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Foundation Newsletter Tamagawa

No. 121 “The Five Pines of Komae”

Reports from our Seasonal newsletters
Special Edition on the Annual Report about the Foundation’s Projects
No. 121 “The Five Pines of Komae”
The Foundation Newsletter, Tamagawa (English Version)
Wildlife around the Tama River

The Five Pines of Komae

Just take a short ten- to fifteen-minute stroll down Basu-dori (Komae Street) from Komae Station (Odakyu Line), cut across Nishigawara Park, which faces Basu-dori, and then climb up the river embankment and you will see a small grove of pine trees standing against the backdrop of the Tama River. Included in the “fifty famous views of the Tama River,” this well-known grove is known as The Five Pines of Komae. The name is a bit of a misnomer, however, since there are actually more than ten trees in the group. At one time the grove included many more trees than there are today, but they gradually disappeared as a result of flooding and levee construction.
Today, The Five Pines provides a place of riverside rest and recreation for many local residents, and it is common to see people enjoying strolls, jogging, and bicycling on the path that runs along the top of the river embankment. One can also enjoy the gentle breeze while walking along the Tama River embankment by getting off the train at Izumi-Tamagawa Station (Odakyu Line).

 


Opening Article


Yuriko Koike
Former Minister of the Environment Member, House of Representatives

 

 

Sometimes things are so obvious that they are often overlooked. Take, for example, the names of Japanese citizens; these names represent nature itself. My surname, Koike, means “small pond,” and my first name, Yuriko, means “lily” and “child.” Other common Japanese names such as Yamakawa (“mountain river”), Yamaya (“mountain and valley”), Suzuki (“bell and tree”), Mori (“forest”), and Hayashi (“grove”) also contain natural references. It seems as though there is no end to the reflections of nature in Japanese surnames.
On the other hand, some Arabic names reflect religious beliefs. For example, the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan are both named Abdullah; this particular name is based on a combination of the words Allah (“God”) and Abd (“servant”).

 

In short, names symbolize the culture of a nation or region. The fact that there is an Arabic word for “dry riverbed” (wadi) indicates the lack of water-related culture in the arid Middle East; thus, Arabic surnames do not reflect water. On the other hand, rivers are a very large part of Japanese culture. The traditional Japanese song entitled “Furusato (Hometown),” which sings about fishing next to the stream, stirs the emotions of many Japanese people. In reality, however, riverbanks around the nation have been fortified with concrete and no longer hold the natural appeal that they once did; consequently, fewer and fewer people visit these rivers and streams. Furthermore, the once-common sight of fireflies along riverbanks is becoming increasingly rare.

 

Hokkaido’s Kushiroshitsugen National Park, through which the Kushiro River flows, was at one time a treasure trove of wildlife. The course of the once-winding river was straightened out in an effort to minimize the effects of flooding and, as a result, the wetlands disappeared within a period of fifty years and the wealth of precious animal and plant life was greatly diminished.
In response to this crisis, people living in the region came together and launched a project aimed at reviving the natural environment, promoting symbiosis with nature, and restoring the natural course of the Kushiro River. It is poised to become a model for building a sustainable society.

 

There is another project aimed at helping the firefly population to recover. When I was Minister of the Environment, I saw a movie entitled “Hotaru no Hoshi (Fireflies: River of Light).” The movie motivated me to create a program in 2004 called “Kodomo Hotarenja (Firefly Rangers)” that encourages kids to reevaluate the natural environments in their communities and make conditions more hospitable for fireflies. For example, they learn that the Genji firefly species lives in eastern Japan and the Heike species lives in western Japan. This project can serve as an opportunity for kids to learn things about nature. They become familiar with nature in their own communities, and work hard to improve water quality and remove litter. This is a much more valuable learning experience than simply purchasing fireflies at a department store.
Nature can be quickly destroyed, but getting it back requires major funding and labor. Therefore, we must make a concerted effort to prevent the destruction of the natural environment in order to avoid such costs and labor. This, however, is not so easy, since the power of nature is sometimes greater than the will of humans. Technological advancements are also being made that will help facilitate the development of a society that is sustainable over the long term. It remains a difficult task to decide what should be selected and what should be given priority.
Now is the time ? when our civilization is experiencing major changes ? to reconfirm our commitment to the natural environment that is such a large part of the lives of the Japanese people, and to make the right choices to ensure a better world for future generations.

 

 

Special Article

The Pilot Forest, Ome
Huge Efforts in a Small Water Conservation Forest

Tadahiro Sakashita
President, Tama Norin Corporation

 

 

“The Pilot Forest, Ome” is a roughly 360-hectare mountain forest located adjacent to the city of Ome in the western area ofGreater Tokyo. Despite the close proximity to a major urban area, full-scale forestry operations are conducted in this forest, which offers an abundance of nature. Out of the forest flows the Ishigami River, which is a tributary of the Tama River. At one time people lived abundant, traditional lives here in harmony with nature; as society changed, however, villagers eventually moved away and the forest grew dense and dark.

 

About fifteen years ago, my colleagues and I engaged in various activities, under the banner of “maintaining biodiversity and establishing sustainable forest management,” that were aimed at restoring the decayed forest to its original abundant and beautiful state. Since that time, we have developed an artificial forest of coniferous trees (the primary forest), a secondary forest of broad-leaved deciduous trees (which supported the lives of villagers in the past), and a tertiary forest of broad-leaved evergreen trees (potential natural vegetation), which have all but disappeared in other regions. This effective balance provides habitats for a wide variety of animals and plants.

 

In the main area of the artificial forest, trees are harvested every eighty-five years. We have launched the “Thousand-year Tree Project,” which is aimed at providing large-diameter trees that are several hundred years old for use in the construction of historical buildings, such as temples. We have also opened a bakery called “Ko-no-ha (Tree Leaf)” where bread is baked in wood-fired kiln that uses wood leftovers which have no market value.
A portion of the artificial forest has been converted into broad-leaved deciduous trees, and a portion of that has been allocated to a biomass-producing forest, which is divided into twenty sections that are managed on a rotational basis. All of these efforts are aimed at creating new woodland ecosystems and at restoring the forest to a state that resembles the time when villagers still lived there long ago ? when there was a great diversity of life. The restored broad-leaved evergreen forest will provide a refuge for animals and other creatures of virgin forests that once lived there.

 

Another feature of our professional forestry business involves cooperation with Verde, an environmental non-profit organization comprised of local residents who are nature enthusiasts. Verde provides environmental education, conducts vegetation surveys for the purpose of protecting the ecosystem specific to the Ome area, plants and grows native broad-leaved trees, and manufactures wood products that make effective use of wood from thinned trees; it is able to effectively cover the various aspects of forestry that are difficult for companies to handle, and has made major contributions to forest revival. In May of last year, our steady efforts were recognized on an international scale and we were granted Forest Stewardship Council certification. “The Pilot Forest, Ome” was the twenty-fifth forest in Japan, and the first forest in Tokyo, to receive the highly-coveted certification.

 

Although our modest, low-profile, and diligent environmental conservation efforts may seem somewhat insignificant with respect to improving the environment of the middle and lower areas of the Tama River Basin, I am confident of the contributions that we are making. We will continue to dedicate ourselves to the development of healthy, abundant forests.

 

 

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)


The FSC is an organization comprising international environmental groups, foresters, wood materials companies, indigenous groups, and other organizations working to save the world’s forests from destructive logging practices. Products made from FSC-certified forests bear the FSC label, which indicates to consumers that the materials are procured from well-managed forests and encourages consumers to support the efforts of good forest owners and managers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Feature on Annual Report about the Foundation’s Projects

 


1.Business Diary (January 2008 to December 2008)

 

January 15
Closing date for applications for the FY2008 grant-aided research projects (41 applications received in total)
Extraordinary Meeting of the Board of Directors held from 09:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward Appointment of Executive Directors and the Director-General

 

 

January 28
The 389th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 15:00 at the office of the Foundation
Agenda included matters relating to the 55th Meeting of the Board of Directors and the 51st Meeting of the Board of Trustees

 

 

February 28
The 390th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 10:00 at the office of the Foundation
Agenda included matters relating to the 50th Meeting of the Regular Board of Selectors

 

 

March 1
Publication of the Foundation’s newsletter, Tamagawa, No.117 (Special Feature on the Annual Report on the Foundation’s Projects)
Special Article: Forest Therapy in Okutama Town: Concerning Activities for the Forest Therapy Quarter in Okutama Town
(Shigetaka Harashima, Forest Protection and Utilization Section, Tourism and Industry Division, Okutama Town)
Opening Article: Let’s Make the Tama River Our Hometown in Our Hearts!
(Taiju Ebihara, Principal, Toyoko Gakuen Women’s College)

 

 

March 10
50th Meeting of the Regular Board of Selectors held from 13:30 in the 4th Floor Conference Room at Shibuya Tokyu Inn, with 9 members of the board of selectors in attendance
14 new research projects (7 academic research projects, 7 general research projects) and 10 ongoing research projects (5 academic research projects, 5 general research projects) were selected

 

 

March 22 ~ June 8
Sponsorship of the spring exhibition at the Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba

 

 

March 26
55th Meeting of the Board of Directors held from 09:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
51st Meeting of the Board of Trustees held from 10:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya WardAgenda included approval of the FY2008 Business Plan and the FY2008 Income and Expenditure Budget

 

 

March 28
The 391st Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 10:00 at the office of the Foundation
Agenda included the settlement of the accounts for the term ended February 29

 

 

April 23
Interviews conducted regarding the progress of three ongoing research projects

 

 

April 25
The 392nd Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 16:00 at the office of the Foundation
Agenda included matters relating to the 56th Meeting of the Board of Directors and the 52nd Meeting of the Board of Trustees

 

 

May 4
Sponsorship of the 22nd Tama River Source Festival, held by the village of Kosuge in Yamanashi Prefecture

 

 

May 20
The 52nd Meeting of the Board of Trustees held from 13:30 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya WardAgenda included reports on projects undertaken in FY2007, approval of the balance settlement and the appointment of a member of the Board of Directors

 

The 56th Meeting of the Board of Directors held from 14:30 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya WardAgenda included reports on projects undertaken in FY2007, approval of the balance settlement, the resignation of a member of the Board of Trustees, the appointment of a replacement member of the Board of Trustees and the appointment of a chairman Approval for the research projects adopted by the 50th Meeting of the Regular Board of Selectors

 

 

June 1
Publication of the Foundation’s newsletter, Tamagawa, No.118
Special Article: Conservation and Utilization of the Sakai Sanya Green Zone
(Tsuyoshi Asao, Chief of the Afforestation Unit, Afforestation and Environment Center, Urban Development Department, Musashino City)
Opening Article: Rivers and Trains (Hideo Nakamura, Principal, Musashi Institute of Technology)

 

 

June 1 ~ July 31
The foundation reprinted 10,000 copies of Let’s Go to the Tama River, a supplementary reader for environmental education and presented 8,861 copies to 77 elementary schools in the Tama River basin

 

 

June 26
The 393rd Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 14:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
Agenda included the presentation ceremony for the FY2008 research grants

 

 

June 29
Publication of the outcomes of grant-aided research projects (CD-ROM with a booklet containing an overview of the projects)
Academic Research Volume 36 (containing 6 projects) and General Research Volume 29 (containing 4 projects) were compiled and donated to 222 institutions, including libraries and boards of education in the Tama River basin, the National Diet Library and major university libraries in the Tokyo metropolitan area

 

 

July 10
Presentation ceremony for the FY2008 research grants held from midday at the Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
Attended by about 50 people, including 7 academic researchers, 6 general researchers and members of the Board of Directors and the Regular Board of Selectors
At the start of the ceremony, VIP guest Toshiro Suzuki (Deputy Departmental Director, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) gave the opening address, and Yoshio Nakamura (Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Institute of Technology) gave a lecture

 

 

July 15
Support for the grant-funded research project The Endless Flow of the Tama River 138: Sendo Sakuzo organized by the Akiruno City Municipa Nishi Junior High School 30th Anniversary Project Executive Committee (venue: Akigawa Kirara Hall)

 

 

July 22
The 394th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 15:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
Agenda included the settlement of the accounts for the term ended June 30

 

 

July 28
14th grand-aided research project workshop Considering the Conservation of Biodiversity in the Tama River Basin held from 13:00 at the United Nations University conference hall in Aoyama (4 presenters)
(Moderator: Hiromi Kobori, Professor, Musashi Institute of Technology; 83 participants)

 

 

September 1
Publication of the Foundation’s newsletter, Tamagawa, No.119
Special Article: The Tamagawa Canal Will Be Reborn in the 21st Century(Mikiko Ishikawa, Professor, University of Tokyo)Opening Article: My Youth (Haruo Ogawa, President, Asia University)

 

 

September 1
Approval received for the FY2008 subsidy from the Green Foundation of the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization

 

 

September 6
Sponsorship of the lecture for local residents on Water Safety and Health Management, organized by the Chiba University Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (venue: Hachioji City Attaka Hall)

 

 

September 18
The 395th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 14:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
Agenda included the solicitation of applications for survey and experimental research subsidies

 

 

September 25
Tour of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology LTER (in the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Field Museum in the Tama Hills)

 

 

October 26
Support for the grant-funded research project, the first meeting of the Tama River Basin Academic Society for Local Residents, organized by the Tama River Basin Network (venue: Tama River Mouth Higatakan Hall)

 

 

October 27
The 396th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 14:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
Agenda included settlement of the first half accounts, revision of the income and expenditure for the second half, and the FY2008 projected accounts

 

 

November 1
7th Eco Walk through areas adjacent to the Tokyu lines and distribution of 500 copies of Let’s Go to the Tama River, a supplementary reader for environmental education

 

 

November 10
Tour of the upper Tama River Basin (Musashino Fossil Academy)

 

 

November 14
Accredited by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a Specified Public Welfare Increasing Corporation

 

 

November 14 ~16
Cooperation in the Modern GP 2nd Tama River Eco-museum Network Symposium (venue: Tokyo Gakugei University)

 

 

November 20
Tour of the Tama River basin source (Okutama Lakke, Mukashimichi)

 

 

November 27
The 397th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 10:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
Agenda included the settlement of the accounts for the term ended October 31

 

 

December 1
Publication of the Foundation’s newsletter, Tamagawa, No.120
Special Article: The Natural History of the Tama River
(Tooru Fukushima, Geo Wonder Plan; Representative, Musashino Fossil Academy)
Opening Article: The Age of Biological Diversity (Shiro Wakui, Special Professor, Research Department, Faculty of Engineering, Toin University of Yokohama)

 

 

December 25
The 398th Meeting of the Board of Executive Directors held from 17:00 at the headquarters of Tokyu Corporation in Nampeidai, Shibuya Ward
Agenda included the settlement of the accounts for the term ended November 30

 

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