You often hear people say, "I want to leave my hometown" or "I don't want to return to my hometown."
There are also discussions suggesting that you cannot succeed or achieve big dreams without leaving your hometown.
However, why do people think about leaving their hometown?
It may be because they do not know much about the area they live in.
And perhaps it is because they do not realize the charm of their region.
In school education, we do not learn much about our local area, do we?
To know about your own region, you need to take the initiative to learn.
The "Takahashi River Basin School" is engaged in "regional education" activities that allow residents of the Takahashi River basin to learn about their area.
Even though it is called a school, it is not just about sitting at a desk listening to lectures or working quietly.
The concept is to use the climate, culture, history, and industries of the Takahashi River basin as "regional teaching materials" and to learn joyfully through experiences that engage the "five senses" with people of various generations.
I will introduce the Takahashi River Basin School, where you can enjoy learning about the Takahashi River basin and come to love the region.
The Takahashi River Basin School aims to revitalize the region through "regional education"
The Takahashi River Basin School is an organization that conducts "regional education" to make the climate, culture, and history of the Takahashi River basin important to the people living in the area, to learn about it, and to pass it on to the next generation.
They collaborate with schools, businesses, local organizations, and municipalities in the Takahashi River basin to carry out various initiatives and activities.
Through these activities, they aim to foster a love for their hometown and pride in the region among the residents of the Takahashi River basin, develop human resources, and revitalize the Takahashi River basin area.
The main activity areas are as follows.
- Kurashiki City
- Soja City
- Asakuchi City
- Kasaoka City
- Ibara City
- Takahashi City
- Niimi City
- Hayashima Town
- Yakage Town
- Satosho Town
The municipalities within the Takahashi River basin in Okayama Prefecture are included in the scope.
By the way, you might wonder, "Aren't the islands of Asakuchi, Satosho, and Kasaoka City not part of the Takahashi River basin?"
In fact, they utilize water from the Takahashi River for their water supply, and they have a close relationship with the river.
Mushima, located in the southern part of the Kasaoka Islands, is more than 20 kilometers away from the mainland, yet water from the Takahashi River is supplied as drinking water. Isn't that surprising?
What is the Takahashi River? One of the three major rivers in Okayama Prefecture flowing north and south in the western part of the prefecture
The Takahashi River is a river flowing north and south through the western half of Bitchu Province in Okayama Prefecture.
Together with the Asahi River and the Yoshii River, it is referred to as one of the "three major rivers in Okayama Prefecture."
Its source is located in Hanamiyama (elevation 1,188 meters) in Niimi City, which is on the border with Tottori Prefecture.
The river mouth is in Mizushima, Kurashiki City, and the Tamashima area, where it flows into the Seto Inland Sea at Mizushima-nada.
Additionally, its tributaries extend into Bingo Province in the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture.
The total length of the Takahashi River is 111 kilometers, ranking 44th in the country. The area of the basin, including its tributaries, is 2,670 square kilometers, making it the 23rd largest in the country.
Main initiatives of the Takahashi River Basin School
The Takahashi River Basin School is engaged in various initiatives and activities.
Let me highlight some of the representative ones.
Takahashi River Marche
The Takahashi River Marche is organized mainly by the Takahashi River Marche Executive Committee.
It is an event that gathers products focused on "food" and "living" from the Takahashi River basin and promotes them alongside art and music.
It is also a valuable place where producers and creators can interact directly.
Through the Takahashi River Marche, it is a place to rediscover the charm of the Takahashi River basin.
Bichu Shijuku
The Bichu Shijuku is a program organized by the Takahashi River Basin School.
It is a course that teaches "Bichu Studies," which is the foundational education of the region, focusing on the climate, history, culture, folklore, and industries of the Bichu region that makes up the Takahashi River basin.
They invite folklorist Noritake Kanzaki as the "principal," who is well-versed in the history and culture of Bichu, allowing for close interaction during learning.
Instructor Noritake Kanzaki (Folklorist)
Born in 1944 in Okayama Prefecture. Folklorist. His main research themes include "folk beliefs," "festivals and food culture," and "travel and tourism." Currently, he serves as the director of the Institute of Travel Culture, a specialist member of the Cultural Council, a visiting professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture, and a member of the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Promotion Council. He is also the chief priest of Usa Hachiman Shrine in Okayama Prefecture. His major works include "Gods, Buddhas, and Ancestors: The Folklore of 'Nippon Kyo'" (Shogakukan), "Eating 'Utensils': The Culture of Dining in Japan" (NHK Publishing), "Illustrated Guide to Japanese Utensils: Exploring the Culture of Dining" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha), "Sanjusan-do: The Folklore of Japanese Contracts" (Iwanami Shoten), "Edo's Travel Culture" (Iwanami Shinsho), "The Food Culture of 'Matsuri'" (Kadokawa Selection), "The Culture of Sake in Japan," "The Culture of Customs in Japan," "The Culture of Seasons in Japan," and "The Culture of 'Ojigi' in Japan" (Kadokawa Sofia Bunko), "The Story of Yamato-ya: The Folklore of the Flower District in Osaka Minami" (Iwanami Shoten), among others.
Bichu Shijuku | Takahashi River Basin School from
Bichu "Kikigaki"
The Bichu "Kikigaki" is an initiative conducted in collaboration with the Bichu "Kikigaki" Executive Committee.
High school and university students conduct interviews with senior residents of the Takahashi River basin.
They learn about local traditions, culture, wisdom of life, skills, and anecdotes of the land, and compile them into written works.
Takahashi River Garbage Survey
The Takahashi River Garbage Survey is an initiative to identify the sources of garbage in the Takahashi River basin.
It covers a wide area from the upper and middle reaches of the Takahashi River to the lower reaches and river mouth, and even to the Seto Inland Sea.
They collaborate with local elementary, middle, and high schools to create a map of garbage sources.
By classifying the garbage, they identify the sources and promote improvements at those locations.
The Takahashi River Basin School engages in various activities.
In June 2020, Kensaku Okubo, who served as the representative director for five years since its establishment, was succeeded by Hiroshi Sakanoue as the new representative director.
We conducted an interview with the newly appointed representative director, Sakanoue.
Data on the General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Basin School
| Organization Name | General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Basin School |
|---|---|
| Industry | Non-profit organization |
| Representative Name | Hiroshi Sakanoue (Representative Director) |
| Year Established | 2015 |
| Address | Office Location: 2-13-3 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture (inside the Sumiyoshi-cho House, Bunpuku) |
| Contact | 086-527-6248 |
| Website | Takahashi River Basin School |
