The Future Unfolds from the Axe-Shaped Shimokita Peninsula: Connections Transcending Time and Space Felt at the Japanese Geoparks National Conference in Shimokita National Geopark

At Lake Usori, Mount Osore

My name is Yoichi Sato, from Usuki City, Oita Prefecture (a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy), and I serve as a member of the Youth Committee of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO. This time, I hitchhiked all the way from Kanagawa Prefecture to the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture to participate in “the 14th Japanese Geoparks National Conference, Shimokita Conference – Connecting Sea, Land and the Future through Geoparks – ”, held from 29 August to 1 September 2024. I would like to share with you the inspiration and discoveries I gained through this experience.

Geoparks: Where Present and Past Connect

Mount Osore

The Japanese archipelago on which we live has been shaped over tens or hundreds of millions of years, by the Earth’s vast activities. In that context, the landscapes unfolding before our eyes, each fleeting moment of it, are deeply connected to the Earth of the distant past! I felt this especially strongly during my visit to Shimokita National Geopark.

The Japanese archipelago is home to 47 Japanese National Geoparks (as of October 2024, including 10 UNESCO Global Geoparks), each blessed with remarkable geological diversity. Each geopark preserves its unique value, connecting the region’s landscapes, nature, and culture to the future. Every step we take on this Earth today will become a geological layer in the future with traces passed down to posterity. We must recognise our responsibility as participants in the continuing history of planet Earth.

Source: Japan Geoparks Network website (Japanese). Accessed December 2024. https://geopark.jp/geopark/.

The Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture, where the convention was held, is located at the northernmost tip of Honshu Island. It has a unique, axe-like shape and is blessed with an abundance of marine resources from the surrounding three seas: the Pacific Ocean, the Tsugaru Strait, and Mutsu Bay. The conference was for me an opportunity to review and learn how the lifestyle fostered in such an environment characterises the Shimokita Geopark.

Protecting the Water Planet—Building the Ocean Environment with Geoparks: “Our Ocean” Panel Discussion (29 August)

The “Our Ocean” panel discussion featured a lively discussion on what initiatives are needed to safeguard the future of our oceans. Particular attention was placed on the “30-by-30” goal with its significance examined in depth.

What is the 30-by-30 goal?

The “30-by-30” target aims to conserve more than 30% of the Earth land and sea as healthy ecosystems by 2030. It is positioned as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in December 2022, and is considered a crucial step towards achieving Nature Positive (achieving the continued recovery of nature by halting and reversing biodiversity loss) by 2030.

Source: Ministry of the Environment website (Japanese). Accessed September 2024. https://policies.env.go.jp/nature/biodiversity/30by30alliance/.

The Relationship Between Geoparks and 30-by-30

Geoparks play a key role in protecting local ecosystems by conserving geological heritage. The panel discussion reaffirmed the importance of geoparks nationwide working together to achieve the 30-by-30 goal by forming networks and sharing experiences and knowledge. This panel discussion provided an opportunity to re-examine what each of us can do to protect the sea, as well as to think seriously about what we should do now to leave a rich natural environment for future generations.

Keynote Speech: “Strength Nurtured through Nature and Adventure” Message from Mr Isamu Tatsuno, mont-bell Co., Ltd. (31 August)

I attended the keynote speech “Dreams and Adventure: mont-bell’s Seven Missions” by Mr. Isamu Tatsuno, CEO of mont-bell Co., Ltd.

Mr. Tatsuno began his speech by posing the question, “Why do people seek adventure?” He then delved deeply into the definition of adventure, expounded the difference between humans and animals like chimpanzees and gorillas from the perspective of whether they undertake adventures or not. He maintained that it was precisely this spirit of adventure, cultivated by humankind during the evolutionary process, that was the driving force shaping our lives today.

As a message to the younger generation in particular, Mr. Tatsuno emphasised the importance of experiencing nature. He explained that experiences gained in nature cultivate such life skills as wisdom, courage, and perseverance―valuable abilities that cannot be learned solely from textbooks. He pointed out that those skills are immensely useful in facing challenges. Subsequently, he also stressed the importance of establishing environments and systems where children can play, learn, and grow within nature.

Mr. Tatsuno’s speech posed profound questions to all attendees: “What is adventure?” and “How should we create our future?”, guiding them towards deep reflection.

Youth Session: Listening to the Earth’s Voice – Youth Dialogue and Discovery Connected through Geoparks (31 August–1 September)

The Youth Session at the event was titled “The Future of Our Regions and the Earth: A Discussion by the Youth Generation”. The session brought together secondary school, high school, and university students tackling regional challenges in Geoparks across Japan to envision the future of their regions and the Earth through dialogue. Launched in 2022 by Mr. Kiichi Ohno, chief researcher of the Mt. Chokai & Tobishima Island Geopark Promotion Council, this activity marked its third year. This time, young people working in the geoparks of Shimokita, Zao, Mt. Chokai & Tobishima Island, San’in Coast, and Kikaijima gathered together.

Omazaki Cape

The centrepiece of the session was a two-day tour of Shimokita’s geosites. Geosites, such as Shimoburo Onsenkyo, Omazaki Cape, and Mount Osore, prepared special small tasks for the participants to deepen their understanding of the region. We tackled those tasks collaboratively with group members. In addition, to learn about the benefits of Shimokita’s ocean and the characteristics of the region, we visited Family Mart Sato, a supermarket franchise deeply rooted in the local community, where we worked on a set of food-related tasks.

Task examples

Shimofuro Onsenkyo Hot Spring Village

・Count the number of railway sleepers!

・Find the place that a certain animal species uses as a racing venue!

・Find where the hot springs come out!

・Find the creatures on the telegraph pole!

Family Mart Sato

・Find seafood unique to Aomori Prefecture!

・Find items different from local products!

・Find the Shimokita Geopark logo!

One of the goals of this youth session was to deepen bonds and build networks among the young people working in the geoparks across Japan. During the bus ride and workshops after site visits, lively exchanges took place with participants introducing their respective geoparks to one another and sharing local initiatives. Learning and empathising with new friends, the young participants began to envisage a future vision for their regions and the planet.

Summary: Our Future with Nature: Encounters and Learning During Three Days and Two Nights in the Geopark

The conference was for me an opportunity to deeply consider how we can protect and nurture the oceans and land of the future while living in harmony with nature. During the youth session, we were deeply impressed by the unique activities undertaken by geoparks across Japan, their diversity, and creativity. I am proud to have had the opportunities to visit not only our own region but also other geoparks and deepen connections with peers living there.

I was reminded that there are things that can only be fully understood or obtained through first-hand experience, such as the place’s atmosphere, unique landscapes, and bonds between humans. Visiting different places, spending time together with the people, and learning from each other was an irreplaceable experience for me.

I am confident that the friends I made during this three-day, two-night youth session will become central figures in revitalising geoparks for a new era. As a member of the Youth Committee of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, I will continue to broaden and deepen the connections with youth across Japan. I do hope that this network will become an important foundation for supporting Japanese Geoparks in the future.