The role of NPO in Regional Management of Rural Areas
−Hata in Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture-

Date： 27, Nov. 2006 (Mon) 13:20-17:20
Place: Boissonade Tower 26F, Ichigaya Campus, Hosei University

1. Whole Island Museum-Sustainable "Satoumi" Development
Masaru Kanda, Director of Kuroshio Jikkan Center (authorized NPO)
　Kashiwajima (Otsuiki-cho in Kochi Prefecture) is a small island of 3.9km around with 520 population, located at the southwest-end of Kochi. One of its appeals is transparent ocean with lots of sea lives, whose bottom can be seen from hilltops. The southern warm water of Kuroshio Current and fertile southward water through the Bungo Channel from the Seto Inland Sea merge around the island. The fishes of subtropical and temperate zones can be found in this temperate sea, with 143 families and 884 species (reported by Marine Biological Institute of Kochi University in 1996). The on-going research shows that species have reached over 1000, including unlisted and first-listed ones within the country. The number of fishes recognized across the country is about 3800 (both seawater and freshwater) and one-quarter of them can be seen around Kashiwajima. Various herd of Medreporaria can be found in surrounding ocean area of the island, boasting the first or second place along the coastal areas on Japan (except for Tokara Islands and its southward areas and Bonin Islands). The island has been flourished as a center of fishing industry, with one of the largest catches in Kochi. Although the island suffers from recent declining of catches and fish prices, as well as lack of successors, it attracts over 30,000 tourists a year, with developed scuba diving spots, surf casting boat industries, and hotels industries. The above situation generated the conflicts between fishing industries and tourist businesses.
　Based on the concept of "whole island museum" which contains rich natural environment and inhabitants' livings, the Kuroshio Jikkan Center has helped in fertilizing local living through environmental maintenance and education, researches, transmission of information etc. Because inhabitants always have made livings from ocean, we made following three pillars for our activities, aiming at sustainable "sato-umi" development for coexistence with ocean, based on the similar idea from "sato-yama", indicating so-called second nature cultivated by human. (1)"Realizing Nature" (cooperative research activities or seminars with universities; on-site training for children; eco-tour for adults)
(2)"Utilizing Nature for Living" (cooperation in "sato-umi market" by inhabitants; supports for marine resources utilization, and for rich fishing places)
(3)"Protecting Nature and Living" (periodic marine environment research; maintenance activities for coral and seaweed bed; cleaning activities of coasts and sea by divers and inhabitants; support for establishment of "Sato-umi Charter" (rule for protecting nature and living).
For fostering sustainable sato-umi, approach both from natural science (such as surveillances or collecting data) and from social science (considering good relationship between human living and ocean) will be required.

2."We have No Museum except for Beautiful Sand Beech"
Kazuya Azechi, Sand Beech Museum (authorized NPO)
Kuroshio-cho (established by merging Ogata-cho and Saga-cho　in 2006), is located facing the Pacific Ocean, in 100km west of Kochi City, and with a population of 10,000. In the western prefecture, the expressway is built to Suzaki City; therefore it takes more than 2 hours by car from Kochi City, and nearly 3 hours from Nankoku City where Kochi Ryoma Airport is located. The former Ogata-cho boasted a gorgeous view of the 4km of shallow beach of Irino, commonly known as Tukimigahama lined with nearly 100,000 of black pine trees. Until the last half of the 1960's, the area was a commercial space with many restaurants and hotels, bustling with tourists throughout the year. However, the designation of urban park in 1972, completely changed the situation. The plan was abandoned because of the oil shock. Without the reconsideration of the policy, restaurants and hotels were moved out, and the vacant lot with pine trees was covered by brushes and rampant weeds. The pine-covered area and inhabitants were completely separated by barbed wire stretched by regional forestry office. The damages caused by pine weevils were spread, resulting to kill over 100 years' old pine trees and the original landscape.
In 1989, the encounter of two officers and designers in Kochi City led to the establishment of "Sand Beech Museum". In the period of large-scale development, the idea focusing on software independent of hardware, was put into action. Nine local young people started activities and the members increased up to 40. They held various events, developed regional products and sent information as volunteers; the exclusive secretariats started to work in 1995 and finally the group was recognized as NPO in 2003. Various distinct events (exhibitions for "T-Shirt-Arts", "Drifting Articles", and "Quilts in Sea Breeze") were commissioned by the town under the project of vitalization of tourism; other projects include environmental learning, guide for school excursions and study tours, drawing tourists and allocation of ships for whale watching, etc. Recently, we have focused on planning for eco tour covering wide-area and general promotion for western part of Kochi prefecture. We have been designated as assigned management organization for Kochi Urban Park in 2006. Networks generated through the casual meeting, playful spirits to enjoy regional life by making use of taste and professional skills, originality of ideas, attitude not fawning upon cities--these manners of projects attracted interests particularly from urban areas and became indispensable for the image of the town. However, from the viewpoint of local understanding, we have to tackle the problem of low awareness and different value of inhabitants. The activities above which play a part of cultural administration, have been depended on public supports and income for commission projects; we will have to proceed in obtaining our own financial resources, at the same time balancing with our missions.

3.Environmental Cultural Center Shimanto-Rakusha-Background of Establishment, Future Issues and Visions
Institution of Nishitosa Kankyo Bunka Center Shimanto-Rakusha (Incorporated Association), Koji Yamada (Senior Director)
90% or more of the village of Nishitosa where Shimanto-Rakusha is located is covered by forests; the Shimanto River flows through these woodlands. In 1999, Shimanto-Rakusha was established by restoring an elementary school closed in 1988 as an experience-based accommodation. It mainly receives students of class trip and canoe tourists. The background of establishment is as flows; in 1996, the present director Mr.Yamashita proposed the restoration and reuse of closed or temporary closed schools in "The Committee of Considering Educational Reform of Tosa"; the Nishitosa Village was selected for the site in 1997; through various discussions among major administration officers and inhabitants, the preparatory office was established in July 1998; a closed school was restored and diverted into an accommodation receiving money from local revitalization project of Kochi Prefecture and local budget; in 1999, an incorporated association Shimanto-Rakusha was established with 6 regular staffs. Through the exchanges based on the center, we aimed to expand and improve local resources (culture and human resources) and wide-area networks (information and visitors) as our management vision. Major project activities include commissioned projects (lifelong learning, supports for volunteers of cultural and environmental learning activities, fostering of human resources, and products development), original projects (tourism planning, local product sales, and accommodation), event projects (exhibition of the Shimanto River and environmental film festival), and other projects (recreational study of computers and arts, experience-based study on natural culture, accommodation for practical training for university students).
The number of guests visited during 2005 was 2715, which concentrated in May and summer vacation period. At the time of foundation, we had the membership of 433; however decreased to 217 in June 2006. Though the initial members included those only expected supports, we certainly recognize the needs to increase the membership. Annual accommodation guests and incomes from accommodation projects have increased, though initial goals have not been accomplished. The issues at the establishment were the consensus building among regions and administrations, the lack of skills on corporate management, etc; at around the 3rd year of establishment, the issues included lack of connection with local inhabitants, the lack of maintenance of surrounding areas and environment, dogmatism of leaders, etc. At present, the positive actions from staffs improve the situation based on the awareness on severity of running on stand-alone basis, and building up of experiences. The center has got a lot of recognition by frequent media coverage and been accepted by local inhabitants through contributions to local events. On the other hand, our dishes have been highly evaluated. We will enhance the cooperation with region and administration, reinforce the abilities of each staff, and develop public projects to provide attractive time and spaces that suit our name, "Environmental and Cultural Center".

4.The Establishment of "Group for Considering Tombo (Dragonfly) and Nature", and Museum Management
Mitsutoshi Sugimura (Standing Director), Group for Considering Tombo (Dragonfly) and Nature (Incorporated Association), <Reported by Film>
The activity of the group was originally started through conservation project of Bekko Tombo (Libellula angelina). The group has tried to move the home of dragonflies for several years, before the start of large-scale development of the territory and chose the fallow field where the dragonflies are currently found. We started funding activities such as picture card sales in 1985, for land acquisition to continue conservation works and got wide approvals. The group applied for being an aggregate corporation in 14 December, and was approved in 23 December; the project of land acquisition was started based on funds of 8 million yen by donation of companies and royalties, in national trust style. It was also certified as a national trust corporate body. One of the major elements of our success was the cooperation by World Wide Fund for Nature Japan, which results in local recognition. Akishinonomiya, Imperial Prince Fumihito assumed the director-general of WWFJ. He wish to develop practical activities, therefore we proposed the establishment of a museum in Nakamura-city (current Shimanto-city), where the only property of the organization exists. As a result, "Dragonfly Museum" was built in April 1990, along with the surrounding park completed in July 1988.
The museum was satisfactory managed on a self-paying basis for initial 5 years; however the nationwide increase of similar facilities made the visitors dropped down. Under such situation, "Fish Museum" was built in July 2002, based on the coordination among local merchant's associations, private organizations and administration for which I was in responsible. The visitors' fees have not been enough for management of the center and actually dependent on various incomes such as research commission by national and prefectural entities. The management of the museum is based on the group and local entity; if either of two might drop out, the museum will stop to function. Although the management body assignment system will be started in 2006, if other group might manage the museum, it will need to start to collect samples of dragonflies and fishes.
Our ultimate goal is to foster senses to feel close nature with dragonflies as a leisure center. The creatures have characteristics of the territories. The alien organisms damage surrounding ecosystem. Japanese need to be familiar with original nature of our nation. Because original Japanese creases are often very timid, so we have to imagine how to catch them. Not only waiting but you need to be concentrated. As a result, we might be able to learn to be persistent and get imaginations from nature.

The report outlines the interviews of 30 March 2005. For details, see pp.10-17 in "Roles of NPOs in Regional Management in Rural Areas-Focusing on Shimanto, Hata Region in Kochi Prefecture" (Working Paper No.1; Management Project, Laboratory of Regional Design with Ecology, Hosei University).