Risk to woodworking machinery demand from Japan’s declining population and falling housing starts
First written in FY2016. 20 of 39 entries say "Worsened", first in FY2017-Q1. Latest entry: 2026-11-12.
Kikukawa Enterprise moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2019, 1 year before the typical company in this theme (2020).
The whole theme swung hardest in 2020: 20 of 26 companies on the "Worse" side.
13 other companies' latest entry also says "Restated".
- FY2026WorsenedAnnual report
「Housing starts in fiscal 2025 published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism fell sharply to 711,171 units, down 12.9% from the previous fiscal year, due to factors including soaring construction costs, rising mortgage rates and population decline. This was the lowest level in 63 years, since fiscal 1962.」
Housing starts totaled 711,171 units, down 12.9% from the previous fiscal year, reaching their lowest level in 63 years since fiscal 1962. Housing demand risk has deteriorated in practice, accompanied by numerical evidence. - FY2026-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「In addition to continued soaring residential construction costs, the extended time required for building confirmation procedures following the revision of the Building Standards Act in April affected housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which fell sharply by 17.4% year on year during April-September.」
In addition to soaring residential construction costs, the extended confirmation schedule following the revision of the Building Standards Act affected housing starts, which fell 17.4% year on year. Housing demand risk has deteriorated in practice, accompanied by numerical evidence. - FY2025MitigatedAnnual report
「Housing starts in fiscal 2024 totaled 816,018 units, up 2.0% from the previous fiscal year and marking the first increase in 3 years, albeit a slight one. This was despite persistently high construction costs, labor shortages and declining real wages, as the bringing forward of starts ahead of the legislative revision introducing new energy-efficiency standards for new homes from April 2024 also had an effect.」
Housing starts totaled 816,018 units, up 2.0% from the previous fiscal year, marking the first increase in 3 years. However, long-term concerns remain due to persistently high construction costs, labor shortages and declining real wages. - FY2025-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for September 2024 declined for the fifth consecutive month. Demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, has also declined for 34 consecutive months due to the sluggish regional economy and persistently high construction costs, among other factors, affecting the situation.」
Housing starts declined for the fifth consecutive month, while demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, declined for the 34th consecutive month, prolonging the weakness in housing demand. The risk is quantified and has materialized as an actual decline. - FY2024WorsenedAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, cumulative housing starts for fiscal 2023 published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism totaled 800,176 units, down 7.0% from the previous fiscal year and the lowest level since the time of the Lehman shock. They were described as lacking momentum, as symbolized by the weak yen.」
Housing starts in fiscal 2023 totaled 800,176 units, down 7.0% from the previous fiscal year, reaching their lowest level since the time of the Lehman shock. Domestic housing demand risk has deteriorated with numerical evidence, and the decline has actually occurred. - FY2024-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for December 2023 declined for the seventh consecutive month. Demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, continued its declining trend for the 25th consecutive month due to the advancing decline and aging of the population, and was described as lacking momentum, as symbolized by the weak yen.」
Housing starts declined for the seventh consecutive month, while demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, declined for the 25th consecutive month, extending the declining trend from the previous 22 months. - FY2024-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for September 2023 declined for the fourth consecutive month. Demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, continued its declining trend for the 22nd consecutive month due to the advancing decline and aging of the population, and was described as lacking momentum, as symbolized by the weak yen.」
Housing starts declined for the fourth consecutive month, while demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, declined for the 22nd consecutive month, extending the declining trend from the previous 19 months. - FY2024-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for June 2023 fell 4.8% year on year, marking the first decline in 2 months. Owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, fell 12.4% year on year, marking the 19th consecutive monthly decline. Given persistently high construction costs and the possibility of rising interest rates, the outlook is expected to remain uncertain.」
Housing starts fell 4.8% year on year and owner-occupied homes fell 12.4%, marking the 19th consecutive monthly decline. The disclosure also cites persistently high construction costs and the possibility of rising interest rates, updating the weakness in the housing market related to demand for woodworking machinery. The risks are quantified and have actually materialized as declines. Quantification: true; actual occurrence: true. - FY2023Annual update on housing starts and demand for owner-occupied homesAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism totaled 860,828 units in fiscal 2022, remaining firm despite a 0.6% year-on-year decline, while demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, fell 11.3% year on year due to soaring housing prices and concerns about the economic outlook.」
Housing starts totaled 860,828 units in fiscal 2022, down 0.6% year on year, while demand for owner-occupied homes fell 11.3% year on year. The disclosure presents both the overall resilience of the housing market and the weakness in demand for owner-occupied homes, which is closely related to demand for woodworking machinery. - FY2023-Q3Update on the annual decline in demand for owner-occupied homesAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism totaled 859,529 units in 2022, a marginal 0.4% year-on-year increase, but demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, fell 11.3% year on year due to soaring housing prices and concerns about the economic outlook.」
Overall housing starts totaled 859,529 units in 2022, up 0.4% year on year, while demand for owner-occupied homes, which is closely related to demand for woodworking machinery, fell 11.3% year on year. The disclosure presents both the marginal growth in the overall housing market and the decline in demand for owner-occupied homes. - FY2023-Q2Update on the annual decline in demand for owner-occupied homesAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for September 2022 rose 1.0% year on year, marking the second consecutive monthly increase, but demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, fell 13.3% year on year, continuing its declining trend for the 10th consecutive month.」
Overall housing starts turned to a 1.0% year-on-year increase, while demand for owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, fell 13.3% and declined for the 10th consecutive month, updating the weakness in the housing market closely related to demand for woodworking machinery. - FY2023-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In the woodworking machinery segment, housing starts published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for June 2022 fell 2.2% year on year, marking the second consecutive monthly decline. Owner-occupied homes, which have a high proportion of wooden construction, fell 11.3% year on year, marking the seventh consecutive monthly decline.」
Housing starts in June 2022 fell 2.2% year on year, while owner-occupied homes fell 11.3%, providing numerical evidence that the decline in housing demand is continuing. - FY2022Housing starts increased while construction costs surgedAnnual report
「New housing starts in fiscal 2021 totaled 865,909 units, up 6.6% year on year and the first increase in 3 years, reflecting a rebound from the previous year’s sharp decline in orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, construction unit costs have surged due to the so-called wood shock caused by soaring imported timber prices since around spring of the previous year, raising concerns about a tendency to defer purchases.」
Housing starts recovered, rising 6.6% year on year, while the disclosure also newly cites soaring construction costs due to the timber shortage and concerns that prospective buyers may defer purchases. - FY2022-Q3MitigatedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, new housing starts in December 2021, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, increased 4.2% year on year, marking the 10th consecutive month of growth. Total new housing starts in 2021, from January through December, also increased for the first time in 5 years to 856,484 units, up 5.0% year on year, supported by firm demand for owner-occupied, rental and for-sale housing despite the impact of soaring material prices resulting from the wood shock.」
New housing starts increased 4.2% year on year in December 2021, marking the 10th consecutive month of growth. For full-year 2021, they totaled 856,484 units, up 5.0% year on year and the first increase in 5 years. This continued to provide actual evidence mitigating domestic housing-demand risk. - FY2022-Q2MitigatedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, new housing starts in September 2021, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, increased 4.3% year on year, continuing an upward trend for 7 consecutive months.」
New housing starts increased 4.3% year on year and continued their upward trend for 7 consecutive months, providing a factor mitigating short-term risks related to domestic housing demand. - FY2021WorsenedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, new housing starts in fiscal 2020, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, totaled 812,164 units, down 8.1% year on year and the second-lowest level after fiscal 2009. However, compared with the difficulties faced by various other industries, the housing industry can also be described as being on a gradual recovery path. Although orders fell sharply at the initial stage of the spread of the infection, owner-occupied housing starts increased for 5 consecutive months through March.」
New housing starts totaled 812,164 units, down 8.1% year on year and the second-lowest level after fiscal 2009, indicating a quantified worsening of housing-demand risk. A recovery trend in owner-occupied housing starts was also noted. - FY2021-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, new housing starts in 2020, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, declined for the fourth consecutive year to 815,340 units, down 9.9% year on year. However, compared with various other industries, the housing industry can also be described as being on a steady recovery path from the sharp drop in orders at the initial stage of the spread of the infection.」
New housing starts in 2020 totaled 815,340 units, down 9.9% year on year and declining for the fourth consecutive year, indicating that the structural decline in domestic housing demand is continuing with supporting data. At the same time, a recovery trend from the sharp decline in orders at the initial stage of the spread of the infection was also described. - FY2021-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, new housing starts in September 2020, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, were down 9.9% year on year, extending the declining trend to 15 consecutive months.」
New housing starts in September 2020 declined 9.9% year on year, extending the decline to 15 consecutive months. In addition to weaker personal consumption resulting from the consumption tax increase, the decline in business opportunities due to the novel coronavirus was cited as a contributing factor. - FY2021-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, new housing starts in June 2020, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, were down 12.8% year on year, continuing a declining trend for 12 consecutive months.」
New housing starts in June 2020 declined 12.8% year on year, continuing a declining trend for 12 consecutive months. Domestic housing-demand risk worsened with supporting data and has materialized as an actual decline. The decline in business opportunities due to the consumption tax increase and the novel coronavirus was cited as a contributing factor. - FY2020WorsenedAnnual report
「According to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism statistics, new housing starts in 2019 declined for the third consecutive year to 905,123 units, and as of March 2020 the decline had continued for 9 consecutive months, indicating that difficult conditions persisted.」
New housing starts declined for the third consecutive year to 905,123 units and had fallen for 9 consecutive months as of March 2020. Domestic housing-demand risk worsened with supporting data. The risk has materialized. - FY2020-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「Looking at industry trends closely related to our manufactured machinery, new housing starts in December 2019, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, declined year on year for the sixth consecutive month. For the full year, they fell for the third consecutive year to 905,123 units. Demand for rental housing, which had remained at a high level in recent years, supported in part by negative-interest-rate policy, showed a pronounced decline due to factors including the consumption tax increase, and further deterioration over the medium to long term is a concern given the overall trend of population decline.」
New housing starts declined year on year for the sixth consecutive month and fell for the third consecutive year to 905,123 units for the full year. The decline in rental-housing demand was also pronounced, and further medium- to long-term deterioration resulting from population decline is a concern. The trend has been quantified and has materialized as an actual decline. - FY2020-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「Looking at industry trends closely related to our manufactured machinery, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s September 2019 building-start statistics showed a year-on-year decline for the third consecutive month, reflecting the ongoing decline in rental-housing demand.」
Against a backdrop of declining rental-housing demand, building starts in September 2019 declined year on year for the third consecutive month, indicating worsening domestic housing-demand risk. - FY2020-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s May 2019 building-start statistics showed a year-on-year decline for the second consecutive month, due in part to weakening demand for rental housing.」
Domestic building starts fell below the previous year’s level for the second consecutive month, due in part to weakening rental-housing demand, providing evidence of worsening housing-demand risk. The risk has been quantified and has materialized. - FY2019WorsenedAnnual report
「The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that new housing starts in 2018 totaled approximately 940,000 units, a decline for the second consecutive year.」
New housing starts totaled approximately 940,000 units, marking a decline for the second consecutive year. Actual data on the risk of shrinking domestic housing demand was updated. - FY2019-Q3MitigatedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s December 2018 building-start statistics showed approximately 960,000 units on an annualized basis, remaining firm. In addition, the Forestry Agency’s September publication, the “2017 Timber Supply and Demand Table,” showed that the self-sufficiency rate for timber increased for the seventh consecutive year to 36.1%, and these trends supported machinery demand.」
Building starts were reported to have remained firm at approximately 960,000 units on an annualized basis, and this was cited as a factor mitigating short-term concerns about domestic housing demand. - FY2019-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Because our flagship woodworking machinery products represent capital investment projects for customers, they are strongly affected by economic fluctuations. In Japan in particular, they are significantly affected by demand trends in the housing industry, while overseas they are significantly affected by each country’s resource policies and foreign-exchange trends, among other factors.」
The company reaffirmed its view that woodworking machinery is affected by economic fluctuations, domestic housing demand, overseas resource policies and foreign-exchange trends. - FY2019-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「Because our flagship woodworking machinery products represent capital investment projects for customers, they are strongly affected by economic fluctuations. In Japan in particular, they are significantly affected by demand trends in the housing industry, while overseas they are significantly affected by each country’s resource policies and foreign-exchange trends, among other factors.」
The company reaffirmed its view that woodworking machinery is affected by domestic housing demand and economic fluctuations. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, the decline in housing starts resulting from Japan’s declining population is a major concern.」
The decline in housing starts resulting from Japan’s declining population continues to be cited as a concern for the woodworking machinery business. Public buildings, biomass and timber exports are cited as opportunities to address the issue. - FY2018-Q3ReframedAnnual report
「However, the decline in domestic capital investment resulting from population decline is a concern, and the company must continue proposing high-quality products that incorporate internationally competitive ICT technology, together with technological development contributing to labor-saving measures as a response.」
The impact of population decline is described not only through shrinking housing demand but also through declining domestic capital investment. - FY2018-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「However, in the core woodworking machinery industry, a future decline in housing demand in Japan due to population decline associated with the declining birth rate is unavoidable. To maintain and improve performance, we must continue offering various proposals for the effective use of increasingly abundant domestic timber while seeking to improve international competitiveness.」
The future contraction in housing demand resulting from Japan’s declining birth rate and population continues to be described as an unavoidable trend. The company also explains that new housing starts in the current quarter were at a high level of nearly 1 million units on an annualized basis, against a backdrop of low-interest-rate policy. - FY2017RestatedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, the decline in housing starts resulting from Japan’s declining population is a major concern.」
The decline in housing starts resulting from Japan’s declining population continues to be cited as a concern for woodworking machinery. - FY2017-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「However, in the core woodworking machinery industry, a future decline in housing demand in Japan due to population decline associated with the declining birth rate is unavoidable. To maintain and improve performance, we must continue offering various proposals for the effective use of increasingly abundant domestic timber while seeking to improve international competitiveness.」
The future contraction in housing demand resulting from the declining birth rate and population continues to be described as an unavoidable trend. - FY2017-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「However, in the core woodworking machinery industry, a future decline in housing demand in Japan due to population decline associated with the declining birth rate is unavoidable. To maintain and improve performance, we must continue offering various proposals for the effective use of increasingly abundant domestic timber while seeking to improve international competitiveness.」
The future contraction in housing demand resulting from the declining birth rate and population continues to be described as an unavoidable trend. - FY2017-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「However, in the core woodworking machinery industry, a future decline in housing demand in Japan due to population decline associated with the declining birth rate is unavoidable. To maintain and improve performance, we must continue offering various proposals for the effective use of increasingly abundant domestic timber while seeking to improve international competitiveness.」
The future contraction in housing demand resulting from Japan’s declining population is described as a more unavoidable trend than the concerns previously cited. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「For woodworking machinery, the decline in housing starts resulting from Japan’s declining population is a major concern.」
The company identifies Japan’s declining population and falling housing starts as concerns for the woodworking machinery business, while also citing new applications such as public buildings and biomass.