Mount Udo, straddling the cities of Shimizu and Shizuoka in central Shizuoka Prefecture, is known for its beautiful views of Mount Fuji. But it is also being "polluted" by bamboo thickets.
According to an analysis of data provided by the geo-observation satellite Landsat, bamboo breeding areas in the prefecture increased from about 3,860 hectares in 1988 to 5,180 hectares in 2000.
Takao Nagano, 65, said Udo is "being polluted by bamboo." He is the leader of the citizens' group Enjoy Satoyama, which is active in the conservation of mountainous areas located near villages.