insights from frontier Japan

At the Daisetsuzan Nature School, we provide environmental education for local children. As I covered in my last article, we are putting together a list of 100 things that all kids in Hokkaido should experience. In this article, I’d like to explain two natural experiences that – during summer – draw people to Daisetsuzan National Park, located in the middle of Hokkaido: snowball fights and discovering Daisetsuzan “at the intersection of alpine flora.”

The Konbumori Fisheries Cooperative in the Eastern Hokkaido town of Kushiro started spring stocking of young sea urchins on April 14. From April through May, the Cooperative plans to stock a total of 2.2 million sea urchins (approx. 60 million yen) over four days, which is on par with the normal amount. Amidst the continued threat of red tides yet again this year, fishermen are praying for the sea urchins to grow healthily so they can be harvested in about four years from now.

‘MUJI HOUSE Nippo-no-Ie Kamishihoro’ an office sharing facility with an accommodation function, being constructed by the town of Kamishihoro in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido, has been completed, with guests to be accepted from April 29. Developed in collaboration with a subsidiary of Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., which operates the MUJI lifestyle goods store, the interior is furnished with MUJI brand furniture and sundries. The MUJI HOUSE is the first of its kind in Hokkaido, and features a simple interior and exterior with white as its base color. It is designed for ‘workation’ (work vacation) use, in which people work while traveling.

Snow removal work is underway on the Trans-Shiretoko Highway (National Highway Route 334, 23.8 km), which has been closed for the winter between the town of Rausu in eastern Hokkaido and the town of Shari in the Okhotsk region. On April 12, members of the press were invited to view the snow removal work being carried out.

Amidst the shortage of prospective new automotive maintenance technicians becoming a national issue, businesses and related organizations are advancing ideas for securing personnel. One factory is welcoming foreign technical trainees as "helpers".

he Kushiro Wetland Nature Restoration Council has revised its ‘Canoeing Guidelines’ for enjoying the nature of the wetlands while canoeing down the Kushiro River. The guidelines provide information on areas where navigation is prohibited due to revetment work, and dangerous areas where there are frequent accidents, as well as re-emphasize consideration for nature.

Eleven years have passed since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and the Kushiro and Nemuro regions of eastern Hokkaido still urgently need to draw up disaster prevention measures for the midwinter period — including ways to avoid damage from so-called ice-tsunamis, or giant waves carrying floes of ice.

The spring clam-fishing season in Notsuke Bay in the town of Betsukai in the Nemuro region of eastern Hokkaido began on March 30, and 1.2 tons of large, black clams were landed during the first catch. The clam fishing began in the ‘development zone’ of the artificial tidal flats. From April 2, the fishermen also operated in the natural fishing grounds.

Notsuke Peninsula was cloudless and clear; the wind was light; even my heart was bright. The surface of the accumulated snow melted in the sunlight, before being frozen by the cold of the mornings and evenings, and becoming hard again. Even without snowshoes, our feet did not sink. With only a light jacket and warm shoes, we decided to hike to Todowara.

With the establishment of the Revised Natural Parks Act in April, purposefully hiding near and approaching brown bears is now banned at Shiretoko National Park. A maximum fine of 300,000 yen has been placed on approaching and feeding wild animals. Locally, the Act is expected to deter the acclimating of brown bears to people and prevent accidents involving people and brown bears. Related organizations are gearing up to spread awareness of the new rules.