A man who spearheaded the setting up of the Juken New Zealand mill at Waingawa has died in Japan. Toshio Nakamoto, 78, was president of Juken Nissho when the mill was purpose-built in the early 1990s, soon after the closure of Waingawa Freezing Works had shattered Wairarapa's economic confidence and severelyaffected employment opportunities. Flags were at half-mast at the mill yesterday in recognition of the contribution Mr Nakamoto had made both to the company, and to Wairarapa. Assistant mill manager Paul Jordan said staff were awaiting further consultation with Japan before deciding what further steps they would take to recognise the former company president. "But we are certainly looking at doing something." Mr Nakamoto died in Japan on Thursday and a private funeral service was held for him at the weekend. It is likely a more public memorial service will be held later. He was chairman of Juken New Zealand until his death, the presidency of the company and of its parent company Wood One having passed to his son Yousho. Mr Nakamoto had made many trips to Wairarapa and was well known not only to staff but to the business community. He was at one time president of the Chamber of Commerce in Hatsukaichi, Masterton's sister city in Japan. At the official opening of the mill in February 1992 he presented two resectoscopes and other surgical equipment to Masterton Hospital as a gift from the company to mark the opening. The mill started with a workforce of 85 and today employs around 350. There is also a forestry arm, although most of the forest work is done on contract. Mr Nakamoto became involved with forests when he was 20 and soon became so interested in them he gave away playing golf so he could concentrate on the forest environment. On a visit to Masterton he once spoke of seeing radiata pine for the first time. Then radiata pine was looked on in Japan, as was Russian larch, as being a species with very limited end-use and was mostly used as a packaging material. In tandem with other leading businessmen, he saw the potential of pine and when the assets sales process came along Juken Nissho secured management rights to forestry blocks in Wairarapa, Gisborne and Northland. Waingawa was earmarked to produce sawn timber and laminated lumber for export to Japan.
