Market Overview

Climate change is driving a noticeable increase in midsummer days, extreme heat events, and sweltering nights.
In Tokyo, the urban heat island effect, which refers to the state of cities experiencing significantly higher temperatures than surrounding rural or suburban areas, has become a serious concern. The annual average temperature in Tokyo has risen by about three degrees Celsius over the past century. As both national and local governments implement measures to combat heat-related health risks, including heat stroke, one promising solution that is gaining attention is urban greening.

Expanding tree cover and vegetation is increasingly recognized as a practical and effective strategy to combat the urban heat island effect. Trees help reduce temperatures by providing shade that blocks direct sunlight and through a natural process called evapotranspiration, where water evaporates from the soil and transpires from plant leaves into the atmosphere, cooling the surrounding air.

Large green area can generate a mass of cooler air called a “cool island”. These cool islands are especially beneficial at night in urban areas that struggle to cool down.

As climate change continues to pose challenges globally, the Japanese government is working to create a living environment that embraces eco-diversity. In response to growing public demand, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism initiated “Master Plan for Parks and Open Spaces” placing greater emphasis on landscaping and urban greening.

In April 2024, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government raised the required ‘greening ratio’ in urban planning for bay areas like Rinkai Fukutoshin from 40% to 50%. By expanding green spaces, the city aims to reduce and absorb CO2, helping to mitigate urban warming and enhance environmental sustainability.

Noteworthy Topics

Trends in Lawn Mower, Grass Cutter and Brushcutter: Performance of Rechargeable Machines Enhanced

Power tools like lawn mower, grass cutter and brushcutter are utilized for the maintenance of green areas. While the definition may vary by brand, in this research, they are defined as follows.
A lawn mower is a machine designed to trim grass evenly, making it ideal for maintaining well-kept lawns. However, it is not suitable for handling tall or dense weeds. On the other hand, a grass cutter is a more powerful tool specifically engineered for quickly cutting through taller overgrown weeds. Meanwhile, a brushcutter is a compact, high-speed device equipped with a rotating blade intended for use in relatively confined spaces. Typically carried on the shoulder or back, it is well-suited for clearing thick weeds and underbrush in mountainous or forested environments.

In recent years, the market has seen a growing number of handy, compact, and rechargeable models of lawn mowers, grass cutters, and brushcutters. These battery-powered options are now capturing a significant share of the landscaping equipment market.

According to industry sources, rechargeable models initially gained momentum around 2017. However, the trend quickly lost steam due to limited battery life, typically lasting only for 10 to 15 minutes per charge, fell far short of user expectations. Additionally, the early models lacked power required for professional use.

Today, however, newer rechargeable tools offer performance on par with larger, fuel-powered machines. As a result, user perception of battery-operated landscaping equipment is improving.

Future Outlook

The shortage and aging of field workers has become a pressing issue in the lawn mower, grass cutter, and brushcutter market. While rising temperatures are making outdoor work increasingly tougher, accelerated growth of grass and weeds driven by climate change has heightened the demand for more frequent maintenance (mowing, cutting, weeding, etc.).

To address these challenges, reducing the physical workload through automation is proving to be a promising solution. Manufacturers of landscaping power tools are actively advancing research and development in robots and remotely controlled devices.

Research Outline