The first-class river "Takahashi River" flows through the western part of Okayama Prefecture.
The seven cities and three towns that have lived with the rich waters and natural blessings of the Takahashi River are called the "Takahashi River Basin Area," and Kurashiki City, as a member of this area, is engaged in various projects to promote the Takahashi River Basin.
The "Takahashi River Basin Meeting" held on May 11 (Saturday) is an event where people interested in the cultural history and nature of the basin area gather to learn about the Takahashi River Basin through keynote speeches and group sessions.
The keyword "Takahashi River Basin" is something we occasionally hear in daily life. I interviewed the person in charge to find out what can be learned at the Takahashi River Meeting.
What is the Takahashi River Meeting
The Takahashi River Meeting 2024 is an event hosted by the General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Basin School, taking place on May 11, 2024 (Saturday).
The venue is Room 202 at Geibunkan Hall in Kurashiki City, and it will be held from 1 PM to 5 PM. (Reception starts at 12:30 PM)
Please check the official website for the schedule of the day.
About the General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Basin School
The General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Basin School aims to pass down the climate, history, and culture of the Takahashi River Basin, and is an organization that aims for sustainable development of the basin area while collaborating with companies, local governments, universities, and community organizations.
The organization mainly conducts the following projects.
- Operation of the community-based SDGs program "Takahashi River Academy" (a project commissioned by Kurashiki City)
- Hosting the "Takahashi River Meeting"
The "Takahashi River Academy" teaches about the nature, history, culture, and industry of the Takahashi River through fieldwork, fostering the next generation of human resources responsible for sustainable community development and future growth. As of the end of the 2023 fiscal year, over 100 people have participated.
The idea of collaboration between basins was proposed by the Takahashi River Basin Federation, established in 1954, and the former representative, Kensaku Okubo (大久保憲作) (current chairman of Kuramoku Holdings, Inc.), aimed to strengthen collaboration between basins from an educational perspective.
Overview of the Takahashi River Meeting 2024
The Takahashi River Meeting was created as a place to discuss the activities of the Takahashi River Basin School and the challenges and solutions of the basin area. Since the establishment of the Takahashi River Basin School, it has basically been held once a year.
This time, the theme will be "Activities in the Basin 30 Years from Now", featuring keynote speeches and subcommittees (group sessions).
The keynote speaker will be Shibuya Juichi, an advisor of the Takahashi River Basin School, who is engaged in various environmental conservation activities aimed at creating a sustainable community. He is a great-grandson of Eiichi Shibusawa, who was selected as the portrait for the new 10,000 yen bill.
He is involved in initiatives such as the "Kikigaki Koshien," where high school students interview people living in harmony with forests and the sea, and community development using biomass in Maniwa City.
What does a rich life in modern times truly mean, and how can we coexist with nature? We may find hints for creating a sustainable future for the Takahashi River Basin.
After the keynote speech, we will hold breakout sessions in small groups.
This will be a space to discuss and consider the future of the basin 30 years from now from four perspectives: enjoyment, learning, livelihood, and life.
Since people interested in the Takahashi River Basin will gather, various opinions and ideas are likely to emerge.
Interviewer Interview
I spoke with Kajitani Masashi from the General Incorporated Association Takahashi River Basin School about the Takahashi River Meeting.
How did the theme "The Activities of the Basin 30 Years from Now" come about?
Kajitani (no honorifics)
The Takahashi River Basin Federation will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2024. Looking ahead to the 100th anniversary in 30 years, I wanted to provide a space for everyone to think about what kind of future we hope for the Takahashi River Basin, so I incorporated the keyword "30 years from now" into the theme.
"Activities" includes the charm of the resources possessed by the basin area, as well as education, work, and cultural aspects of life that are essential for the development of the local economy.
As we approach the milestone of the 100th anniversary, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reconsider what kind of activities the Takahashi River Basin School should engage in, which led to the decision on this theme of rethinking the ideal image of the Takahashi River Basin.
What is the appeal of the Takahashi River Meeting?
Kajitani
The biggest appeal is that connections are formed with people who are interested in the Takahashi River Basin.
Participants are those who have a sense of issues regarding the Takahashi River Basin or are considering "wanting to do something" in their own communities, so I hope that by stimulating each other's thoughts, collaboration will emerge through interaction.
What was the feedback from the last meeting (2023)?
Kajitani
The last meeting focused on education as the main theme, so there were many participants from the Board of Education and school teachers.
The keynote speech was given by Tetsuo Goda, the Deputy Director of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. He spoke about the future of education in line with societal changes and the coexistence of artificial intelligence and education, and there were many comments regarding the keynote speech in the post-event survey.
I believe it was a highly satisfying event.
Can you tell us about the details of the breakout sessions?
Kajitani
In the previous meeting, there was little interaction among participants, so this time we planned breakout sessions in small groups.
In the breakout sessions, we will discuss based on the four themes of enjoyment, learning, livelihood, and life, and exchange opinions on what actions are necessary to realize the ideal image of the Takahashi River Basin. Depending on the situation, we may also consider adding themes based on participants' feedback on the day.
For example, regarding "enjoyment," if we consider the tourism resources and events of the Takahashi River Basin, it may lead to a broader discussion.
Questions such as "How can we raise awareness of lesser-known tourist attractions?" and "What methods can we use to expand events concentrated in the southern part of the prefecture to the northern part?" may arise.
I hope everyone can discuss what kind of state the Takahashi River Basin should be in 30 years from now to live richly.
What kind of people would you recommend this to?
Kajitani
I would like to invite anyone who is interested in the Takahashi River Basin to participate.
If you feel challenges in the community where you live or are thinking about "wanting to try something", this event is recommended for you. Please connect with various people at the Takahashi River Meeting and engage in interaction.
I would be happy if the Takahashi River Basin Meeting could assist in your efforts.
Please give a message to the readers.
Kajitani
Recently, I was talking with someone from Niimi City, and I was surprised to find that the impression of the Takahashi River from the perspective of a Kurashiki City resident like myself is completely different from that of someone from Niimi City.
The Takahashi River flowing through Kurashiki City has a slow current and is wide, while the Takahashi River in Niimi City flows from the mountains upstream, making it fast and narrow.
The appearance and impression of the Takahashi River change at different points: upstream, midstream, and downstream, so I believe various ideas and opinions will come up in this meeting as well. If you are interested in the Takahashi River basin area, please join us.
We also want to cherish this connection born from one river and collaborate with many people to lead a richer life.
Conclusion
I used to live in Kanagawa Prefecture, and it was only after moving to Kurashiki that I first encountered the keyword "Takahashi River basin."
Until then, I had not experienced a case of "a river basin collaborating," so I remember being surprised by the scale of that initiative.
Through this interview, I felt that the natural blessings of the Takahashi River and the culture and industries developed by many people made the existence of the Takahashi River basin feel close to me, even without my realizing it.
As a member living in the Takahashi River basin, if you are interested in the future of the basin, please consider attending the Takahashi River Meeting. New perspectives and connections may emerge.
Takahashi River Meeting 2024 Data
| Name | Takahashi River Meeting 2024 |
|---|---|
| Date | May 11, 2024 (Saturday) From 1 PM to 5 PM |
| Location | 202 Conference Room, Geibunkan Hall, 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | General participation 1,000 yen Free for high school students and younger |
| Homepage | Takahashi River Basin School Notice of Takahashi River Meeting 2024 on May 11 (Saturday) |
