Shipping Snow Nationwide via “JITBOX Charter Service”
Taiyo Kogyo Participates in Minamiuonuma City’s Snow Resource Utilization Project

Taiyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo;Osaka Headquarters: Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President: Yuki Nomura; hereinafter “Taiyo Kogyo”) has endorsed the snow resource utilization project promoted by Minamiuonuma City in Niigata Prefecture and is participating in the city’s research—which it has been conducting for several years—aimed at “improving technologies to prevent snow from melting.”As part of this initiative, the company has established a new logistics scheme to deliver snow nationwide using the “JITBOX Charter Service” provided by Yamato Box Charter Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Yamato Box Charter”).

In this initiative, in response to a request from Minamiuonuma City, we are using our new product “SnowTaicon” (a container bag designed for snow transport), which is based on our flexible container bags, and leveraging the “JITBOX Charter Service” provided by Yamato Box Charter to enable transport without the need for specialized vehicles such as refrigerated trucks.This approach enhances flexibility in transportation arrangements while resolving the issue of cost opacity—which has traditionally been a challenge—and aims to establish a model that makes snow distribution a more viable option.

As the first implementation of this scheme, we plan to transport snow stored in Shimizu, Minamiuonuma City, using this method for an in-stadium event at the official Saitama Seibu Lions game to be held at the Belluna Dome(Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture) from July 22 to 26, 2026. We view this as the first step toward the practical implementation of a system for the wide-area utilization of snow—a regional resource in snow-rich areas such as Minamiuonuma City.

Minamiuonuma City, one of Japan’s regions with the heaviest snowfall, possesses abundant snow resources and is working to “utilize snow” for a variety of purposes, including food preservation, air conditioning, and tourism.On the other hand, utilizing snow in remote areas faces significant transportation constraints, and in the past, it was necessary to arrange for refrigerated trucks or specialized transport. As a result, transportation costs fluctuated widely from project to project, and the pricing structure tended to be opaque—a challenge that hindered the widespread adoption of snow utilization.

In this initiative, “SnowTaicon”—containers filled with snow—are loaded onto “JITBOX Charter Services,” which transport them in RBP units.A key feature of this system is that it allows us to utilize a nationwide shared transportation and distribution network without having to charter an entire truck, providing greater flexibility in transportation and clearly defined rates based on RBP units. This frees us from the constraints of specialized transportation that were previously required and enables direct delivery to the destination, allowing us to establish a transportation scheme that flexibly supplies snow to wherever it is needed.

“SnowTaicon,” which is used in this initiative, is a product developed based on Taiyo Kogyo’s flexible container bag, “Taicon,” specifically for the transport of snow. By leveraging the operational know-how and processing technology expertise we have cultivated over many years in the field of logistics materials, we have designed its specifications to meet the waterproofing, strength, and ease of handling required for snow handling.A key feature of this product, designed for a new application, is that its specifications have been refined through repeated field trials.

Additionally, to prevent water leakage caused by melting snow, we conducted multiple field trials in advance to verify the waterproof performance of “SnowTaicon” and optimize transport conditions.For this shipment, the snow is wrapped in three layers—polyethylene (PE) bags, SnowTaicon (flexible container bags), and non-woven fabric—to prevent the leakage of meltwater during transport.In the initial stages of operation, we plan to use the system primarily as a single-use (disposable) solution, envisioning a simple operation that reduces the burden of recovery.

1. Snow Logistics Scheme Utilizing the JITBOX Chartered Service’s Joint Transportation and Distribution Network
2. Eliminating the Need for Specialized Vehicles Such as Refrigerated Trucks
3. Clarifying Costs Through RBP-Based Unit Pricing
4. Flexible Transportation Utilizing Operational Design Based on Field Tests and Existing Logistics Networks

Schedule: Around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026—Loading and transport will begin at the Shimizu Snow Storage Facility
Wednesday, July 22, 2026(Wed) between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Scheduled to arrive at Belluna Dome
Transportation is scheduled daily from then until Saturday, July 25

Purpose:Transportation of snow from the Shimizu Snow Storage Site in Minamiuonuma City to Belluna Dome (Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture)
The transported snow will be used to create a “Snow Plaza” at the Saitama Seibu Lions official games held at Belluna Dome from July 22 to 26

Transport Volume:Total 15,000 kg (Number of SnowTaicon bags used: 30; 3,000 kg per day × 5 days)

Origin: Municipal Snow Storage Facility in Shimizu, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture

Destination: Belluna Dome (Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture)

Mode of Transport: Chartered JITBOX service

Through this initiative, we aim to verify the potential uses of snow in areas such as event planning and thermal environment management, with the goal of establishing a sustainable supply model. Moving forward, building on our collaboration with Minamiuonuma City, we will expand this initiative to other regions and broaden its applications.

Additionally, to improve the quality of snow during transportation, we will work to enhance product specifications, including measures to prevent melting.By leveraging the expertise we have cultivated in membrane materials and processing technologies, and by optimizing designs according to specific applications and transportation conditions, we aim to achieve more stable transportation.

Furthermore, as part of our efforts to further advance transportation materials, we are evaluating returnable specifications designed for repeated use and are considering product development aimed at reducing environmental impact and improving operational efficiency.

August 20, 2025 Press Release
Collaborating on a Study to Utilize Snow Removal Waste at Minamiuonuma City Hall Using Multilayer Film Sheets for Outdoor Snow Storage
https://www.taiyokogyo.co.jp/news/68221/

Taiyo Kogyo is a leading company in the field of large-scale membrane structures, with a history spanning over 100 years. At the 1970 Japan World Exposition, the company achieved a world first by constructing a low-rise (height-restricted) pneumatic membrane structure for the U.S. Pavilion, in which the roof was supported solely by air pressure.Since then, the company has participated in large-scale projects around the world, including the installation of membrane roofs at the Seibu Dome (now the Belluna Dome) and the Tokyo Dome, as well as the Millennium Dome in London (now The O2 Arena), one of the world’s largest dome facilities.Furthermore, for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo, we were involved in the construction of more than 20 pavilions and facilities, supporting the creation of the Expo site. With membrane structure technology—which excels in cost-effectiveness, constructability, light transmission, and design—at the core of our business, we have expanded our operations from the construction sector into civil engineering, logistics, disaster prevention, and environmental fields, thereby supporting the safety and security of society.

The Logistics Division handles the manufacture, sale, and leasing of logistics materials—including the flexible container bag “Taicon”—as well as the proposal and operation of logistics systems. By integrating material technologies and logistics expertise to “transport goods safely and efficiently,” we are working to solve a wide range of transportation challenges.