its examination committee's screening may use. The center's work covers a broad range of greenery-related fields. Its website lists services and programs including tree-doctor and tree-doctor-assistant certification, greenery diagnosis, nature-reproduction diagnosis, greenery supporters, green-space and urban-greening measures, disaster and recovery measures, and the publication of technical reports and materials. It also organizes training courses, seminars, and field events for registered tree doctors and related professionals, and provides downloadable materials for members. The Tree Doctor system began in April 1991 as part of a Forestry Agency subsidized project, and the first 76 certified tree doctors were produced in November of that year. Originally a qualification certified by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, it was transferred to the private sector following the government's 1996 deregulation policy, and the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center took over the business. The center trademark-registered the 'Tree Doctor' name in 1997. Today the center conducts a two-stage screening process for the qualification, maintains the tree-doctor registry, and requires registered tree doctors to renew their registration every five years. Through this qualification and its broader greening programs, the center functions as a key institution in Japan's urban-greening and tree-conservation field.

The Japan Greenery Research and Development Center is a Japanese general incorporated foundation based in Tokyo that promotes greenery and urban greening. Its most prominent public role is as the administrator of the 'Tree Doctor' (樹木医) qualification, a private Japanese certification for the conservation, diagnosis, and treatment of street trees, natural monuments, and other cultural-property trees. The Tree Doctor system was launched in April 1991 as part of the Forestry Agency's subsidized 'Furusato no Ki Hozen Taisaku Jigyo' (hometown tree conservation measures project). The first 76 certified tree doctors were produced in November of that year. At that time, the qualification was certified by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In September 1996, following a Cabinet decision on the government's policy of public deregulation, it was determined that qualifications and certification businesses conducted by public-interest corporations without a legal basis would no longer involve national government recommendation or certification from fiscal 2001 onward. As a result, the business was taken over by the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center, and the qualification moved to the private sector. The 'Tree Doctor' name was trademark-registered by the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center in 1997, making it a de facto name-exclusive qualification that only those who pass the screening conducted by the Tree Doctor Examination Committee may use. Almost all successful candidates join the Japan Tree Doctors Association, and there is a related academic society, the Tree Medical Society. Today the center conducts a two-stage screening process for the qualification. Applicants must first pass a first-stage screening (written examination and performance review), for which eligibility requires at least five years of work experience in tree diagnosis and treatment, or, for those holding the Tree Doctor Assistant qualification, at least one year of work experience after certification. Those who pass then undergo a second-stage screening consisting of roughly two weeks of training (lectures and practical exercises), with almost daily written examinations, a tree-species identification aptitude test, and a final interview. Those who pass the qualification review by the Tree Doctor System Council may submit a tree-doctor registration application and are granted registration and a certificate. Registered tree doctors are listed in the tree-doctor registry, which is submitted by the center to the Forestry Agency, prefectural greening departments, and prefectural greening centers, and is available for inspection. Tree doctors are required to renew their registration every five years. Beyond the qualification, the center's website lists a wide range of activities, including greenery diagnosis, nature-reproduction diagnosis, greenery supporters, green-space and urban-greening measures, disaster and recovery measures, and the publication of technical reports and materials. It organizes training courses, seminars, and field events for registered tree doctors and related professionals, and provides downloadable materials for members. Through these activities, the center functions as a key institution in Japan's urban-greening and tree-conservation field.

• 2001

  From fiscal 2001, the national government ceased involvement in recommendation and certification for such qualifications, and the center took over the business.

• 1997

  The 'Tree Doctor' name was trademark-registered by the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center.

• 1996

  Following a September Cabinet decision on deregulation, the qualification business was transferred from government certification to the private sector.

• 1991

  Tree Doctor system launched in April as part of the Forestry Agency's subsidized project; first 76 certified tree doctors produced in November.

A public-interest foundation and qualification body at the center of Japan's urban greening and tree-conservation field, best known for administering the trademarked Tree Doctor certification.

• Tree Doctor (樹木医) qualification

  A private Japanese qualification for the conservation, diagnosis, and treatment of street trees, natural monuments, and cultural-property trees; trademark-registered and administered by the center.

• Tree Doctor Assistant (樹木医補) qualification

  A preliminary qualification that allows holders to apply for the Tree Doctor first-stage screening after one year of work experience.

• Greenery diagnosis and nature-reproduction diagnosis

  Diagnostic services related to greenery and nature restoration listed among the center's activities.

• Training courses and seminars

  Courses, seminars, and field events for registered tree doctors and related professionals.

1. 1Japan Greenery Research and Development Center official websitejpgreen.or.jp
2. 2Wikidata: Japan Greenery Research and Development Centerwikidata.org
3. 3樹木医 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org