The rooftop garden of Plare Matsudo (Plat Garden), a commercial facility owned by Sumitomo Corporation, received the Nikkei Award in "the 7th Rooftop, Wall, and Specified Area Greenery Technology Contest" hosted by the Organization for Landscape and Urban Green Technology Development.

Plare Matsudo, run and managed by Sumisho Urban Kaihatsu Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, is a commercial facility located in front of Matsudo Station in Chiba Prefecture. "Plat Garden" is a green space of 1,076 square meters created on its rooftop of about 3,000 square meters. The green space is covered with seasonal plants of over 220 kinds. The garden rooted in the community is also loved as a good playground for kids. Plat Garden was designed and constructed by Sumitomo Forestry Landscaping Co., Ltd.

"The Rooftop, Wall, and Specified Area Greenery Technology Contest" aims at promoting further dissemination of greenery technology by honoring companies that make excellent achievements in the greening of rooftops and other specified places.

Plat Garden was highly evaluated for its wide variety of plantings that can be applied to home gardening and its unique oprational efforts rooted in the community. Its efforts included local community participation in vegetable farming events themed on "food enlightenment," the issuance of leaflets explaining the garden's seasonal highlights, and the hosting of regular "rooftop walking" events for visitors lead by its exclusive gardener.

Sumitomo Corporation will further promote urban development that will form the local community, actively utilizing technology contributing to the improvement of the urban environment, such as the reduction of the heat-island effect through the creation of green spaces.