Masanori Seto

Masanori Seto is the founder and director of NPO Soma, a Fukuoka-based organization dedicated to forest restoration, traditional land stewardship, and ecological education. He earned his PhD in Entomology from Cornell University, where he specialized in soil organisms, spatio-temporal dynamics, and the interplay between hydrology, biodiversity, and human land use. He now applies this scientific training to practical conservation projects across Japan.

In partnership with the Unson Foundation, Seto has been working to restore the soil drainage systems in the ancient shrine groves of Dazaifu Tenmangū, where centuries-old trees have been threatened by urban runoff and soil compaction. His approach combines ecological assessment with historical landscape knowledge and has helped establish new standards for managing sacred woodlands in densely settled regions. He also serves as a program researcher and key community partner for the Columbia Summer in Itoshima program, connecting students with the ecological systems, historical landscapes, and human networks that shape contemporary Japan.