POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Does photo show experimental circular forest in Japan?
The Claim A viral image circulated online in 2026, showing a dense forest of trees arranged in concentric circles. Social media users claimed the photograph depicted an experimental forestry project...
The Claim
A viral image circulated online in 2026, showing a dense forest of trees arranged in concentric circles. Social media users claimed the photograph depicted an experimental forestry project in Japan, specifically referencing a decades-old initiative that began in 1973. One Reddit post from 2026 described the image as evidence of ‘trees planted in concentric circles as part of an experiment in forestry spacing,’ and suggested that the pattern was visible from above today.
The image, which had been shared on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and X, sparked widespread curiosity and speculation about its origin. Some users speculated that the circular arrangement was a mysterious or unexplained natural phenomenon, while others attributed it to a deliberate scientific experiment. The claim gained traction after being shared by multiple accounts, with some asserting that the photo was proof of a long-standing Japanese forestry project. However, the exact nature and authenticity of the claim were unclear at first glance, prompting a deeper investigation.
The Details & Investigation
Upon tracing the origins of the image, it became clear that the photograph was not new. The image, which showed two groups of concentric circles of Japanese cedar trees, had been circulating online since at least December 2018. It was first brought to public attention when the Japanese news outlet Sankei News published it in a 2018 story about the forest near Nichinan City in Miyazaki Prefecture. The image was credited to the Miyazaki Southern Forest Management Office, a regional office under Japan’s Forestry Agency.
According to the Miyazaki Southern Forest Management Office, the experimental plots were established in fiscal year 1973 to study the effects of different planting densities on tree growth and wood quality. The trees were planted in March 1974, arranged in concentric circles with varying distances between them. This created planting densities ranging from approximately 377 to 10,027 trees per hectare. From above, this arrangement produced the distinct circular patterns that gave the site its nickname, ‘mystery circles.’
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Multiple verified sources, including reports from The Associated Press and historical records from the Miyazaki Southern Forest Management Office, confirm the legitimacy of the claim. A 2011 study conducted by researchers at the Japanese Forest Society concluded that planting densities of around 2,000 to 2,800 trees per hectare were optimal for low-cost forestry. A final report from the experiment, completed in fiscal year 2023, further supported these findings, indicating that planting densities of 1,500 trees per hectare or fewer could be financially viable.
The photograph that resurfaced in 2026 was not fabricated or manipulated. It was a genuine image of an ongoing scientific experiment that had been documented and studied for over four decades. While the claim about the forest’s purpose was accurate, the timing of its resurgence in 2026 led to confusion among some users who assumed it was a recent discovery. The claim does not appear to be the result of deliberate disinformation campaigns, but rather a case of misinformation due to the lack of context about the forest’s history and purpose.
The Verdict
The viral claim that a photo shows an experimental circular forest in Japan is TRUE. The image, which has been circulating online since at least 2018, accurately depicts an actual forestry experiment established in 1973 in Miyazaki Prefecture. The circular arrangement of trees was intentionally designed to study how different planting densities affected tree growth and wood quality. Multiple verified sources, including official reports from the Miyazaki Southern Forest Management Office and academic studies, confirm the legitimacy of the experiment and the accuracy of the claim.
While the claim was initially spread without full context, there is no evidence to suggest that it was deliberately fabricated or part of a coordinated disinformation campaign. The image itself is authentic, and the explanation provided by the original sources aligns with the historical and scientific record. Therefore, the claim qualifies as true, though it may have been misinterpreted or misrepresented in some online discussions.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).