Once upon a time in Yokohama, and Tokyo: the period when Japanese Planning Act became effective

 

In 1968, Japanese City Planning Act became effective. It was to control rampant and often chaotic urban developement that was in mode after 1945. The law let local municipalities, especially Ordinance Designated Cities including Yokohama and Tokyo 23 Wards, to define areas as Urbanization Control Area. Once a certain place has “awarded“ this nomar, new construction of houses and buildings are strictly controlled. Yokohama‘s Citizen Forests are all under this title defined by national law. Basically, in such an area, only houses of landlords and single story public facilities such as toilets and management office for a park are allowed to stand.

Toilet is allowed to be built.

These restrictions, aiming for environmental concern, are of course sources of huge uneasiness for landlords. Imagine you have a land that can be very near a train station for a commuter line that can bring you to offices in the downtown Tokyo, or Yokohama for that matter, in 30 minutes. (Do you remember Kurokawa or Haruhino Stations in my post for 15th December 2024?) If you sell it for the development of offices et al, you’ll have a fortune that can benefit not only you but also your offsprings for a very long time. I told you story of a former landlord of Kohoku New Town (; my post on November 17, 2024). He happily ended his life as an owner of a tiny flower shop in front of Tokyu Tsunashima Station. The store does not exist anymore. However, his children now have established businesses in the center of New Town with buildings on the land of inheritance. They are thriving. (I don’t tell you what kind of occupation they’re engaged in.) Not a bad deal, huh?

Condos in front of Haruhino Station

Instead, imagine your land is now within the border of land control thanks to City Planning Act. Yes, you can sell your property. This is a free land. But, the usage of the land is strictly limited. Do you think it’s easy to find a buyer? When you have land very near to Mt. Fuji or in a National/Quasi-National Park, the client may consider doing tourism business in your land which is allowed under certain controls by Japanese Natural Parks Act. This fact often shocks Euro-American visitors to Japan, doesn’t it? Unlike those places, Japanese Natural Parks consists of lots of private land, and so the tourists’ attractions. In contrast, your controlled land in Yokohama’s suburbia? Forget about that tourist thing. Normally an urban title holder would do at best farming with the land in Urbanization Control Area. Moreover, ag-business in cities has constraints for pursuing economy of scale. The ownership of land in large cities were already segmented in 1945, the year zero for Japanese modern city planning policy. Do you think it’s easy to ask your many neighbors in Tokyo or Yokohama to sell the property for your tomato field? (Oh, so, these days we can find “Vegetable Factories” in rows of buildings in cities of Japan. If you cannot expand land horizontally, build a building vertically with several stories. Inside, you grow salad greens with hydroponics. One such large factory is near Shin-Yokohama Statoin for Shinkansen Line.) Not only that when you own land and forget about it, the forest on your land goes very wild in Yokohama or Tokyo’s climate, as I told you numerous times in this blog. Such forest can easily become a dumping ground for illegal garbage, or provide risks for arson or some crimes. Your neighbor will get angry, or even sue you for your negligence over your property. On top of all of these, you have to pay property tax for your controlled land. If your land is in remote countryside, it will be a negligible amount. But if yours is in Tokyo 23 Wards, or Yokohama, the call from a taxman is not at all a laughing matter. I hope you see the point.

A scenery of 2024 Mt. Fuji Marathon.
The entire course of this event is within the National Park,
and there are lots of tourists’ attractions.

Er ... so actually, the designation of Urbanization Control Area can be a contentious issue which run deeply beneath the surface of seemingly peaceful neighborhood. Near Miho and Niiharu Citizen Forest, there is Yokohama-Machida Interchange for Tomei Expressway, Hodogaya Bypass, Yamato Bypass, Route 246, Route 16, etc. etc. This is very important Interchange for artery roads of Megaloplis Tokyo. It‘s in operation since 1968, the same year when Urbanization Control Area kicked in. Around that time, the area allocated for Yokohama-Machida Interchange looked very like the present-day Miho and Niiharu Citizen Forests. There were landlords. Governmental offices, national, prefectural, and municipal, offered attractive prices for securing the space for the national project. The title holders were paid good money and built large houses. Those landlords in Miho and Niiharu watched their neighbors enjoying the shower of fortune. And their land in Miho and Niiharu was legally and effectively ordered “don’t make money from it.” If they could maintain mental serenity, they must have been saints. 50 years later, their grandkids are still talking “unfairness” of the deal.

Niiharu Citizen Forest.
Yeah, it‘s a good scenery,
but I don‘t think it can beat Lake Kawaguchi.

And here is the difference between Yokohama and Tokyo comes in. I once met landlords of high-rise condos near Shibuya and Roppongi stations, Tokyo. They are offsprings of farmers who for centuries tilled land around the present-day Ohashi Junction of Metropolitan Expressway. Their property included the area around Shibuya Bunkamura. Not many people are aware of, but the land where Shibuya Bunkamura stands now was once for Omukai Elementary School 大向小学校, established 1916. The landlords are alums from this establishment. (Actually, among Niiharu Lovers, there is another alum of Omukai Elementary.) The school was moved in 1964 to the place of current Jin’nan Elementary 神南小学校 and the vacant land of the school was developed as a shopping center. Around that period, the parents of these landlords sold their farming land to many developers, public and private, and obtained a fortune including titles for high-end condos in the center of Tokyo. It seems to me they did not have any control to limit their greenery turning into vast spread of concrete downtowns. But these senior citizens remember fondly their childhood days in vegetable fields.

Former vegetable field

Yes, it was before 1968, and that must have been the reason why the importance of city planning became an established law. Still, I found the difference of the timing, around 1964 and 1968, has done a huge impact for former farming communities whose lands were around planned Interchanges of metropolitan artery roads. In Tokyo, senior citizens remember with misty eyes the evaporated rural hometown. In Yokohama, there are hidden grudges in the community ... Having said that, the scheduling of planning regulation alone cannot make a divergence. After all, it’s a national law, right? I’ll tell you about it next week.

If you have any questions about Yokohama’s Green Tax and Green Up Plan, please make a contact with

Strategic Planning Division, Green Environment Bureau, City of Yokohama
横浜市みどり環境局戦略企画課

Phone: 045-671-2712
FAX: 045-550-4093

Email: mk-kikaku@city.yokohama.lg.jp

A Tale of Two Cities: Green spaces in Yokohama vs. Tokyo

 

Yokohama’s Citizen Forest System now has 53 years of history. The first Citizen Forest was Iijima Citizen Forest (;my post on October 9, 2015) opened in 1973. Since then, roughly one forest per year has been inaugurated, although the speed of designation is somehow slowed these couple of years. The system was intended to prevent local greenery from succumbing the pressure from urban development (; my post on April 8, 2016). Many people these days tell us = Hamakko (kids of Yokohama) our city preserves well greenspaces very near from ordinary urban scenery. Look, Tokyo is simple rows of houses with a few large public gardens like Imperial Palace or Inokashira Park. In-between of such large greeneries, the city is a desert, really, with skyscrapers and buildings … And how about the trees in Meijijingu Gaien? Why must UNESCO join the discussion? In contrast, Yokohama’s landscape is intermingled with forests here and there naturally. Why?

Negishi Forest Park near the Port of Yokohama.
It’s a place where in 1866
the first European style racetrack was built in Japan.
The place is understating,
but loved by locals a lot in the middle of downtown.

During the 1960s and the 70s, Tokyo, Yokohama, and sandwiched Kawasaki are a continuation of megaloplis that was the center of Japanese heavy industry. Mega chemical factories, steel mills etc were once standing side-by-side, encircling Tokyo Bay. 50 years later from Japanese high growth era, it‘s instinctive to imagine the sceneries of Tokyo and Yokohama would be more or less the same, i.e. a desert, or mybe the scenes of Akira before the massive destruction. But now, the difference is apparent. In Yokohama, even in a highly urban ward like Naka, Tsurumi, or Kohoku we have mass of greens. Yeah. Unfortunately the confluence of Yakami and Shibukawa Rivers near Keio Univ. had a high concentration of microplastics (; my post on December 15, 2024). The basin of these rivers is a concreted downtown. Yet, in the south of the convergence point, just in the area of 4km radius, there are 4 Citizen Forests, that are Tsunashima (my post on June 26, 2015), Kumanojinja (ditto for May 29, 2015), Komaoka-Nakagoh (June 5, 2015), and Shishigaya (June 12, 2015), + one prefectural park, Mitsuike Park, and one municipal Park, Okurayama Park (my post for February 4, 2024). Please compare satellite photos of Goole Map for downtowns of Tokyo and Yokohama. Distinction is apparent.

Tokyo

Yokohama

Tokyo has been the center of Japanese politics for more than 400 years. Its downtown must be under developmetal pressure always, for sure. In contrast, Yokohama has only 170 years or so of history as a city. It could be one of the reasons for the difference between the two cities. But in the middle of the 19th century many expats who visited Tokyo, or Edo at that time, including Ernest Mason Satow, wrote Tokyo had lots of green spaces. The length of history as a city won‘t be a definite reason explaining the difference between two cities in the 21st century. During the World War II, both cities were bombarded heavily by Americans. Statistically speaking the amount of bombs Yokohama recieved per square miles was larger than that for Tokyo. In August 1945, the photos of Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama are like vast continuing desert of rubbles and charcoaled houses, similar to today‘s photos from Ukraine and Gaza. Green Parks at that time? Forget about it.

Shibuya Scramble Crossing at the end of 2023.
One year later now, the scenery is not observable
because the construction site in the left of this photo
 is now a skyscraper.

If we consider 1945 was the starging point for urban development of Megalopolis Tokyo, Tokyo and Yokohama stood on the same line. So, the 2025 difference of greeneries in two cities would be due to the difference in environmental planning and management of urban spaces after 1945. Or, I would say it’s because of the difference of usage of 1968 City Planning Act by local civil servant. Hamakko mandarines exploited the national law like a rule of chess. I found it fascinating historical fact. I tell you that next week. If you‘re interested in such things, please stay tuned 😉.

If you have any questions about Yokohama’s Green Tax and Green Up Plan, please make a contact with

Strategic Planning Division, Green Environment Bureau, City of Yokohama
横浜市みどり環境局戦略企画課
Phone: 045-671-2712
FAX: 045-550-4093

Email: mk-kikaku@city.yokohama.lg.jp

I wish you all a very Happy New Year

 

😄

Naomi

Spring 2025 Chainsaw and Brush Cutter Seminar in Kanagawa Prefecture

 

For some of you interested in obtaining “certificate” for operating chainsaws and brush cutters in Japan, here is info about next seminars in Kanagawa Prefecture. In my post January 18, 2019, I told you in Japan anybody who use chainsaws without the certificate, if something happens during the operation, does not have any legal protection nor insurance coverage which should be very important in such emergency. Or, if you want to use your chainsaw skill as a volunteer, or oh yes as a pro, the chances are you won’t be accepted for the post. I strongly recommend obtaining the certificate if you plan to use chainsaw in this country. For brush cutters, the law is not so strict but recently accident with the machine is becoming common. It would be wise to attend the seminar and learn a proper usage. One caveat: all the training for these tools is done only in Japanese in Japan. I don’t know if it is OK to attend these sessions with translators. You can ask about it, I guess. Good luck.

I. Chainsaw Usage Seminar

March 17, 18, 2025

@ Room Kitsutsuki of Ikoi-no-mori Forest, Odawara City

https://www.ikoi-odawara.com/

You have to sit for both days to obtain the certificate. Here is a photocopy of the notice of the seminar.

I translate the contents below.

<Curriculum>

March 17, 8:45-18:30

4 hours about for forestry work

2 hours about chainsaw work

2 hours about hand-arm syndrome and prevention

1 hour about Japanese law regarding forestry and chainsaw usage

March 18, 8:30-18:15

5 hours practical training about logging method

2 hours practical training about chainsaw method

2 hours practical training about inspection and maintenance of chainsaw

<Note>

1. Attendance Voucher will be sent before the seminar. Make it sure you bring the voucher with you.

2. Before attending the course, you have to complete registration each day at the entrance of the room.

3. No shop or restaurant for the venue. Please bring your stationery and lunch.

4. In the seminar room, you have to wear room shoes. No street shoes allowed. Please bring your own room shoes.

5. Wear clothes comfortable to move around. Especially for the second day, long sleeve shirts and long pants are MUST.

<Fee>

23000 yen (including textbook, certificate, tax)

<How to apply>

1. First, you must call 045-261-3731 to notify your plan to attend the seminar, then,

2. Fax/email filled-in application form to

FAX: 045-251-4891
Email: kanagawa@kenmokuren.com

3. Pay Fee to

Bank of Yokohama, Isezakicho Branch 横浜銀行伊勢佐木町支店
Savings Account # 普通預金口座 0135824
Account Holder Name口座名　Forestry and Timber Manufacturing Safety and Health Association Kanagawa Branch 林業・木材製造業労働災害防止協会　神奈川県支部

4. Send the documents by post. The package must include

a. the original filled application form
b. a copy of transfer statement of fee payment
c. One ID photo of you; 3cm*2.5cm, no cap/hat, the background is in plain color; please write your full name in the back of the photo

to

Forestry and Timber Manufacturing Safety and Health Association Kanagawa Branch
Attn: Takahashi
9-149 Chojamachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama 231-0033

231-0033 横浜市中区長者町9-149 林業・木材製造業労働災害防止協会　神奈川県支部
担当　高橋

The venue of the seminar, Ikoi-no-Mori Forest is in

4294-1 Kuno, Odawara,
神奈川県小田原市久野4294-1
https://www.ikoi-odawara.com/
TEL 0465-32-0094
MAIL ikoi-mori@odawara-jigyo-kyokai.jp

It can be accessed
1. By car: parking at Ikoi-no-Mori BBQ site
2. By public transportation:
Take Hakone-Tozan-Bus from #3 stop of West Exit of Odawara Station, destination Ikoi-no-Mori. Ride the bus to the terminal stop. Timetable is here.

Here is the application form.

Let me translate the required info from this doc. From the top and down,

1. Company/Organization name, only when you apply for the seminar as a member of an organization. If you attend the course as an individual, please skip this.
2. Postal code of your contact address
3. Your contact address
4. Your name, or PIC if you attend the course as a member of an organization.
5. Phone number during business hours
6. FAX number (if any)
7. Email address

Then the below boxes are names of attendee. If it's only you, write down your (from the left box to the right)

Full Name
Date of birth
Current address with phone number 

These are the info for your certificate legally endorsing you are complying Japanese law for the usage of chainsaw.

Next, about a Safety Training Seminar for the usage of brush cutter. The detail is in this doc.

Let me translate.

<The date and venue>

February 18, 2025
9:30-16:30
@ 1st Floor, Seminar Room
Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター

657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121　厚木市七沢657 Phone: 046-248-0323

Oh yes. It’s the place I frequently mention at the end of my post.

<Curriculum>

Mechanism of brush cutter
Usage of brush cutter
Inspection and maintenance of brush cutter
About hand-arm syndrome and prevention
Japanese law regarding brush cutter
Practical training about brush cutter method

<Note>

1. Attendance Voucher will be sent before the seminar. Make it sure you bring the voucher with you.
2. Before attending the course, you have to complete registration at the room entrance.
3. No shop or restaurant nearby. Please bring your stationery and lunch.
4. Wear clothes comfortable to move around. Long sleeve shirts and long pants are MUST.

<Fee>

13000 yen (including textbook, certificate, tax)

<How to apply>

It’s completely same for chainsaw seminar. Anyway,

1. First, you must call 045-261-3731 to notify your plan to attend the seminar, then,

2. Fax/email filled-in application form to

FAX: 045-251-4891
Email: kanagawa@kenmokuren.com

3. Pay Fee to

Bank of Yokohama, Isezakicho Branch 横浜銀行伊勢佐木町支店
Savings Account # 普通預金口座 0135824
Account Holder Name口座名　Forestry and Timber Manufacturing Safety and Health Association Kanagawa Branch 林業・木材製造業労働災害防止協会　神奈川県支部

4. Send the documents by post. The package must include

a. the original filled application form
b. a copy of transfer statement of fee payment
c. One ID photo of you; 3cm*2.5cm, no cap/hat, the background is in plain color; please write your full name in the back of the photo

to

Forestry and Timber Manufacturing Safety and Health Association Kanagawa Branch

Attn: Takahashi

9-149 Chojamachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama 231-0033

231-0033 横浜市中区長者町9-149 林業・木材製造業労働災害防止協会　神奈川県支部
担当　高橋

To go to Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター, please see my post on March 15, 2019. And here is the application form.

It’s the same application form for chainsaw session.
Anyway, the seat is limited, first-come-first served. Especially chainsaw seminar is quick to be full. If you plan to use chainsaw legally in Japan, better to think about the seminar. Good luck for your learning 2025!

Small wonder: Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest 2

 

The lab by Prof. Yasuo Nihei for Tokyo University of Science is studying concentration of microplastic contamination at different points of river systems in Japan. They studied rivers in Kanagawa Prefecture as well. The researchers collected 1m3 of water from each point, then using their special tools counted the number of microplastic particles. The result was in a sense predictable. Immediately before ending in the sea most Kanagawa’s rivers go through downtown areas of large cities. At that point, a river has collected garbage from its entire basin, and so the pollution becomes worse when the lab measures the contamination. That’s that. In contrast, the water source areas of Tanzawa recorded the minimum number of microplastic particles. Long live Yadoriki Water Source Forest!

Minimum microplastic count in Yadoriki Stream

Another interesting found was when a river has large basin of suburbs, the level of microplastic contamination can be serious. The case in point was Hikiji River 引地川 whose water source is Izuminomori-Forest (泉の森; my post on February 19, 2923). Immediately out of 42ha forest, Hikiji River is sandwiched by Atsugui Naval Air Facility of US Navy and heavily developed housing area. After saying goodbye to Americans the river goes on in the middle of suburbia and commercial farms until it ends at Kugenuma Kaigan 鵠沼海岸 seaside for Sagami Bay 相模湾. When we check Google map, the basin does not have a large mass of forest, but lots of small dots of “green” for gardens of detached houses. The level of microplastic contamination turned out to be the worst in Kanagawa Prefecture for Hikiji River. Nihei Lab checked the origin of plastics, and identified more than 50% of them were from artificial lawns made of plastics. Come to think of it, these cheap alternative plastics for organic lawns are regularly stamped, kicked, and pressured by pedestrians and vehicles. They’re rapidly worn out. Inevitably, the basin that is surrounded by green plastics of artificial lawns are covered by microplastic particles. When it rains, they are washed down to the river. Hikiji River becomes sewage for microplastics. Poor river …

A stream immediate to the water source of Hikiji River.
At this point water runs through Izuminomori Forest
so that the possibility for plastic lawn particles
 comes in is minimum.
It‘s a pity we cannot keep the condition.

In November 2021, Nihei Lab checked water systems in the City of Kawasaki for microplastics. Area-wise, the most contaminated point was at the confluence point of Yakami River 矢上川 and Shibukawa River 渋川 (or, I would say heavily constructed Canal) in the east of Hiyoshi Station, near Hiyoshi Campus of Keio University. It was in the basin of Tsurumi River. Checking Google Satellite Map, the basin of these two rivers is heavily populated downtown. Lots of plastic trash would pour in to the rivers. They eventually push up microplastic contamination of Tsurumi River. The lab also studied the area around Shinyurigaoka Station of Odakyu Line, which is in the basin of Tama River. Compared with the studied point for Yakami River, the area is more residential with a large golf course, university campus, and TV studios which provide more green in satellite photo. Moreover, the local shop owners of commercial areas of Shinyurigaoka area are regularly clean their area for customers visiting a comfortable environment. Unfortunately, the place was still contaminated, though not as for Yakami River. Moreover, the pollution was heavier for pure residential areas than for commercial areas (e.g. golf courses) or business premises (like shopping areas). In such neighborhood, the clean-up effort is completely entrusted with the homeowners of suburbia. Er, well … (; my post on November 24).

One of the forests in Shinyurigaoka area.
 It’s small, but maintains the remnants of
yesteryear’s biosphere for Tama Hills.
It’s completely surrounded by housing.

Nihei Lab also measured the contamination at the confluence point of Asao 麻生川 and Tsurumi Rivers. According to the YAMAP Basin Map, the basin for this point originated from the south slopes of Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest. With Google Map, the area is also crowded by housings but not as heavily as Shinyurigaoka area, or the basin of Hikichi River. For easy garden-maintenance, it would be understandable for homeowners in Kurokawa area also love to use plastic lawns et al, wouldn‘t it? Lots of microplastic could be found in the confluence ... Nah.To everybody‘s surprise, the river water from Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest はるひ野-黒川の森 has one of the lowest contamination of rivers in Kanagawa Prefecture, standing together with water source areas in Tanzawa.

Water source area for Asao River
in Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest

There would be many reasons why they are so. Yeah, rivers from Kurokawa Forest goes through housing areas before joining Tsurumi River. But the households in Kurokawa area include old families that have lived there for more than a century. Of course, there are lots of new comers in their neighbourhood. In the end, from Kurokawa Station to Shinjuku Station it takes only 30 minutes. Many urban commuters whould love to move in. But strong local tradition may have protected the enviroment from the invasion of plastic lawns. Veteran locals in Haruhino-Kurokawa area are the people who created volunteer associations managing the Forest. Their leadership must have done a very special thing. And their activies provided scientifically endorsed result for the environment. Wow.

When we enter Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest
from Haruhino Station, we first meet
with a ridge way running along Metropolitan Road 18
 that is the border between Kanagawa and Tokyo.
The ridge way is an old commuter route
carrying products of Kurokawa Area
to Hachioji or Edo (Tokyo) for centuries.
Now it is a nice strolling path for locals.

And the maintenance of this old route is done
 by local volunteers who invite mates
to do the weekend task.

Well-controlled undergrowth along the route.
Good job!

In the ridge of Kurokawa Forest,
there is one open space with benches.
From here to the south, or to the left of this photo,
is the basin for Asao River.
It‘s a good place to have lunch
if you spend your weekend in Kurokawa Forest.

To reach to the ridge,
we take this road climbing
from the bog for the water source.
It is well-maintained road easy to walk.
This tells the endeavor of volunteers.

Looking the basin of Asao River
from the ridge way of Kurokawa Forest.

So, if you‘re planning your Christmas holiday stroll with your loved-ones in Tokyo megalopolis area, please think about visiting Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest. The starting point is either from Haruhino はるひ野 or Kurokawa 黒川 Stations of Odakyu Tama Line 小田急多摩線. From Haruhino, please turn right at the corner of Buddy Sports Kindergarten located at the end of station square. Please go straight, and you‘ll find steps going up which is the beginning of the forest. From Kurokawa Station, please go first to Farmers’ Market Ceresamos, open 10:00-15:00. They have a good choice for veggies, garden plants, and fruits from local farms. They also sell tofu, fish and meat made in Kanagawa. The road runninng to the west from Ceresamos leads us to the an experimental farm of Meiji University. Along this road, on your right is the mass of trees which is Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest. We can meander into forest from whichever road goes to the north from the road. If you lose your way, just return to your starting point, which is within half-an-hour train ride to the downtown Tokyo. Not bad, huh?

Haruhino Station

The open space in front of Kurokawa Station

Ceresamos

Oh, I have to add this. One of those houses surrounding the forest is the parents‘ place for Takefusa Kubo, the midfielder for La Liga Real Sociedad, who is murmured to be the next Messi. The soccer clubs for kids around Haruhino-Kurokawa area are constantly created Japanese star footballers for Japanese National Teams. Kaoru Mitoma for Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. also spent his kid‘s days not far from here. Mini-footballers of the area are running everyday in their microplastic-free pitches near the Forest. It might be another miracle of Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest. 😉

The blue and white bldg. is
Buddy Sports Kindergarten near Haruhino Station.
In November, they were cerebrating
their teenage alumni who newly obtained
 seats for teams of J League.
The tradition continues ...

If you find environmental issues in the City of Kawasaki, please make a contact with 

Environment Bureau 川崎市環境局環境対策部環境保全課
1 Miyamoto-cho, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City, 210-8577
〒210-8577 川崎市川崎区宮本町1
Phone：044-200-2516
Fax：044-200-3921 

30hozen@city.kawasaki.jp

Great Divide: Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest 1

 

This year, Japanese map app YAMAP has rolled out a new product showing basins of rivers, large AND small, in Japan. The accuracy of the info shown there sometimes needs more refinement. (Example: why has Takigo Stream for Yadoriki Water Source Forest been cut into 2 in the middle?) But the creator of the app, Mr. Yoshihiko Haruyama, said the project is in its infancy. They welcome suggestions and new ideas from users with their new service. I found the app is very interesting. It’s often the case forests in our area spread along ridgs of hills and mountains. This means sometimes a forest which is considered as one unit can be divided into one or several areas when its valleys supply rainwater to different rivers. Unexpected borderlines can be found in YAMAP Basin Map. That’s what I found in Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest はるひ野-黒川の森.

We’re going up to the ridge of Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest.

Last month, Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest in Kawasaki City held an autumnal art show, their 9th. My impression from the recent show was not much different from the murmur in my previous post (on December 2, 2022). I’ve been there during its opening days and met several artists who installed their work. In sum, many of them found the wide-open space they could use attractive, and decided participating the project. OK. That’s that. May I mention they might not have thought much about communication with the multilayered ecosystem of the forest? … The artists approach would be similar to the newcomers to Western Nakagawa of Kohoku New Town (; my post on November 24, 2024). That’s unfortunate. The forest clearly shows the existence of people who care about the forest itself and engage in the maintenance works, not-so-flashy-as-art, continuously. Great Divide between two kinds of people, maybe …

Having said that,
this installation by Toshiyuki Tanaka
tries to capture mutual communication with the forest:
 "TANAKA Toshiyuki, Eyes in the woods."

“ISHIZAKI Kouji, Hope”

“TAKEMOTO Suguya, Floating Object in the Valley.”
This installation would be
from the same idea of Tanaka’s installment above.
But I was horrified to see this plastic seats floating
above the abandoned rice paddy.
Reason? Please wait till my next week’s post.

“SATO Hideyuki, Dinosaur Egg.”
Ditto for this fiber-reinforced plastic.

“LYU Dian, Fountain.” Ditto for this.

“TACHIKAWA Mariko, Surrounded by Delicious Sunlight.”

“HARADA Riito, Convey my heart.” This I like.

“MURATA Yuta, Place of Soil.”
His continuous work from the previous show.
I’d like to see how he develops
his way of communicating with the land.

“MACHI Kiiko, No!”
She emphasized she was strongly against all the wars of the planet,
and said NO in a large voice …
but why in this forest, I wonder.

“TSUKASA Kana, Scene.”

“UTSUMI Hitoshi, Secret Base.”
This one is also I like.
He tries to have a fun with the forest as a kid.

“ABE Yasumichi, Loop.”
He’s not the only artist of this show
who presented a sculpture made of stone.
In a sense, it’s a traditional way of humans in the relationship with nature.
What does it mean, I wonder.
Is it the beginning of gigantic stone palace of Versailles
with completely geometrical garden?
I suspend my opinion about this …

I have not yet met people from groups who engage in regular maintenance work for the forest. But according to this page, the area has lively communities, some of which do forestry works for the Forest. Moreover, they’re proud of their dirt-work beyond the desk theory. I had a feeling they are clearly succeeding in it. When I’ve been there last month, it was still a bit early for trees shedding leaves. Yet, the general impression Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest showed was bright with rustling sounds of leaves. The paths inside were well maintained for strollers to enjoy. People are controlling the undergrowth of the forest nicely and treating the damage by oak tree wilt. That’s something. As long as I know, the tenure of the land for Haruhino-Kurokawa Forest is a mixture of governmental, private and corporate entities. The teamwork of volunteers from many corners of Kawasaki and some help from pros hired by the City has done a really good job. Their endeavor in the end created the wide space the artists installed their work. Moreover, the success of such handiworks was scientifically measured in terms of basins.

When we check Yamap Basin Map, the ridgeway of Haruniho-Kurokawa Forest is the watershed between Tama River and Tsurumi River. The streams go down the north slope to the direction to Haruhino Station provides water for Tama River. The water from the south slope including an experimental farm of Meiji University goes to Tsurumi River. From 2015 this water to southward was checked by the group of researchers from Tokyo University of Science. The result was amazing. I tell you this next week. Please stay tuned!

If you find environmental issues in Kanagawa Prefecture, please make a contact with Kanagawa Natural Environment Conservation Center 神奈川県自然環境保全センター

657 Nanasawa, Atsugi City, 243-0121
〒243－0121　厚木市七沢657
Phone: 046-248-0323 

You can send an enquiry to them by clicking the bottom line of their homepage at http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/div/1644/