Somanobase
Somanobase (株式会社ソマノベース) is a Japanese forest-conservation company that sells MODRINAE (戻り苗) seedling cultivation kits and B2B enterprise programs enabling individuals and corporations to grow seedlings for two years before planting in Wakayama, Hokkaido, and Tokyo disaster-prevention forests.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersTanabe, Japan
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Somanobase does
株式会社Somanobase (Somanobase K.K.) is a Japanese private company founded in 2019 in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, built around the mission of preventing human casualties from sediment disasters through forest conservation. The founder, Okawa Kikuka (奥川季花), established the company after losing a friend in the 2011 Kii Peninsula heavy rain disaster, translating that experience into a business model that connects urban populations with forest restoration.
The company's core offering is MODRINAE (戻り苗), a seedling cultivation kit that allows individuals and corporate offices to grow forestry seedlings (Ubamegashi oak in Wakayama, Mizuna oak in Hokkaido) in wooden pots made from local Kishu cedar over approximately two years, after which the seedlings are returned and planted in designated disaster-prevention forests. The product is sold D2C via a Shopify online store at 10,000-13,000 yen per kit, and the MODRINAE for BUSINESS line packages multi-unit cultivation setups (single pots, ladder shelves, log shelves) along with seminars and planting coordination for corporate ESG programs. Complementary services include the Kimmitz College webinar series (over 1,000 cumulative participants), the Forest Action Forum corporate conference, and travel-based tree planting events in Tanabe City.
Somanobase generates revenue through a mix of one-time product sales, enterprise B2B service packages, event participation fees, and supporting loyalty-program partnerships (Ponta, JAL Mileage Bank). The company has assembled a diversified enterprise client roster including JAL Mileage Bank, Tokyu Railways, JR West, Loyalty Marketing, Constec Holdings, Hokkaido Electric Power, and others, with ongoing geographic expansion into Hokkaido and Tokyo. No external funding rounds or revenue figures have been disclosed.
Somanobase firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Somanobase
- Legal name
- 株式会社ソマノベース
- Website
- https://somanobase.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Somanobase (株式会社ソマノベース) is a Japanese forest-conservation company that sells MODRINAE (戻り苗) seedling cultivation kits and B2B enterprise programs enabling individuals and corporations to grow seedlings for two years before planting in Wakayama, Hokkaido, and Tokyo disaster-prevention forests.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Somanobase industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Forest Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (1132), Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (1114)
- SIC
- Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tree Nursery Stock Production (Seedlings, Saplings, Clonal Material) (AFAMACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seed Collection, Processing & Storage (Provenance/Genetics) (AFAMACAB), Forest Nursery Growing Media, Containers & Inputs Supply (AFAMADAH), Seed & Nursery Stock Distribution and Logistics (AFAMADAL)
Keywords
Where Somanobase is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tanabe
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Somanobase business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- MODRINAE Product Sales: Sale of seedling cultivation kits (木鉢 unit) for individuals and businesses. Customers purchase acorn-to-seedling kits that include Japanese cypress pots, cultivation containers, soil, nutrients, and instruction leaflets. Seedlings are returned after 2 years for planting in Wakayama or Hokkaido forests.
- Corporate MODRINAE Business Services: B2B services including MODRINAE for BUSINESS packages, organizational cultivation seminars, tree planting event coordination, and forest conservation consulting for enterprise ESG/sustainability programs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard MODRINAE kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Ponta-design limited edition MODRINAE |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tree Planting Event (植林会) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Somanobase product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Somanobase sells the MODRINAE (戻り苗) seedling cultivation kit — a pot-based kit using locally sourced Kishu cypress wood pots that allows individuals and businesses to grow forestry seedlings (ubamegashi oak for Wakayama, mizunara oak for Hokkaido) from acorns at home or office for approximately 2 years before they are returned for afforestation in disaster-prevention forests. The company provides corporate ESG/sustainability programs, MODRINAE for BUSINESS packages, cultivation seminars, plantation coordination, the Kimmitz College webinar series, and the Forest Action Forum open-innovation event.
Product overview
Somanobase operates a portfolio of interconnected products centered on the MODRINAE (戻り苗) brand, which is a seedling cultivation kit allowing individuals and businesses to grow forestry seedlings at home or in offices for approximately 2 years before returning them for afforestation. The core MODRINAE product uses Ubamegashi (for Wakayama Prefecture) or Mizuna oak (for Hokkaido) species, with wooden pots made from locally sourced Kishu cedar. The portfolio includes: (1) the core MODRINAE consumer product sold via an Shopify-based online store; (2) MODRINAE for BUSINESS offering corporate customers multi-unit cultivation setups (single pots, ladder shelves, log-shaped shelves) plus educational seminars and planting coordination; (3) MODRINAE HOKKAIDO, a Hokkaido-specific variant; and (4) complementary programs such as Kimmitz College (educational webinars and short courses connecting business with forest experts) and the Forest Action Forum (annual innovation conference). The business model links product sales to ongoing service revenue from seminars, events, and enterprise partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MODRINAE (戻り苗) A seedling cultivation kit that allows individuals and businesses to grow forestry seedlings (ubamegashi or mizunara oak) at home or in offices for approximately 2 years before returning them for afforestation in disaster-prevention forests. Sold as the core standalone product.
- MODRINAE for BUSINESS (法人向け戻り苗) Corporate-focused MODRINAE program offering seedling cultivation kits (single-tree wooden pots, 24-seedling ladder shelves, log-shaped shelves) together with seminars on forest issues and disaster prevention, plus plantation event coordination for enterprise ESG/sustainability programs.
- MODRINAE HOKKAIDO (北海道版戻り苗) A Hokkaido-specific version of MODRINAE using mizunara (Japanese oak) species suited to Hokkaido's climate. Conducted in partnership with the Hokkaido government and local companies for afforestation in Hokkaido forests.
- Kimmitz College (キミッツカレッジ) A webinar series connecting companies with forest industry professionals and on-the-ground experts. Features both corporate-perspective and field-perspective speakers sharing real-world forest management challenges and processes.
- Forest Action Forum Annual open-innovation forum bringing together companies, government, and academia to explore forest utilization as a CSV (Creating Shared Value) business field. Features keynote speeches, pitch sessions, solution exhibitions, and networking.
- Tree Planting Event (植林会) Travel-based afforestation experience event held in Tanabe City, Wakayama. Participants receive seedling cultivation guidance, visit Kumano Kodo heritage sites, plant their own seedlings, and participate in local dining and forest exploration activities. Priced at 12,100 yen per person (tax-inclusive).
- Contract Tree-Planting Festival (合同植樹祭) Annual collaborative tree-planting event where MODRINAE participants from across Japan gather in Tanabe City, Wakayama to plant their personally cultivated seedlings and participate in workshops on forest conservation.
- MODRINAE Supporters (MODRINAE サポーターズ) A membership program for individuals who want to accelerate forest creation, providing ongoing support for forest-building activities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3,000 seedlings cultivated nationwide by individuals and corporations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Somanobase
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Somanobase technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Somanobase partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 株式会社シシガミカンパニー (Shishigami Company)coreForest venture company operating 'forenta' forest rental service with 40+ locations nationwide. Joint webinar collaboration through Kimmitz College sharing forest rental business model insights.
- 森林循環経済 (Forest Circular Economy Media)minorWeb media partner publishing event reports and interviews featuring Somanobase activities and forest industry insights through online articles and tokusatsu events.
- 東京チェンソーズ (Tokyo Chainsaws)coreTokyo-based forestry company enabling MODRINAE Tokyo program - expanding seedling planting locations to Tokyo Tama area. Partnership for urban forest creation initiatives.
- 国土緑化推進機構 (Japan Tree Afforestation Center)coreKimmitz College webinar guest and partner providing expert perspective on corporate forest involvement and greening initiatives. Multiple appearances in webinar series.
- 鹿島建設 (Kajima Corporation)minorKimmitz College webinar guest sharing corporate forest initiative perspectives and implementation processes from construction/real estate industry viewpoint.
- LINE雅虎 (LINE Yahoo)minorKimmitz College webinar guest discussing urban resident engagement in forest conservation and technology-enabled forest management approaches.
- 北海道庁 (Hokkaido Government)coreMODRINAE HOKKAIDO partnership for regional forest cultivation pilot program, enabling office seedling cultivation for Hokkaido forest restoration.
- 八千代エンジニヤリング (Yachiyo Engineering)minorForest Action Forum 2026 exhibitor; TNFD (Nature-related Financial Disclosures) expert providing consultation on corporate forest conservation activity frameworks.
- グリーンフロント研究所 (Green Front Laboratory)minorForest Action Forum 2026 exhibitor; Nature Positive certification support services for corporate conservation site designations.
- NTTDOCOMOビジネス (NTT DOCOMO Business)minorForest Action Forum 2026 exhibitor; Forest credit creation and utilization platform '森かち' for J-Credits and regional contribution programs.
- 北海道美幌町 (Hokkaido Bihoro Town)corePartnership for Ponta forest planting in Bihoro Town, Hokkaido. Local government collaboration for MODRINAE HOKKAIDO regional program, establishing forest planting sites for seedlings cultivated by Ponta members.
- more trees (森林保全団体)coreForest conservation organization collaborating on Ponta forest planting activities in Hokkaido Bihoro Town alongside Loyalty Marketing and local government.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Somanobase competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- more trees: Japanese forest conservation organization founded by musician Ryuichi Sakamoto that sells forest-derived products to fund reforestation. Highly comparable to Somanobase in connecting consumers and corporations with tangible forest impact and supporting Japanese forest conservation through consumer engagement.
- Shishigami Company: Japanese forest venture company operating 'forenta' forest rental service with 40+ locations nationwide. Directly comparable to Somanobase in creating new business models connecting urban stakeholders with forest land; Somanobase has featured Shishigami Company as a Kimmitz College webinar partner.
- Tokyo Chainsaws: Tokyo-based forestry company that is a Somanobase partner for the MODRINAE Tokyo program (Tama area planting). Operates in urban forest creation and represents a direct competitor in the Tokyo-area afforestation space.
Emerging players
- tentree: Canadian sustainable apparel company that plants 10 trees for every item purchased. Comparable to Somanobase in tying consumer products to measurable tree-planting outcomes, though operating in apparel rather than seedling kits and at international scale.
- Trees for the Future: US-based nonprofit focused on agroforestry and forest restoration in developing countries. Comparable in mission-driven forest creation, though working primarily in international rural contexts rather than Japanese corporate/consumer ESG engagement.
- Eden Reforestation Projects: International nonprofit employing local communities to plant trees at scale in degraded landscapes. Comparable in large-scale restoration outcomes and mission-driven model, but operates in developing countries rather than engaging Japanese corporate ESG budgets.
- Treedom: Italian-based platform enabling individuals and businesses to plant trees remotely and track their growth digitally. Comparable to Somanobase in the consumer/corporate tree-planting model with digital engagement, impact tracking, and brand partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- Weyerhaeuser: One of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, operating commercial forestry at massive scale. Comparable as a forestry incumbent but with fundamentally different business model (commercial timber and real estate vs. ESG-driven restoration and consumer engagement).
- OISCA: International Japanese-origin NGO promoting rural development, environmental conservation, and afforestation across Asia-Pacific. Comparable in mission-driven forest conservation and Japanese origin but operates at much larger international scale with a non-profit funding model.
Regional players
- Green Front Laboratory: Japanese firm providing Nature Positive certification support services for corporate conservation site designations. Exhibited alongside Somanobase at Forest Action Forum 2026 and represents an adjacent service provider in the Japanese corporate nature-related services ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Somanobase social profiles
Digital presenceSomanobase financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Somanobase leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Somanobase funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Somanobase M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Somanobase
What does Somanobase do?
Somanobase sells the MODRINAE (戻り苗) seedling cultivation kit — a pot-based kit using locally sourced Kishu cypress wood pots that allows individuals and businesses to grow forestry seedlings (ubamegashi oak for Wakayama, mizunara oak for Hokkaido) from acorns at home or office for approximately 2 years before they are returned for afforestation in disaster-prevention forests. The company provides corporate ESG/sustainability programs, MODRINAE for BUSINESS packages, cultivation seminars, plantation coordination, the Kimmitz College webinar series, and the Forest Action Forum open-innovation event.
Is Somanobase a public or private company?
Somanobase is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Somanobase founded?
Somanobase was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Somanobase based?
Somanobase is headquartered in Tanabe, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Somanobase make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. MODRINAE Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate MODRINAE Business Services.
Who are Somanobase's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are more trees, Shishigami Company and Tokyo Chainsaws. Emerging players are tentree, Trees for the Future, Eden Reforestation Projects and Treedom. Broad incumbents are Weyerhaeuser and OISCA. Green Front Laboratory is listed as a regional player.
Does Somanobase have an API?
No public API is recorded for Somanobase.
What industry is Somanobase in?
Somanobase's product category is Forest Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAMACAA, Tree Nursery Stock Production (Seedlings, Saplings, Clonal Material), with a secondary code of AFAMACAB, Seed Collection, Processing & Storage (Provenance/Genetics). Its NAICS code is 113210 and its SIC code is 800.