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#16 |
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Small Town, Big Challenge: Urban Development in Kamikatsucho, Tokushima |
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# The Small Town in the Mountains |
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 Kamikatsucho
is located about one hour southeast of the Tokushima Airport. As the
road climbs into the mountains, it seems that the colors of nature become
more vivid. I arrived at a small town surrounded on all four sides by
mountains.
The town is surrounded by mountain ranges that include Kumoso Mountain, Takamaru Mountain, and Asahigamaru. Takamaru Mountain to the east of town is renowned for the primeval beech forests spreading halfway up the mountain and draws many mountain climbers.
The Asahi and Katsuura Rivers that flow from the mountains are so clear that the river beds are visible from a distance. Listening to the bird song and calls that surround the area gives the impression of being absorbed by nature's dense greenery.
Cradled in this magnificent natural environment is this town of 109.68 square kilometers. The
town is twice as larges as Setagaya ward in Tokyo, which has only 58.08 square kilometers. Yet,
the population here is a mere 2,200 (Setagaya has a population of 802,000). Sadly, the town is aging, with 44.4% of the town's population over the age of 65, and the population is decreasing. Kamikatsucho is Shikoku's smallest town with the oldest population.
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* Kamikatsucho Town Center |
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Kamikatsucho surrounded by mountains. Shikoku's smallest town holds the secret to healthy urban development. |
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# Irodori: Efforts to aid an aging society |
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+ Third Sector: Senior citizens given the lead |
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It is not hard to imagine that agriculture would be difficult in the mountainous terrain of this town, which has no other industry.
The main agriculture in Kamikatsucho is sweet citrus fruits, such as mandarin oranges and sudachi, because of the warm climate. But a cold spell in 1981 affected the mandarin orange crop. To help the farmers most impacted, various crops were considered as "agricultural
products to replace mandarin oranges." One of the ideas was to market garnishings commonly used at restaurants. This turned out to be the idea that launched "Irodori." |
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Tomoji Yokoishi (current director of Irodori), a staff member of the agricultural cooperative, came upon the idea at a Sushi restaurant he visited while on a business trip. |
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The people who have come to participate in Irodori plant maple and persimmon tress along the road for harvest later. These trees also beautify the town. |
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Yokoishi said, "I saw a customer trying to take home some of the garnishings that came with the dishes. I suddenly had an insight that the mountains had a lot of them." This idea came just at the time when we were deciding upon an industry that women
could do in the mountains. In 1986, leaves were sent out on a trial basis.
At first, the response from restaurants was weak. Mr. Yokoishi went to the restaurants and visited with the chefs to learn about the role of garnishings and how leaves could complement the dishes. This knowledge influenced the harvest and the sales from "Irodori" grew steadily. Now, this industry has grown to 250 million yen per year, the largest in Kamikatsucho. |
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Senior Citizens'
finding a purpose in life is the town's greatest treasure |
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"Irodori" is supported
by 179 members. The core are 60 - 70 year olds. I met with one powerful
warrior, Makiko Shobu (80). |
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Makiko talks with me as she carefully packs the leaves. She is far more sprightly than her 80 years would suggest. She stands straight. |
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Makiko's day begins with "Irodori" and ends with "Irodori." Her day is filled with harvesting and packing. Even after the noon collection and delivery, she begins to prepare for the next day's shipment. |
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Makiko harvesting. The members each harvest their own land. In other words, the leaves in the garden become the source of income. |
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In the evenings, a fax from the "Irodori" head office arrives, using the town's disaster prevention wireless.
A smiling Makiko comments "This fax is the highlight of my day." The fax has the day's shipping volume and words of encouragement.
At night, she uses the software developed by "Irodori" for senior citizens and checks the website. This ends her daily routine.
"When I look at this, I know what Mr. Yokoishi did today." says Makiko. The page for members has a daily updated journal of Mr. Yokoishi's activities.
This is not the only reason for Makiko to use the computer. The website maintains detailed information on the next day's shipment. When a personal code is entered, one can also view one's own daily sales and sales rank. The
specific numbers and the daily words of encouragement from the "Irodori" staff
double Makiko's willingness to work.
She tells us joyfully how her daughter and granddaughter-in-law came to visit over the New Year's holiday and helped out with the harvest.
"That smiling face is an expression of self-confidence. The
fact that senior citizens have that kind of confidence is the best reward," states Mr. Yokoishi. Currently, Kamikatsucho has only 3 bedridden senior citizens. When senior citizens have the confidence to participate in society, their health is also better. |
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Mr. Yokoishi, director of Irodori, and Grandma Makiko. Mr. Yokoishi also provides advice for members. |
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As the senior citizens become healthier, so does the town. The model for this is Kamikatsucho. I think that this gives us more courage as Japan becomes an aging society. |
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# The Zero Waste Declaration Challenge |
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+ Waste reduction achieved by separation into 34 categories |
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Kamikatsucho adopted the "Zero
Waste Declaration" in September of last year.
The declaration sets a time limit of 2020 and states "efforts are to be made to reduce garbage processed by incineration or landfill to as close to zero as possible."
Originally, garbage in Kamikatsucho was burned in the fields. When planning the improvement of garbage processing, first came efforts to compost organic wastes. A system to assist in the purchasing of organic waste processors was formed early on and each
home was encouraged to process organic wastes. Participation rates have reached 98%. Currently, organic wastes are not collected.
With the enforcement of the 1997 Containers and Packaging Recycling Law and the 2000 Special Measures Law for Dioxins, the town changed the waste categories. Nineteen categories first became 25 and then 35. Currently, one category was dropped and there are a total of 34 categories.
The then Manager of General Affairs, Mayor Kazuichi Kasamatsu, proposed "reduction
through recycling rather than incineration." Ms. Hitomi Azuma of the Urban Development Promotion Section began cultivating waste vendors. The result of finding collectors for such items as disposable chopsticks, diapers, and other individual wastes was that waste was eventually divided into 34 categories.
"But," says Mayor Kasamatsu, "we could not say that we were finished."
Japan has relied on incineration for garbage processing. However, the fact that incineration produces toxic substances, such as air pollutants and dioxin, is now well-known. Furthermore, incineration happens at about 800°C, which impacts global warming
"The nation instructs that incinerators should process over 100 tons of waste per day by operating at over 800°C, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This is just as if the nation was supporting air pollution," declares Mayor Kasamatsu.
So, what should be changed?
"A law is necessary requiring manufacturers to collect all products and reuse those resources. There should also be stiff penalties for individuals and corporations in violation of such a law. We should not be trying to process garbage that is produced; we should be producing products that control the generation of garbage. If a deposit system were in place to return money to those who bring back waste, consumers would probably also return waste. Illegal dumping would decrease."
To reduce waste, it is essential that government and manufacturers exert great efforts and work together. Mayor Kasamatsu has already begun concrete activities directed at the financial sector and the Ministry of the Environment.
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Kamikatsucho Mayor Kazuichi Kasamatsu overwhelms with his energetic speaking style. |
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+ Garbage Collection Trucks are Unnecessary |
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After Kamikatsucho implemented the 34 category system, the garbage collected for incineration decreased to 30%. General Household waste reached a recycle rate of 75%.
By the way, there are no garbage trucks in Kamikatsucho.
The town residents carry their garbage to the "Garbage Station," the town's only garbage collection spot. I worried that the senior citizens must surely be inconvenienced. But here, too, the wisdom of the residents is at work.
The garbage of senior citizens without cars is transported by "Recycle Kamikatsu," a volunteer group. Since the volunteers ask senior citizens when taking their own garbage, senior citizens in turn are not hesitant to ask volunteers to take their garbage. Also, some communities have independent collection spots and rotate the collection responsibilities. With the residents voluntarily supporting the town's efforts, the amount of garbage has definitely decreased.
When I visited Kamikatsucho, it just so happened that preparations to establish an NPO called the "Zero
Waste Academy" had begun in the town. The academy would act to gather and transmit information on waste problems and development. The day may not be not far off when one of Japan's smallest towns, Kamikatsucho, takes the lead in solving the world's garbage problems.
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Hibigatani Garbage Station. Residents separate the garbage into the boxes marked with the various categories. By verifying the categories on-site, the separation into 34 categories occurs smoothly. |
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* Kamikatsucho Zero Waste Declaration: |
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# Preserving Terraced Rice Fields |
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Terraced rice fields (tanada) were thought of in order to grow rice on the steep mountainsides. Many of Kamikatsucho's paddies are these terraced rice fields.
Terraced rice fields act as a flood control by storing rain water in each paddy. The fields also function to purify the water and the run off into the rivers is clean.
On the other hand, each of the paddies is small and the farming must be done manually because farm machinery cannot get into the fields. This labor is quite difficult. Needless to say, this labor is especially hard on senior citizens. The current situation is that the number of abandoned fields is increasing in many depopulated villages.
In order to preserve the terraced rice fields in Kamikatsucho,
an owner-system was adopted for some of the fields. This system allows urban residents, such as those in Tokushima city, to experience farming in the terraced fields. The owners can receive the rice they grew with their own hands during the autumn harvest season. The experience of the joy of harvest aids in the preservation of the terraced field scenery.
Although applications for this year are no longer being accepted, those who want to participate next year may contact the office listed below. This is a chance to participate in the preservation of scenery.
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Contact:
Kamikatsu Nature Experience Study Institute
Kamikatsucho Fukuharakawakita 30
Tokushima Prefecture 771-4501
TEL: 08854－4－6290
FAX: 08854－4－6291
Email et-kmkt@stannet.ne.jp |
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"Kashihara Tanada" selected for the Japan's 100 Terraced Fields |
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# Ecotourism created by the shopping district |
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There is still more to the urban development. One such project is the specification of a designated
structural reform district to revitalize the region called the "Kamikatsucho
Town-wide Ecotourism Region."
Ecotourism in Kamikatsucho has just begun by joining Ecology (Environment) and Economy through tourism (exchange).
The experiment begins with having people walk down the historic Asahi Shopping District and talk with the shop keepers. The shop keepers in this old shopping district pass on the traditions and knowledge of the past. You can learn about the daily wisdom passed down in Kamikatsucho while accepting their warm hospitality.
As an aside, the tea most commonly drunk in Kamikatsucho is Awa Evening Tea or Awa Bancha. This Evening Tea differs from other bancha teas in that it is a fermented tea that is first boiled before undergoing anaerobic fermentation. When fermentation occurs without oxygen, lactic acid bacilli are produced that give the tea its characteristic sourness and odor.
Awa Bancha is made when tree leaves (actually branches as well as leaves) are gathered at the end of July. Shops all along the Asahi shopping district start to boil tea leaves and ferment them. The manufacture of Awa Bancha, which cannot be seen anywhere else, will probably become the main ecotourist attraction for that season.
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Shop keeper Takuya Takeichi of the Takeichi Store in the Asahi shopping district. is a leader of the Ecotourism effort. "I think shop owners will learn how interesting it is to greet people if more visitors come by." |
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The Asahi shopping district, the stage for ecotourism, played an important role as an inn town connecting Kisawa village and Tokushima. There are many images of Showa remaining. |
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We made a quick survey of the urban development knowledge of Kamikatsucho. In fact, the word "knowledge" came up several times when I talked with the people.
The starting point of Kamikatsucho's urban development
was "sharing knowledge."
The 1Q (ikkyu in Japanese) Movement is an activity where individuals are selected from each district to share knowledge about lifestyles. It is taught that the gathering of knowledge improves life and improves the town.
"Hidamari," a nursing facility that allows the elderly to participate in society, has also recently opened. Hidamari holds cooking workshops that use locally grown produce and is also planning a meal service for seniors who live alone. Ms. Azuma, mentioned above, adds that she would like to see the facility used as a gathering place for conversation and tea.
At first, I thought that the zero waste movement was possible because it was a small town of 2200. When I confronted Ms. Azuma with my concern, she was surprised. When Ms. Azuma was promoting garbage separation, she continually thought that "with more people, this would be easier."
"Large cities have more waste and can gather large volumes quickly. That waste is then recycled. But, here in Kamikatsucho, by the time we have enough PETE bottles for recycling, for example, it is covered in dust. Large cities also have shops that are open 24 hours a day. If those shops were collection points, residents could bring their garbage at any time they wanted," shepoints out. Of course, I thought.
There has been much made about the environment, but I haven't felt that there have been any improvements that can be seen. Using methods that are suitable for individual locales, we need to look at the environment again. If the environment improves, nature and the town are made more attractive. This is the lesson of Kamikatsucho.
The message from this little town in Tokushima Prefecture is larger than I imagined.
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Hitomi
Azuma of the Urban Development Promotion Section in Kamikatsucho. She will
also be working in the Resident Section from this Spring and will be
supporting "Hidamari." She is one of the more active people working to
improve the town. |
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The newly opened "Hidamari." Built from cedar harvested during tree thinning. Many events are planned to bring the town together and include seniors. |
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Profile:Ari Sugimoto
After graduating from University and working at a publishing company, Sugimoto went to study design in Italy. She learned while in Italy that design and lifestyles are closely related. She currently researches and writes stories based on Eco-design themes such as "Lifestyle" and "Design."
She is the author of "Notes of Walking in Italy," "Notes of Living Alone in Italy" (Daiwa Shobo), and "Florence: Meals colored by the Seasons" (Tokyo Shoseki).
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| Story and Photographs: Ari Sugimoto |
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