SSW Industrial Field

Wood Industry

Work in Japan's wood processing sector — from sawmilling and plywood manufacturing to timber grading and treatment.

Field Overview

Japan's Wood Processing Sector

Japan's wood industry processes domestically harvested and imported timber into construction materials, furniture components, and packaging products. The SSW field covers wood processing in sawmilling, plywood manufacturing, and timber processing industries.

This is an SSW (i)-only field. Processing facilities are concentrated in timber-rich prefectures such as Akita, Miyazaki, and Kumamoto. Workers gain expertise with both traditional Japanese joinery materials and modern engineered wood products (CLT, LVL).

Key Information

SSW Visa Level:SSW (i) only

Sub-categories:Sawmilling, Plywood, Timber

Key Regions:Akita, Miyazaki, Kumamoto

JSC Course:Physical Classes (1.5 Months)

Note: JSC provides complete skill and language preparation courses for this field. Contact us to enroll.

Core Job Responsibilities

Sawmilling

Operating band saws, circular saws, and automated sawing lines to cut logs into lumber of specified dimensions.

Plywood Manufacturing

Peeling veneer from logs, applying adhesives, pressing layers, and trimming plywood sheets to size.

Timber Processing

Drying, planing, grading, and treating lumber for construction, furniture, and packaging applications.

Quality Inspection

Measuring moisture content, checking dimensional accuracy, and grading timber according to JAS standards.

Skill Evaluation Exam Topics

Wood species identification and properties

Sawmilling machinery operation and blade maintenance

Plywood manufacturing processes (rotary peeling, slicing)

Kiln drying and moisture content management

Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) for wood products

Japanese wood industry terminology

Interested in This Field?

Contact our counselors for guidance on wood industry exam registration.