Satoyama Consortium

The city of Imabari in Ehime Prefecture has for over 120 years been one of Japan's major towel manufacturing hubs. Kayo Tango and her husband jumped into the world of towel production three years ago to save a towel manufacturer in the process of ...

The tradition of urushi (lacquer) production that almost disappeared from Japan is enjoying new life thanks to recent demand, but is also facing simultaneous hardship. Takuo Matsuzawa, president of Joboji Urushi Workshop Co. in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, spoke about the present and future of ...

At the seventh Satoyama Cafe in Tokyo, Naoto Akagi, president of the Ashitaka incorporated association in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture, spoke about how the association effectively uses the resources of the city's northeastern rural district of Chuka. The talk on Jan. 15 was co-hosted by the ...

The city of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, enjoys mild climate and an appropriate amount of rainfall, comparable to the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, the most famous grape-producing region in Japan. Mount Tsukuba's granite-rich soil has also been noted as being similar to that ...

The fourth Regional Revitalization Venture Summit was held in Tokyo on Feb. 3 to promote regional revitalization through lectures and discussions involving the public and private sectors. “Possibility of Local Tech” was the theme of this year’s sold-out event that was co-hosted by Enthusiasm Local ...

Beautiful nature, healthy local food and rare cultural experiences unique to Japan that will surely live on in lasting memories long after travelers have returned home. These are just a few benefits of visiting Japan's farther flung areas. While Tokyo, Kyoto and other major cities ...

Apure Inc. in Hokkaido grows 28 varieties of chemical-free vegetables at its facility. Weather and temperature are not an issue because everything is planted inside two greenhouses. Apure's vegetables do not even need soil to grow as they are cultivated hydroponically. What makes Apure a ...

Participants set out for study tours in the town of Jinsekikogen in Hiroshima Prefecture on Oct. 21, following discussions and other programs at the Jinseki Kogen Hotel during a two-day event. The event covered topics related to satoyama (mountains and woods shared and maintained by ...

A two-day event on topics related to satoyama (mountains and woods shared and maintained by residents of the adjacent rural communities) was co-hosted by the Japan Times Satoyama Consortium, the Chugoku Region Governors Association and the town of Jinsekikogen in Hiroshima Prefecture at the ...